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TIG Talks are taped in front of a live virtual audience featuring your questions raw and unfiltered. Bringing together the Natural Product industry’s founders, experts, buyers, and legends, we discuss how to build Tardigrades, not Unicorns, nimble, capital-efficient, resilient brands that scale.
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The “NexxtLevel Brands Podcast’ brings thought leaders and vital information and opinion to the Entrepreneurial Food, Beverage, and CPG Industry. Our audience is aimed at up-and-coming entrepreneurs in the CPG industry and people who have an idea for a product or service that fits in that realm. The show’s emphasis is on disrupters and thought-leaders, but also tips from veterans and key suppliers that would help fellow CPG professionals achieve their goals. NexxtLevel Brands Podcast touches ...
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Lindsey Cunningham is the Co-founder and CEO of RollinGreens, a brand that offers tasty, plant-based, clean label food. She was born into an entrepreneurial family in Scarsdale, New York and grew up with the dream of having her own restaurant. She is persistent, passionate and a risk taker. Lindsey graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder …
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Hema Reddy is the Founder and CEO of Crafty Counter, a food company that specializes in nutrient-dense food that also is pleasing to the taste buds. Their flagship product, Wunder Nuggets, provides a well-balanced meal contained in every serving. Crafty Counter is designed to help flexitarian families have better choices so that they can help long …
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Encore Presentation from 2020: Ryne O'Donnell is the Founder of Sol-ti, a living beverage company. Ryne’s personal obsession with health and well-being along with the undeniable benefits of good, organic food and juice had on his body made him realize that there was a lack of quality options for travelers. This, coupled with the incessant infiltrat…
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Encore Presentation: The Healthier Way to 100% Organic Protein! Bare Bones on the Nexxt Level Podcast!
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Encore Presentation: Katherine Harvey is the Co-founder of Bare Bones, a San Diego based nutrition company offering a full menu of protein-infused products including ready to use bone broth, collagen protein powder, and instant bone broth beverage mixes. After three years as a business reporter at the San Diego Union Tribune, Kate left journalism a…
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Encore from July 2020: Marc Siden is the CEO of Cloud Water Brands. He is also a former Co-Founder and CEO of Onboard Informatics, a self-funded real estate technology company that pioneered the dissemination of online real estate data to businesses like Zillow, Trulia, and Chase Bank, among others. He was also an Advisory Board Member for NabeWise…
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Elliot Begoun is a 30-year industry veteran. He's an author and Founder of TIG Brands, a practice focused on helping emerging natural product brands grow. TIG as a customized one-to-one accelerator that positions natural product brands to raise capital, prove velocity, gain distribution, and scale. Elliot is a prolific speaker and writer in his ind…
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Jamie Valenti-Jordan is the Founder and CEO of Catapult Commercialization Services, a one-stop shop for food startups. He founded the company in March of 2018 in response to the industry-wide trend of cutting the talent needed to bring new products to life. Jamie has a passion for confronting unique food challenges that combine scientific tools, en…
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Encore Presentation Brian Tate is the Founder and CEO of Oats Overnight. He studied at the Grande Valley University for two years before leaving to pursue professional poker. After more than a decade of playing high-stakes poker, he took his passion for risk, analytics, and game theory and applied that expertise where it was needed: the crowded bre…
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Encore Presentation: In this episode, we’re welcoming back Alex Bayer, Co-Founder and CEO of Genius Juice for an update. Genius Juice was featured on Shark Tank, they received Bevnet Smoothie of the Year, and Alex is now the host of two podcasts –15 Minutes of Genius and Friday Vibes, and he’s here to tell us about the latest news and progress arou…
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Encore: Today I’m welcoming back Michael Movitz, of the Movitz group, and co- founding partner of Brandjectory, a one-of-a-kind relationship-building platform for early-stage CPG founders and investors to help discover each other. We last spoke in October of 2020, so we have plenty to hear about Brandjectory and its journey since then. Michael's ca…
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Encore Presentation: Baking Up Better-for-You Brownies - dalci on the NexxtLevel Brands Podcast!
