Eating Glass Will Nitze (IQBAR) + Joe Lemay (Rocketbook)

Chris Hunter, of Four Loko & Koia, shares his wild entrepreneurial journey. From the meteoric rise and regulatory battles of Four Loko to launching the plant-based protein drink Koia, Chris gets personal about the challenges of building businesses in highly regulated industries. He discusses lessons learned from tumultuous business partnerships, the decision to vertically integrate, and how personal growth and reflection have shaped his leadership style. Chris also opens up about his upbringing and how it instilled the grit and resilience needed to overcome entrepreneurial adversity. Tune in for a candid conversation on the realities of building iconic beverage brands.
Chapters
[00:00:00] - Introduction[00:04:07] - Chris Hunter's Background and Companies (Phusion Projects and Koia)[00:06:12] - How Success Has Changed Chris[00:14:05] - Chris's Early Years and Troubled Past[00:17:48] - Grit and Resilience in Entrepreneurship[00:21:25] - Navigating Business Partnerships[00:29:49] - Operating in Highly Regulated Markets[00:34:34] - Challenges of the Ready-to-Drink Beverage Industry[00:37:28] - The Decision to Vertically Integrate[00:41:40] - The Koia Journey: Vision and Evolution[00:45:47] - Humility, Ego, and Confidence in Entrepreneurship[00:55:42] - Harnessing Emotions as Entrepreneurial Fuel[01:02:21] - The Role of Coaches, Peer Groups, and Psychedelics in Personal Growth[01:06:10] - Writing a Candid and Personal Book[01:11:37] - Rapid Fire Questions[01:15:24] - Conclusion
ABOUT THE HOSTS:

Will Nitze is the Founder & CEO at IQBAR - America's leading "brain + body" nutrition startup. With minimal funding, Will has taken IQBAR from zero locations and zero in revenue in 2018 to 10,000+ doors and a projected $50 million in sales in 2024.

Joe Lemay founded Rocketbook with business partner Jake Epstein. After being featured on “Shark Tank”, where the sharks passed on a chance to invest – Joe would go on to grow Rocketbook and sell it to BIC for 40 million dollars just three years later.


Connect with  Chris:

Chris' Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1963678028?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_PY8TMGHWK9J8Q4ARPF1WKoia: https://drinkkoia.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-hunter-890a2315/

Sean Riley, CEO and co-founder of Dude Wipes, shares the story of how he and his friends started the company from their apartment with the goal of creating a better way to wipe. He discusses the challenges of bootstrapping the business, building the bold and irreverent Dude Wipes brand, and scaling the company to over $150 million in revenue. Sean dives into topics like viral marketing, focus and saying no, hiring, company culture, and his long-term vision for Dude Wipes. An insightful and entertaining look at building an iconic CPG brand.
[00:00:00] - Intro and Origin Story[00:04:21] - Starting Dude Wipes[00:08:12] - Bootstrapping Out of Necessity[00:11:10] - Founder Dynamics and Goals[00:13:00] - Developing the Dude Wipes Brand[00:18:25] - Hiring Consultants vs Employees[00:23:15] - Dude Wipes Company Culture[00:25:11] - Word of Mouth Marketing[00:28:46] - Making Butt Wipes Fun[00:31:13] - Brand Positioning and Moats[00:33:00] - Evolving Brand and Gender Dynamics[00:36:56] - Defining the Dude Wipes Enemy[00:39:30] - Personal Branding Benefits[00:42:51] - Building to Sell vs Cash Flow[00:48:00] - Acquisition Interest and Market Trends[00:52:06] - Focusing on the Core Business[00:57:45] - Rapid Fire Questions[01:04:56] - Wrap Up
ABOUT THE HOSTS:

Will Nitze is the Founder & CEO at IQBAR - America's leading "brain + body" nutrition startup. With minimal funding, Will has taken IQBAR from zero locations and zero in revenue in 2018 to 10,000+ doors and a projected $50 million in sales in 2024.

