The Startup CPG Podcast

Startup CPG
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The top CPG podcast in the world, highlighting stories from founders, buyer spotlights, highly practical industry insights - all to give you a better chance at success.

  1. 1D AGO

    #232 - 2026 Brand Resolutions

    In this special New Year's episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, host Daniel Scharff invites three founders from the Startup CPG community to share their 2026 brand resolutions—offering practical wisdom on focus, authenticity, and strategic growth for emerging CPG brands. Rebecca Styn, founder of Blind Tiger Spirit Free Cocktails, discusses her resolution to eliminate noise by being more intentional about opportunities. After initially going wide geographically and saying yes to numerous opportunities—from celebrity gifting to event activations—Rebecca shares why she's now focusing deep in her regional markets and being strategic about what aligns with her business goals. She emphasizes the hidden costs of "free" opportunities in beverage, where shipping often exceeds product cost and consumer purchase behavior doesn't support random sampling. Dava Guthmiller, founder of A Dash of (a taste education platform and curated shop specializing in salt, butter, and chocolate), shares her resolution to step into the spotlight. Despite her passion for interviewing makers and sharing their stories, Dava struggles to apply the same approach to her own brand on social media. She discusses the importance of authenticity, why sharing her personal passion matters for building trust, and how she's working to showcase herself and her story online, not just the products she curates. Andrew Schundler, co-founder of CH Matcha (a canned ceremonial-grade matcha latte), discusses his resolution to double down on what works in retail. Launching in July 2025, Andrew and his wife Chloe quickly learned that most consumers don't buy heavy beverage online. By focusing on in-person tastings and strategic retail placement—particularly sandwich shops—they've found their formula. Andrew emphasizes going deep rather than wide, learning from data, and knowing when to say "not yet" to opportunities that could stretch the business too thin. Listen in as they discuss: Rebecca: eliminating noise, being intentional with opportunities, saying no strategicallyThe hidden costs of "free" opportunities: celebrity gifting, events, product donationsWhy beverage brands struggle with online sales and shipping economicsDava: stepping into the spotlight and sharing her personal story on social mediaThe importance of authenticity and putting a face behind your brandSalt education: terroir, texture, and why single ingredients deserve storytellingAndrew: doubling down on retail execution and in-person demosLearning from early data and finding your best-performing channelsThe lily-pad growth strategy: leveraging each success to unlock the next opportunityGoing deep versus wide: strategic growth and knowing when to say "not yet" Episode Links: Blind Tiger Spirit Free Cocktails: Website: https://blindtigerspiritfree.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blindtigercocktailsA Dash Of: Website: https://adashof.co/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adashof/CHUH Matcha: Website: https://www.chuhmatcha.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chuhmatcha/Don't forget to leave a five-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify if you enjoyed this episode. For potential sponsorship opportunities or to join the Startup CPG community, visit http://www.startupcpg.com.  Show Links: Transcripts of each episode are available on the Transistor platform that hosts our podcast here (click on the episode and toggle to “Transcript” at the top)Join the Startup CPG Slack community (30K+ members and growing!)Follow @startupcpgVisit host Daniel's Linkedin Questions or comments about the episode? Email Daniel at podcast@startupcpg.comEpisode music by Super Fantastics