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Encore Presentation: Najwa Khan is the Founder of dalci, a line of gut-healthy brownies. Najwa started the company after struggling to find healthy snacks that could satisfy her craving for sweets. She has over 10 years of experience in the health and wellness space, having worked in various roles for nonprofits, market research firms, healthcare a…
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Encore Presentation: A Healthy Snack with Total Appeal - RIND Snacks on the NexxtLevel Brands Podcast
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Matt Weiss is the Founder and CEO of RIND Snacks, a better-for-you snack company focused on whole fruit nutrition. After a nearly two-decade career in finance, Matt launched RIND Snacks in 2017 and returned to his family's health food roots. His passion for whole foods snacking was inspired by lessons he learned from his great-grandmother, Helen Se…
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Finding key talent is a struggle for many companies. As drivers of growth, these people can make or break your business, so it helps to learn the ways we find the right ones for us. Here to impart his insights and experience is Mark Sandler. He is a Managing Partner of Transcend Search Partners, a search firm that offers a hands-on approach to find…
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Business Funding Fit: Finding The Right Capital For Your Startup's Success With Keith Harrington
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Aligning funding with your business goals isn't just about getting capital – it's about ensuring the fuel matches the journey for sustainable success. In this episode, we have Keith Harrington from Novel Capital to discuss the complex world of business funding. He explores the critical importance of aligning funding structures with business models,…
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In this Encore episode we are following up with one of our previous guests, Will Nitze, Founder and CEO of IQBar. We last spoke to Will before the pandemic, so our discussion will cover the last few years and what’s been happening at IQBar, the pandemic and how it affected the company, and future ideas for new product categories. IQBar’s mission is…
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In this Encore Podcast episode, I speak with Dave Zilko, Co-Founder of Skinny Butcher. You’ll hear the amazing origin story of the “plant poultry” brand that was founded after Dave and his partner Jack built and sold Garden Fresh salsa to Campbell Soups for $231M. Dave shares his passion for Skinny Butcher’s sustainability focus, hopes for a global…
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Entrepreneurship is groundless because things are always changing. Finding success means learning to stay afloat with what is happening. Join us in this episode as Merril Gilbert from Trace Trust shares how to thrive in an era where change is the only constant. She discusses the changes in entrepreneurship, from raising capital to fostering resilie…
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Encore: Getting a slice of a Staid Category, Willamette Valley Pie Company - On the NexxtLevel Brands Podcast
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Encore Presentation: My guest today is Austin Kelly, CEO at Willamette Valley Pie Company in Oregon. I speak with Austin about how Willamette is growing their business– carefully self-financing, planning their expansion slowly and naturally. Their products occupy a premium, artisanal spot in the frozen pie category, and continue to be hand-crafted …
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To succeed as an entrepreneur, you don't need to chase the illusion of instant success. It is about persistently and resolutely pursuing continuous growth. Today, Simeon Margolis discusses the raw truths, challenges, and triumphs of building a business from the ground up. He debunks myths and misconceptions surrounding startup success, such as “hoc…
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Today we’re speaking with David Cisneros, co-founder of WES and Origo Brands, and taking an enlightening journey through the world of Hispanic food brands. David shares his transition from attorney to successful food brand entrepreneur. You’ll hear about David’s travels to Latin America and how he is shaking up the US market with new and authentic …
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In the world of Consumer Packaged Goods, the key to success is not in following the crowd, but in daring to ask the right questions and charting your own unique path. In this episode, we have special guest David Mesa, the President of WE GROW CPG, a firm that specializes in helping emerging CPG brands succeed in this highly competitive industry. To…
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In this Encore episode we are following up with one of our previous guests, Stephen Caldwell. Stephen fell in love with Swiss Röstis in his travels and brought this delicious Bern tradition back home. He and his wife Lory have been perfecting the recipe and serving them to family and friends ever since. Rosti Stuft Spuds have been on a white-hot tr…
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Should you launch your brand with Costco or not? Bringing us his sales experience with Costco in this episode is Jeremy Smith, the CEO of LaunchPad Group USA, the official home to the entrepreneurs of food brands. Today, Jeremy explores how Costco could build a business owner’s brand or destroy it. He also brings insights into the categories within…
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Entrepreneurship is the food for growth, and it takes a good meal of business to grow. But what are the key ingredients for a profitable business? In this episode, Sari Kimbell, the Author of Key Ingredients: How to Turn Your Passion Product Into A Profitable Business, reveals the secret behind a profitable business, especially when you’re a startu…
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Encore Presentation: A better way to satisfy those nighttime cravings! Nightfood on the NexxtLevel Brands Podcast!