Joe Lemay founded Rocketbook with business partner Jake Epstein. After being featured on “Shark Tank”, where the sharks passed on a chance to invest – Joe would go on to grow Rocketbook and sell it to BIC for 40 million dollars just three years later.


Connect with Sean Riley:
DUDE Wipes: https://dudewipes.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/spriles/

In this episode of Eating Glass, we dive into the rollercoaster journey of Chris Savage, co-founder and CEO of Wistia, as he takes us behind the scenes of building a successful video marketing platform from scratch. From failed viral ideas, living on a shoestring budget to discovering product-market fit and growing a loyal customer base, Chris shares the ups and downs of bootstrapping a tech company in the early days of online video. Tune in for valuable insights on pivoting, marketing strategies, and the power of perseverance in the face of entrepreneurial challenges. Don't miss this inspiring story of turning a passion for video into a thriving business.
Chapters:
00:00:00 - Intro 00:02:56 - Motivations for starting a company00:05:18 - Early failed ideas and pivots00:11:04 - Surviving on a shoestring budget00:16:50 - Building a simple solution for customers 00:20:35 - Raising angel money00:22:29 - Navigating 200800:24:02 - Marketing strategies and content creation00:26:40 - Growing the team and revenue00:33:48 - Personal content creation00:37:12 - Keeping creativity alive00:41:40 - Balancing family and work00:43:00 - Dealing with burnout and stress00:49:43 - Trial and error as the best strategy 00:52:07 - Avoiding boredom00:57:27 - The Next Decade01:02:56 - Rapid-fire questions01:13:13 - Wrap-up
ABOUT THE HOSTS:

Will Nitze is the Founder & CEO at IQBAR - America's leading "brain + body" nutrition startup. With minimal funding, Will has taken IQBAR from zero locations and zero in revenue in 2018 to 10,000+ doors and a projected $50 million in sales in 2024.

Joe Lemay founded Rocketbook with business partner Jake Epstein. After being featured on “Shark Tank”, where the sharks passed on a chance to invest – Joe would go on to grow Rocketbook and sell it to BIC for 40 million dollars just three years later.


Connect with Chris Savage:
Chris' Podcast: https://wistia.com/series/talking-too-loudWistia Website: https://wistia.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cjsavageX: https://twitter.com/csavageInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/csavage

In this episode of Eating Glass, Pete Maldonado, co-founder and co-CEO of CHOMPS, shares his entrepreneurial journey from hitting rock bottom to building a successful meat snack brand. From bootstrapping with just $6,500 to navigating existential crises during COVID-19, Pete offers candid insights on focus, innovation, and the importance of people in scaling a startup. Join hosts Will Nitze and Joe LeMay as they dive deep into Pete's experiences, uncovering valuable lessons on resilience, leadership, and redefining success in the face of adversity.
00:00:00 - Intro00:04:05 - CHOMPS: Better-For-You Meat Snacks00:06:00 - Broke to Rich: Pete's Evolution00:09:15 - Bootstrapping vs. Raising Capital00:12:30 - Hand-to-Mouth: Financing Early CHOMPS00:16:46 - Urgency and the Brand Enemy00:18:39 - Throwing Out the Playbook00:22:36 - Product Innovation Through Simplification00:25:02 - Surviving Two Existential Crises00:34:41 - Filtering Advice and Trusting Instincts00:38:30 - Transitioning from Startup to Corporate00:43:08 - Rapid Fire: Hiring and Platitudes00:47:29 - Rapid Fire: Mistakes and Success
ABOUT THE HOSTS:

Will Nitze is the Founder & CEO at IQBAR - America's leading "brain + body" nutrition startup. With minimal funding, Will has taken IQBAR from zero locations and zero in revenue in 2018 to 10,000+ doors and a projected $50 million in sales in 2024.

Joe Lemay founded Rocketbook with business partner Jake Epstein. After being featured on “Shark Tank”, where the sharks passed on a chance to invest – Joe would go on to grow Rocketbook and sell it to BIC for 40 million dollars just three years later.