    34 min

  2. 4D AGO

    Investor Spotlight: Trevor Rechnitz, Vanterra Ventures

    In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, host Hannah Dittman sits down with Trevor Rechnitz, Principal at Vanterra Ventures, to explore the realities of fundraising—not just what looks good on paper, but what truly matters to investors. Trevor brings deep consumer investing experience built over nearly a decade, from sourcing and diligence to partner engagement and post-close value creation. At Vanterra Ventures, Trevor helps evaluate and back visionary teams and companies redefining consumer health, digital health, and enabling technologies across branded products and emerging categories. Vanterra Ventures is the venture and growth equity arm of Vanterra Capital, investing $1-10M checks into seed and Series A rounds across a $6 trillion consumer health category growing 10% year over year—from supplements and functional beverages to digital healthcare and health tech infrastructure. Throughout the conversation, Trevor breaks down common pitfalls founders encounter during fundraising and diligence processes, what makes an A+ intro call (strong problem-solution articulation and founder-market fit), and why knowing your numbers cold is non-negotiable. He shares practical insights on LTV to CAC dynamics (targeting 3x+ over 2-3 years), why gross margins north of 60-70% matter so much, and how to diagnose weak metrics by breaking them into components—AOV problems, margin problems, or repeat purchase problems (the hardest to fix). Trevor also discusses the importance of expectation setting with investors (success = results minus expectations), why consistent monthly investor updates are one of the most correlated variables to success, and what revenue ranges typically align with each fundraising round (0M pre-seed, 1-5M seed, 5-15M Series A, 15-30M+ Series B). Whether you're navigating your first fundraising process or looking to level up your investor relationships, this episode offers grounded, practical insights on what investors actually evaluate and how to build with intention from day one. Listen in as they discuss: Trevor's background: nearly a decade from PE consulting to Circle Up to Vanterra VenturesWhat Ventera is: $175M AUM, $1-10M checks, seed/Series A in consumer health products, services, and techCommon fundraising mistakes: getting defensive about risks, not knowing numbers cold, failing to interview VCsWhat makes an A+ intro call: strong problem-solution-founder fit, doing homework on the fundAdvice for founders: success = results minus expectations, send consistent monthly investor updatesWhy high gross margin (60%+) and repeat purchase rate are essential for consumer businessesLTV to CAC breakdown: targeting 3x+ over 2-3 years and how to diagnose weak metricsRevenue ranges by round: 0M pre-seed, 1-5M seed, 5-15M Series A, 15-30M+ Series B Episode Links: Trevor Rechnitz - Principal, Vanterra Ventures  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trevor-rechnitz-43b72582/  Website: https://www.vanterraventures.com/  Don't forget to leave a five-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify if you enjoyed this episode. For potential sponsorship opportunities or to join the Startup CPG community, visit http://www.startupcpg.com. Show Links: Transcripts of each episode are available on the Transistor platform that hosts our podcast here (click on the episode and toggle to “Transcript” at the top)Join the Startup CPG Slack community (30K+ members and growing!)Follow @startupcpgVisit host Hannah's Linkedin Questions or comments about the episode? Email Daniel at podcast@startupcpg.comEpisode music by Super Fantastics

    36 min

  3. 5D AGO

    Founder Feature: Taylor Espinoza of Unicorn Bites

    In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, Caitlin Bricker welcomes Taylor Espinoza, founder of Unicorn Bites, a fast-emerging better-for-you snack brand known for its 100% date-sweetened, allergen-free mini cookies. Taylor shares her remarkable journey from practicing law to building a brand that’s redefining indulgence with clean, functional ingredients designed to be school-safe and family-friendly. Throughout the conversation, Taylor discusses how Unicorn Bites evolved from a farmer’s market concept into a shelf-ready product beloved by parents and kids alike. She reveals the product development process—refining hundreds of recipes, responding to direct consumer feedback, and navigating challenges such as ensuring product consistency and durability during warm-weather shipping. You will also gain insight into Taylor’s retail and growth strategy, her focus on local market expansion in New Jersey and New York, and her long-term vision of landing partnerships with leading natural retailers like Whole Foods and Erewhon. The episode closes with an engaging discussion on the evolving value of certifications, ingredient transparency, and how modern consumers are reshaping the standards of trust and authenticity in the food industry. Listen now to learn how Taylor Espinoza turned a weekend baking passion into a purpose-driven snack brand. Listen in as they share about: Founder Story & Brand OriginsProduct Development & InnovationBranding & NamingRetail & Growth StrategyManaging Costs and Financial PlanningCertifications, Transparency & Consumer TrustCommunity & Customer Connection Episode Links: Website: https://tryunicornbites.com/ Instagram: @tryunicornbites   Don't forget to leave a five-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify if you enjoyed this episode. For potential sponsorship opportunities or to join the Startup CPG community, visit http://www.startupcpg.com. Show Links: Transcripts of each episode are available on the Transistor platform that hosts our podcast here (click on the episode and toggle to “Transcript” at the top)Join the Startup CPG Slack community (20K+ members and growing!)Follow @startupcpgVisit host Caitlin's Linkedin Questions or comments about the episode? Email Daniel at podcast@startupcpg.comEpisode music by Super Fantastics