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Encore Presentation: Did you know that humans are hard-wired to crave calorie-dense foods at bedtime? This traces all the way back to prehistoric times. Currently, over 80% of Americans snack regularly at night, and every week, over 700 million nighttime snacks are consumed resulting in a weekly spend of over $1B. The most popular nighttime snack c…
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Understanding Generational Differences: Bridging The Gap In The Modern Workplace With Erin-Kate Whitcomb
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Embracing generational differences fuels innovation, harbors success, and creates the ultimate dream team. Join us as our special guest, Erin-Kate Whitcomb, author of “Good Work: How Gen X and Millennials are the Dream Team for Doing Good When Collaborating Well,” explores the fascinating interplay between generations in today's workforce and uncov…
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Caroline MacDougall is the Founder and CEO of Teeccino Caffe, a unique line of herbal roasted coffees and teas with several wellness benefits. She is also a natural products industry pioneer with over 40 years of entrepreneurial experience in developing herbal teas for top companies such as Yogi, The Republic of Tea, and Organic India. Caroline beg…
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Mindful Your Business: How Awareness And Mindfulness Creates Impact In Business With Arron Mansika
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How can you be productive in your business? What is the root cause of your problems keeping you from being productive? Today, Arron Mansika, the Founder of Mindful Your Business, explains how awareness and mindfulness push your business toward success. He explains the value of awareness in strategic adaptability. Arron also shares the benefits of i…
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From Plate To Profit: How To Succeed In The Food Service Business With Edward Zimmerman, The Food Connector
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Success in the food service industry lies in building relationships, serving passion on a plate, and crafting tailored marketing that feeds the appetite of operators and chefs. In this episode, Edward Zimmerman, the founder of The Food Connector, discusses how to thrive in the world of food service, and the secrets to success in an ever-evolving ma…
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Encore - From No Guilt Pizza? It's True! - Cali'flour Foods on the NexxtLevel Brands Podcast!
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Encore Presentation from early 2020 - Amy Lacey is the Owner and Founder of Cali’flour. Amy set out to re-imagine her favorite foods and created a no-mess no-stress, cauliflower pizza crust to satisfy her cravings without sacrificing her health. No longer able to enjoy pizza night with her family, Amy set out to re-imagine her favorite foods and cr…
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Encore Presentation - Kelly Egan is the Co-founder of True Salt, an all-natural, unprocessed sea salt serving hospitality and grocery accounts nationwide. He is a marketing and venture development veteran with experience in Fortune 100 companies as well as high-growth startups. Brian Pierce is the Co-founder of True Salt. He has decades of expertis…
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More and more people are seeking brands who can provide them not only with quality products but can also take care of their wellbeing. That is exactly what Richa Gupta is doing through Good Food For Good, where they work hard to transform the food system. Joining Elliot Begoun, she discusses their mission to make it easy for people to eat healthy b…
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Encore Presentation: Get Your Brand PR Started!! Gloria Chou on the NexxtLevel Brands Podcast
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Encore Presentation ‘Get Your Brand PR Started!! – Gloria Chou on the NexxtLevel Brands Podcast! Steve’s guest this week is Gloria Chou, Consumer Products PR expert, mentor and pitch expert. Gloria talks today about how important Public Relations is; how it is different than advertising and also, how Founders and small team members can actually do …
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Encore Presentation: Take Healthy Snacking to the Next Level, Recipe 33 on the NexxtLevel Podcast.
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Encore Presentation: Daniel Smith enjoyed healthy snacks while studying at school. He loved flavored almonds - but what a mess! I’m sure you are familiar with that salty, greasy hand scenario when you finish off a package of Blue Diamond nuts, for instance. That’s how his idea for infused almonds came about. As founder and CEO of Recipe 33, Daniel …
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Navigating The Costco Of Today: Getting Expert Help To Succeed With Jeremy Smith And Terry Meyer
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What separates Costco from traditional grocers? The guests today are the OGs of the industry with much value in their pockets to share with everyone in this episode’s conversation. Jeremy Smith and Terry Meyer provide tips on navigating the Costco of today to generate sales and find an expert to help set the business to success. Jeremy explains how…
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Encore Presentation: Hard to Be Humble... Humblemaker Coffee on the NexxtLevel Brands Podcast!