Connect with Pete Maldonado:
Chomps Website: https://chomps.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/petermaldonado/X: https://x.com/petemaldonadoInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/petemaldonado/

Ever dream of taking a wild product idea and turning it into a $50 million exit? Your co-host (and today's guest) Joe Lemay did just that with Rocketbook.
His initial idea was an app to digitize whiteboards in real-time. When that didn't pan out, Joe pivoted hard - creating the Rocketbook, a reusable notebook you could literally microwave to erase and reuse. This wacky "microwave to erase" gimmick went viral on Kickstarter, raising over $1 million. But actually manufacturing the microwavable notebooks was a nightmare...
Hear the full story of constant pivots, huge challenges, and 24/7 hustle behind this wild entrepreneurial journey.
00:00:00 - From Engineer to Entrepreneur00:03:50 - The Whiteboard App00:09:15 - Pivoting to Notebooks00:13:25 - Going Viral: Microwave to Erase00:19:20 - $1 Million in Pre-Sales00:22:20 - Manufacturing Nightmares00:26:45 - Surviving by a Thread00:30:10 - Shark Tank Roast00:31:25 - A Wipeable Wonder00:33:20 - Crowdfunding Kings00:38:15 - Word-of-Mouth Magic00:41:30 - Brick & Mortar Struggles00:44:50 - Exploring Exit Options00:53:50 - Selling to Bic: The $50 Million Deal00:56:40 - Post-Exit Life01:00:05 - Rapid Fire01:04:50 - Wrapping Up
ABOUT THE HOSTS:

Will Nitze is the Founder & CEO at IQBAR - America's leading "brain + body" nutrition startup. With minimal funding, Will has taken IQBAR from zero locations and zero in revenue in 2018 to 10,000+ doors and a projected $50 million in sales in 2024.

Joe Lemay founded Rocketbook with business partner Jake Epstein. After being featured on “Shark Tank”, where the sharks passed on a chance to invest – Joe would go on to grow Rocketbook and sell it to BIC for 40 million dollars just three years later.


Connect with Joe Lemay:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lemayjoe/X: https://twitter.com/lemayjoeInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/lemayjoe/?hl=en

Mike Fata, founder of Manitoba Harvest, shares his incredible journey from high school dropout to building a $419 million hemp empire. Discover the lessons he learned while navigating the challenges of entrepreneurship, from humble beginnings to scaling a business, managing successful exits, and embracing servant leadership. Mike's insights on passion, persistence, and personal growth will inspire and motivate you on your own entrepreneurial path.
Chapter Titles:00:00:00 - Intro00:05:16 - Starting Manitoba Harvest00:07:34 - Early Guerrilla Marketing00:11:56 - Scaling to $1 Million00:15:10 - The Path to $10 Million00:19:05 - Trademark Battles00:21:25 - Challenges of 24/7 Manufacturing00:22:18 - Navigating the First Exit00:27:44 - Life After Partial Exit00:29:54 - The $419 Million Exit00:32:14 - Investing Philosophy00:34:20 - Finding Deals00:36:10 - The Evolution of CPG00:40:00 - Mike's Portfolio Insights00:41:29 - A Tough Lesson Learned00:44:55 - Rapid Fire Questions00:49:14 - Balancing Entrepreneurship and Single Fatherhood00:52:05 - Servant Leadership00:53:06 - Conclusion

ABOUT THE HOSTS:

Will Nitze is the Founder & CEO at IQBAR - America's leading "brain + body" nutrition startup. With minimal funding, Will has taken IQBAR from zero locations and zero in revenue in 2018 to 10,000+ doors and a projected $50 million in sales in 2024.

Joe Lemay founded Rocketbook with business partner Jake Epstein. After being featured on “Shark Tank”, where the sharks passed on a chance to invest – Joe would go on to grow Rocketbook and sell it to BIC for 40 million dollars just three years later.


Connect with Mike Fata:

Website: https://www.mikefata.ca/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/themikefata/X: https://twitter.com/themikefataInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/themikefata/