We delve into the journey of Tom First, founder of Nantucket Nectars & Culture Pop. Discover the challenges and triumphs of building a beloved brand, the importance of authenticity in product development, and the lessons learned from navigating the beverage industry. Tom shares his experiences from the early days of creating a juice company that redefined the market to the strategic decisions that led to its success. Learn about the critical moments that shaped Nantucket Nectars, the philosophy behind making a product to be proud of, and the personal and professional dynamics of co-founding a business. Tom also discusses his new venture, Culture Pop, and how it continues his passion for creating innovative and healthy beverages.

Sponsors:

Ramp

IQBar - Amazon

Chapters:

[00:00:00] Brand Building Challenges
[00:00:34] Meet the Hosts
[00:02:00] Introducing Sponsors
[00:02:45] Welcome Tom First
[00:04:00] Culture Pop Origins
[00:06:30] Early Business Lessons
[00:08:00] Nantucket Nectars Beginnings
[00:10:45] Defining Soda and Seltzer
[00:15:00] Early Business Challenges
[00:17:30] Competing with Big Brands
[00:20:00] Building a National Brand
[00:21:45] Importance of Storytelling
[00:24:00] Key Decisions in Business
[00:27:00] Impact of Selling Business
[00:31:00] Moving Beyond Nectars
[00:34:00] Investor Dynamics
[00:37:30] Post-Nectars Ventures
[00:43:00] Developing Culture Pop
[00:49:00] Market Positioning
[00:52:30] Raising Capital
[00:54:00] Future of Functional Soda
[01:00:00] Advice for Entrepreneurs
[01:02:00] Building a Strong Team
[01:05:00] Personal Impact of Business
[01:07:00] Defining Success Today

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 Tom:

Culture Pop: https://drinkculturepop.com/
X: https://x.com/drinkculturepop

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-first-532ab55/

Join us as we sit down with Mike Beckham, the co-founder and CEO of Simple Modern, a company that has gone from challenger to incumbent in the drinkware industry with a unique blend of style, quality, and philanthropy. Mike shares his journey from the nonprofit world to building a $250M+ profitable business, emphasizing the importance of mission-driven entrepreneurship. Discover how Simple Modern's commitment to giving away 10% of their profits has not only shaped their company culture but also fueled their remarkable success. This episode is packed with insights on scaling, maintaining a strong organizational ethos, and the real meaning behind business excellence. Don’t miss out on this inspiring conversation that goes beyond business to explore deeper questions of purpose and impact.

Sponsors:

Ramp

IQBar - Amazon

Chapters:

00:00:00 - Scaling and Overstimulation
00:00:25 - Welcome to Eating Glass
00:02:45 - Introduction to Mike Beckham
00:03:45 - Nonprofit World Insights
00:05:45 - Business with Dual Purposes
00:07:45 - Impact of Previous Experiences
00:09:00 - Quality of Life Insights
00:11:00 - Money and Contentment
00:12:00 - Responsibility and Trade-offs
00:13:45 - Rapid Company Growth
00:16:00 - Working with Family
00:17:45 - Business Partnerships
00:19:00 - Product Longevity Surprises
00:21:15 - Breaking Growth Barriers
00:22:30 - Sales Channels Expansion
00:23:00 - Drinkware Market Fragmentation
00:24:45 - Fashion and Trends
00:25:45 - Domestic Manufacturing
00:26:15 - Oreo Principle
00:27:45 - Challenges of Growth
00:29:45 - Entrepreneurship Motivations
00:31:00 - Market Opportunities
00:33:45 - Customer Satisfaction
00:34:45 - Amazon Strategy
00:36:15 - Product Excellence
00:38:00 - Digital Tools Advantage
00:40:00 - Brand Evolution
00:42:00 - Pricing Strategy
00:43:00 - Operational Excellence
00:45:15 - Competitive Advantages
00:47:00 - Challenger Brand Strategies
00:49:00 - Value and Quality
00:51:00 - Growth and Inventory
00:53:00 - Product Trends
00:55:00 - Licensing and Customization
00:57:15 - Focus vs. Variety
00:58:45 - Scaling and Distribution
01:00:15 - Strategic Insights
01:02:15 - Direct Response Marketing
01:04:00 - Business Model and Philanthropy
01:07:00 - Motivating the Team
01:10:00 - Building Organizational Values
01:12:45 - Financial Discipline
01:15:00 - Banking Relationships
01:18:00 - Forecasting and Growth
01:20:00 - Collateral and Credit
01:22:45 - Rapid Fire Questions
01:24:15 - Entrepreneurial Truths
01:25:45 - Startup Myths
01:27:15 - Personal Value Proposition
01:28:45 - Biggest Mistakes
01:30:00 - Personal Life Impact
01:32:45 - Long-Term Impact
01:35:00 - External Validation
01:36:15 - Hiring Strategy
01:37:30 - Cultural and Character Moats
01:39:00 - 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 Mike:

Website: https://www.mikebeckhamblog.com/
X: https://x.com/mikebeckhamsm

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikebeckham/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikebeckhamsm/

Joe and Will sit down with Peter Rahal, co-founder of RXBAR, to delve into his journey from a challenging school experience to creating one of the most iconic protein bars on the market. Peter shares how early adversity shaped his relentless drive, the innovative approach behind RXBAR's success, and the pivotal moments that led to a $600 million exit to Kellogg's. Tune in to hear valuable insights on product development, navigating the nutrition bar market, and the importance of embracing failure.

Chapters:

[00:00:00] Peter Rahal's early challenges

[00:03:00] Harnessing adversity

[00:08:00] The origin of RXBAR

[00:14:00] The importance of product iteration

[00:23:00] Scaling without external funding

[00:32:00] The legendary rebranding of RXBAR

[00:45:00] The decision to sell

[01:00:00] Launching David

[01:12:00] Rapid fire

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 Peter:

Website: https://davidprotein.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/peterrahal/?hl=en

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-rahal-037bba43/