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Encore Presentation - My guest today is Chris Smith, Co-Founder of Humblemaker Coffee. Its mission is not just to create craft premium coffee, but to shape an incredible future for children living with autism through opportunities to experience surfing, music, and the great outdoors. Humblemaker is on a journey to create coffee products and beverag…
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Encore Presentation. Is there a food or product that you wish you could find in the grocery store or your local health food market? Why not try creating it yourself? Juan and David, the co-founders of ChipMonk Baking, did just that. ChipMonk is a specialty baking business that focuses on creating low-carb, no added sugar desserts. Their mission, wh…
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Raising capital in the best of times is already hard. How much more in our current uncertain environment? Not to worry though because, in this episode, Elliot Begoun shares crucial information that will help us raise aligned capital in these tough times. He breaks down the sources of capital and the structures as well as alternative structures of c…
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Encore: An Answer to the Broken Meat Supply Chain: Farmer Focus on the NexxtLevel Brands Podcast
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Encore Presentation: Corwin Heatwole is the Founder and CEO of Farmer Focus, the number one exclusively organic chicken farm in the United States. As a sixth-generation family farmer, Corwin grew up working on his family's farm. He founded Farmer Focus almost 8 years ago with a dream of creating a financially viable farming business he could pass d…
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Entrepreneurship is a journey that takes a village. Success comes from being surrounded by people who can unlock your brand's potential and help you navigate the choppy waters of change. In this episode, we have Betsy McGinn, an e-commerce and Amazon expert and a longtime participant in the Hirschberg Entrepreneurship Institute. Betty talks about h…
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Encore from April 2022 -The biggest trends we’re seeing in the natural products industry (as evidenced at the recent ExpoWest 2022 in Anaheim this past March) are plant-based, regenerative, and upcycling/reducing food waste. Cool Beans’ whole food, plant-based, minimally processed frozen wraps are right on target. In this episode, I’m speaking with…
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As an emerging business, your branding and messaging are some of the essential pieces you must pay attention to. How do you create a strong brand impact that addresses the needs of your target audience? In this episode, Casey Harshman, the Owner and Director of Frooishen, joins Elliot Begoun to discuss how telling your unique story can help establi…
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If you’re a seller online, then you may have dabbled or even considered going to Amazon. Rightly so since it has become a ripe ground for a lot of entrepreneurs. With the space becoming more and more crowded, how then can you navigate and stand out? In this episode, Elliot Begoun invites Andy Thompson, the Head of Customer Success at MixShift, to s…
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Encore Presentation from August 2020: Jeanne David is the Founder and CEO of Outer Aisle, a brand that has been going beyond the grain to help more people kiss processed carbs goodbye with gluten-free, grain-free, nutritionally dense, and delicious cauliflower sandwich thins and pizza crusts. With estimates now showing that 75% of Americans will be…
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Are you a small business? Is your business struggling to be discovered, make connections and grow? In this episode, Elliot Begoun welcomes Vir Satyan, the SVP of Supplier Sucess at RangeMe, shares how RangeMe helps level the playing field to be discovered, get connections, and eventually grow. He shares how you can set up your profile for customers…
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Encore: The Frozen Little Pie with the Big Homemade Taste! - Mamie's Pies on the NexxtLevel Brands Podcast
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Encore originally aired, in May 2020. Kara Romanik is the Founder of Mamie's Pies. Mamie's is Kara's passion which has now turned into a large-scale operation. She graduated from Bentley University with a degree in Economics and Finance which has helped her in the food business. Kara has appeared on QVC 46 times and their cherry on top flavor was n…
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As a founder or entrepreneur, learning how to pitch is key to building your business. But people still make a lot of common mistakes when it comes to the pitch. If you are currently raising capital, you need to listen to this episode. Join Elliot Begoun as he talks to the Founder of Power to Pitch, Kat Weaver. Learn all the tips and tricks Kat teac…
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If you are running a business, you need to focus on yourself first. You can only perform at your best by making self-care and inner work a priority. Take time to find a sense of peace, groundedness, and pleasure in your life. Take frequent walks outside or do some meditation to clear your mind and rejuvenate your energy. You have to be willing to c…
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Best of NexxtLevel Brands Podcast: Aired December 2021: Sam Madani is the Co-founder and CEO of BOMANI Cold Buzz, an alcohol-infused cold brew coffee brand. He was born and raised in California to Iranian immigrants, and a great deal of his personal motivation comes from witnessing the challenges his parents had to successfully overcome. After grad…
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The Evolution Of The Brand And The Journey Of The Dynamic Duo Of Square Baby, Katie Thomson And Kendall Glynn
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Building a business that solves a problem for a lot of people is commendable, but truly bringing it to commercial success is a whole another ‘nother ballpark. Today’s guests sought out to help parents give their babies the nutrition they need to be healthy. This is the impetus behind Square Baby. In this episode, this dynamic co-founder duo joins E…
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