    24 min

  4. JAN 13

    #231 - Tools I Actually Use to Save Time

    In this solo episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, founder and CEO Daniel Scharff shares the tools he actually uses every day to save time and run his business more efficiently in 2026. None of these are sponsors or partners—just genuine recommendations from tools that have made a real difference in productivity. Daniel breaks down his toolkit into four key buckets: Core Operating System (Superhuman for email management with snippets and reminders, Notion for project management, and Surfe for LinkedIn outreach automation), Back Office Solutions (Calendly for scheduling and Bill.com for invoicing), Content Creation Tools (Riverside.fm for high-quality recordings and ChatGPT for brainstorming and analytics), and Team & Talent Resources (Upwork for finding specialized contractors, LinkedIn Jobs for hiring, and offshore contractors for cost-effective team building). Whether you're looking to master inbox zero, automate repetitive tasks, create better content faster, or build a lean team on a tight budget, this episode offers practical, tested solutions that Daniel uses at Startup CPG every single day. Listen in as Daniel shares: Superhuman: email snippets, automatic reminders, and inbox zero strategyNotion: project management dashboards and team alignmentSurfe: automating LinkedIn outreach with personalized message templatesCalendly: group calendars and eliminating scheduling back-and-forthBill.com: invoicing with automatic credit card fee pass-throughRiverside.fm: high-quality content recording with AI-generated clipsChatGPT: brainstorming, interview guides, and tighter wordingUpwork: finding specialized contractors for one-off tasksLinkedIn Jobs: promoting job posts to find quality candidates fastOffshore contractors: building cost-effective teams in Brazil, Philippines, Argentina None of these are sponsors or partners of Startup CPG, these are actual tools that we use to save time. To join our slack community, visit startupcpg.com Don't forget to leave a five-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify if you enjoyed this episode. For potential sponsorship opportunities or to join the Startup CPG community, visit http://www.startupcpg.com.  Show Links: Transcripts of each episode are available on the Transistor platform that hosts our podcast here (click on the episode and toggle to “Transcript” at the top)Join the Startup CPG Slack community (30K+ members and growing!)Follow @startupcpgVisit host Daniel's Linkedin Questions or comments about the episode? Email Daniel at podcast@startupcpg.comEpisode music by Super Fantastics

    14 min

  5. JAN 10

    Investor Spotlight: Brian Bustamante-Nicholson, Greycroft

    In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, host Hannah Dittman sits down with Brian Bustamante-Nicholson, a partner at Greycroft in the consumer brands vertical, to explore what growth-stage investors actually look for in consumer businesses—and how founders can build with intention from day one. Brian has spent 15 years working alongside founders building consumer businesses, developing a sharp lens for what actually drives durable growth versus what just looks good in a pitch deck. His experience spans deep e-commerce knowledge and evaluating brands at the earliest stages through to scale, giving him a practical, operator-minded view of how products, teams, and metrics evolve over time. At Greycroft, Brian leads a separate consumer investment strategy alongside founding entrepreneurs Catherine Power (Avaline, Burst, Merit) and Eric Ryan (Method, Olly), investing in exceptional growth-stage consumer businesses at inflection points—typically $5-15M in revenue with strong product-market fit signals. Throughout the conversation, Brian shares the core pillars he looks at during diligence (velocities, cohort behavior, repeat purchase rate, unit economics, margin structure), why capital efficiency matters more than flashy growth, and how strategics evaluate businesses the same way investors do—making gamesmanship around metrics a losing strategy. He discusses lessons learned from standout portfolio companies like Array (anti-aging hair care), what strong founders consistently get right for long-term success, and how to think about building real defensibility as you grow—particularly the importance of retail distribution as a moat in oversaturated categories like health and wellness, skincare, and beverage. Brian also shares his perspective on how AI is beginning to meaningfully show up in the consumer space through agentic commerce (AI agents shopping on consumers' behalf), why building digital footprints and distribution today will benefit brands tomorrow, and why being a first adopter in platform shifts creates outsized advantages through better marketplace economics. Whether you're navigating business decisions or fundraising conversations, this episode offers grounded, thoughtful insights on how investors evaluate consumer businesses and what it takes to build enduring brands that compound over time. Listen in as they discuss: Brian's background: 15 years investing from Stripes Group to Sonoma Brands to Greycroft's consumer strategyWhat Greycroft looks for: $5-15M revenue, strong product-market fit, unit economics, margin structurePortfolio case study: Array anti-aging hair care and investing at inflection pointsWhy capital efficiency matters: strategics see through gamesmanship around margins and growthRetail distribution as a moat: differentiation in oversaturated digital-native categoriesHow AI is changing commerce: agentic shopping and building trust with AI agents through reviews and digital footprintsLessons learned: patience, concentrated strategies, and building enduring businesses with strong fundamentalsFundraising process: relationship-building timelines and how many meetings before closing deals Episode Links: Brian Bustamante-Nicholson - Partner, Greycroft LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-b-nicholson-a813372/ Greycroft Website: https://www.greycroft.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/greycroft-partners/ Don't forget to leave a five-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify if you enjoyed this episode. For potential sponsorship opportunities or to join the Startup CPG community, visit http://www.startupcpg.com Show Links: Transcripts of each episode are available on the Transistor platform that hosts our podcast here (click on the episode and toggle to “Transcript” at the top)Join the Startup CPG Slack community (30K+ members and growing!)Follow @startupcpgVisit host Hannah's Linkedin Questions or comments about the episode? Email Daniel at podcast@startupcpg.comEpisode music by Super Fantastics

    39 min

  6. JAN 9

    Founder Feature: Alan Scholnick of Datefix

    In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, Caitlin Bricker welcomes Alan Scholnick, founder and CEO of Datefix, for a thoughtful conversation on innovation, wellness, and entrepreneurship in the food industry. Alan shares how his journey from real estate and private aviation to launching a natural food brand was driven by a passion for fitness and clean nutrition. Alan discusses the inspiration behind Datefix—a simple yet powerful concept that turns one of nature’s oldest fruits, the date, into a convenient, portable energy source. He explains how Datefix bridges the gap between health, flavor, and functionality, serving as both a nutritious snack and a reliable fuel for athletes and busy professionals alike. They also delve into the nutritional science and versatility of dates, exploring their role as a low-glycemic, fiber-rich source of sustained energy. Alan also reflects on the brand’s authentic approach to marketing and consumer education, emphasizing humor, transparency, and a commitment to bringing natural foods back to the forefront of modern wellness. You will also hear about Datefix’s growing community—from marathon runners to individuals managing diabetes—who have made the product a trusted part of their daily lives. Tune in to learn how Datefix is redefining healthy snacking by combining simplicity, authenticity, and purpose. Listen in as they share about: Origins and Concept of DatefixHealth and Nutrition BenefitsSustainability and Zero-Waste InnovationCustomer Stories and Community ImpactRetail Growth and Brand PositioningCultural Shift Toward Real FoodCommunity and Distribution Episode Links: Website: https://datefix.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alan-scholnick-70a7061b5/  Don't forget to leave a five-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify if you enjoyed this episode. For potential sponsorship opportunities or to join the Startup CPG community, visit http://www.startupcpg.com. Show Links: Transcripts of each episode are available on the Transistor platform that hosts our podcast here (click on the episode and toggle to “Transcript” at the top)Join the Startup CPG Slack community (20K+ members and growing!)Follow @startupcpgVisit host Caitlin's Linkedin Questions or comments about the episode? Email Daniel at podcast@startupcpg.comEpisode music by Super Fantastics

    27 min

  7. JAN 6

    #230 - From Self-Distribution to Full-Service Distributor: Scaling Ops with Smidge Beverage and Cin7

    In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, host Daniel Scharff sits down with Adam O'Connor, founder of Smidge Beverage—a lightly boozy 2.5% ABV vodka soda—and Josh Fischer, VP of Product at Cin7, to explore how early-stage founders can build scalable operations systems that support growth without breaking as they scale. Adam shares his journey launching Smidge Beverage, a premium low-alcohol vodka soda brand in Arizona, starting with self-distribution before transitioning to third-party distributors. With a finance and supply chain background, Adam knew from day one that having proper systems in place—particularly inventory management—would be critical to scaling efficiently. He implemented Cin7 pre-revenue, recognizing that without an end-to-end system to track inventory, lot codes, expiration dates, and invoicing, operations would quickly become unsustainable as the business grew. Throughout the conversation, Adam discusses the realities of self-distribution in the alcohol industry (navigating three-tier systems, building retailer relationships, delivering and merchandising products himself), why he chose to invest in inventory management before his first production run, and how systems like Cin7 allowed him to focus on growing the business rather than manually tracking ingredients and managing spreadsheets. Josh provides the Cin7 perspective on what founders need to know about inventory management, why the transition from "brand builder" to "operations economist" typically happens around the 12-month mark, and how proper systems enable better inventory forecasting, sales channel expansion, and warehouse efficiency. Whether you're launching a CPG brand, scaling self-distribution, or wondering when to implement proper back-office systems, this conversation offers honest lessons on why getting infrastructure right early matters, how to avoid common pitfalls when implementing inventory management software, and why founders who prioritize operations alongside brand-building are better positioned for sustainable growth. Listen in as they discuss: Adam's journey: finance background in wine and spirits, launching Smidge Beverage (2.35% ABV vodka soda)Implementing Cin7 inventory management pre-revenue: why systems matter from day oneSelf-distribution realities: navigating three-tier alcohol systems and building retailer relationshipsWhen to transition from self-distribution to third-party distributorsThe three stages of CPG growth: inventory forecasting, sales expansion, operations efficiencyWhy founders shift from "brand builder" to "operations economist" around 12 monthsSetting up SKUs, lot codes, expiration tracking, and integrations (QuickBooks, Shopify, EDI)Tips for implementation: focused onboarding, outsource accounting, learn systematicallyKey CPG tech stack: inventory management, accounting, Shopify/EDIEpisode Links: Cin7:Get 50% off your first 3 months: https://bit.ly/458bcCY Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cin7/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cin7online/?hl=en Josh Fischer - VP of Product, Cin7 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshcfischer/  Smidge Beverage:  Website: https://www.smidgebeverage.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/smidge-beverage/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smidgebeverage/?hl=enAdam O'Connor - Founder, Smidge Beverage LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamoconnor-8519201b7/ Don't forget to leave a five-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify if you enjoyed this episode. For potential sponsorship opportunities or to join the Startup CPG community, visit http://www.startupcpg.com.  Show Links: Transcripts of each episode are available on the Transistor platform that hosts our podcast here (click on the episode and toggle to “Transcript” at the top)Join the Startup CPG Slack community (30K+ members and growing!)Follow @startupcpgVisit host Daniel's Linkedin Questions or comments about the episode? Email Daniel at podcast@startupcpg.comEpisode music by Super Fantastics

    49 min

  8. JAN 3

    Investor Spotlight: Family Fund with Josh Wand and Sean Kelly

    In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, host Hannah Dittman sits down with Josh Wand and Sean Kelly, General Partners at the Family Fund, to explore what founders actually need to understand when navigating fundraising. The Family Fund is a deeply community-driven investment firm built by former founders who believe the best companies are built through trust, transparency, and long-term partnership. Josh and Sean bring decades of firsthand entrepreneurial experience and an incredibly deep operator and founder network, which gives them a uniquely practical, grounded perspective on investing at the earliest stages. Throughout the conversation, they unpack why asking the right questions matters just as much as having the right answers, how to truly understand deal terms and power dynamics, and why knowing an investor's focus, incentives, and target stage is critical before bringing them onto your cap table. The conversation covers the traits that consistently show up in great founders, the difference between early-stage problems (product-market fit, customer love) versus later-stage challenges (team scaling, professionalism, organizational structure), and how to think about alignment as your company grows. Josh and Sean also emphasize the importance of researching investors the same way you would research retail buyers—understanding their allocation strategy, stage focus, and whether they actually invest in your specific vertical and company size before pitching. Throughout the episode, listeners gain tactical insights on essential questions to ask investors (like "walk me through a time one of your investments struggled and how you showed up"), why raising at too high a valuation can backfire and limit future funding options, critical deal terms to watch out for (liquidation preferences, redemption rights, founder vesting resets), and why founders should optimize for the next five years—not just winning the current round. Whether you're preparing for your first institutional fundraise or evaluating investor partners for a growth round, this conversation offers honest, hard-won insights from two investors who have been in the founder seat themselves. Listen in as they discuss: Josh and Sean's backgrounds: 20+ years as entrepreneurs before co-founding Family Fund in 2022What Family Fund is: Early stage investor ($1-5M checks) with 60%+ founder and CEO LPsHow fund cycles work and what Fund 1 vs. Fund 2 means for foundersWhy researching investors matters: treating it like researching retail buyers at TargetEssential questions founders should ask investors before accepting capitalUnderstanding critical deal terms: liquidation preferences, redemption rights, and founder vesting resetsWhy raising at too high a valuation backfires and limits future funding optionsTraits of great founders and early-stage vs. growth-stage problem differencesWhy the best founders optimize for the next 5 years—not just winning the current roundFounderland 2026: Family Fund's annual gathering of 7,800+ founders, retailers, and strategics Episode Links: Website: https://www.humblegrowth.com/ Personal LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-giannuzzi-6a550b14b/ Company LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/humblegrowth.com/  Don't forget to leave a five-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify if you enjoyed this episode. For potential sponsorship opportunities or to join the Startup CPG community, visit http://www.startupcpg.com Show Links: Transcripts of each episode are available on the Transistor platform that hosts our podcast here (click on the episode and toggle to “Transcript” at the top)Join the Startup CPG Slack community (30K+ members and growing!)Follow @startupcpgVisit host Hannah's Linkedin Questions or comments about the episode? Email Daniel at podcast@startupcpg.comEpisode music by Super Fantastics

    47 min
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About

The top CPG podcast in the world, highlighting stories from founders, buyer spotlights, highly practical industry insights - all to give you a better chance at success.

Information

  • Creator
    Startup CPG
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    375
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Startup CPG
  • Show Website
    The Startup CPG Podcast

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