Glimpse is the all‑in‑one, AI‑powered deductions management platform for CPG brands, automating deduction capture, classification, disputes, and accounting—recover more revenue while saving time – https://www.tryglimpse.comPete Maldonado and Rashid Ali started Chomps with nothing but a simple idea, some grassroots hustle, and their first month bringing in… just $500 in revenue.Fast forward, Chomps is now an $80M+ powerhouse sold in Trader Joe’s, Walmart, and Whole Foods—all built before taking a single VC check.In this episode, Pete and Rashid share how they turned a $500 side hustle into a national brand:✅ Why starting small gave them the discipline to stay profitable✅ The scrappy marketing tactics that turned $500 into their first $5,000✅ How a Trader Joe’s deal transformed their growth overnight✅ Why they ignored the “raise early” startup playbook and bootstrapped instead✅ How their opposite personalities created the perfect founder duo✅ The systems and strategy that took them from a side hustle to shelves nationwide👉 If you’re building a business from scratch—or wondering if you really need VC money—this episode is proof that you can start lean, grow smart, and win big.Timestamps00:00 Intro 01:10 How a $500 Side Hustle Became Chomps 03:25 Pivoting From Frozen Meat to Beef Sticks 06:20 Early Influencer Hacks That Fueled Growth 10:45 The Trader Joe’s Breakthrough 14:10 Staying Profitable Through Scale 18:30 The Founder Dynamic That Made It Work 22:00 Why They Waited Until $80M to Raise 26:30 Building a Brand Customers Love 30:00 The Next Chapter for Chomps34:20 Building Systems and Teams for Scale 37:00 Staying Profitable While Competing with Legacy Brands 40:10 Why They Raised Only After $80M in Revenue 44:00 Becoming a B‑Corp and Setting Higher Standards 48:10 Their Take on the Protein Trend and What’s Next for Chomps 51:30 Book Picks: Rocket Fuel & Die With Zero 📬 Subscribe for more founder stories & scaling insights: 👉 The Consumer VC NewsletterFollow Mike Gelb: Twitter / IG / TikTok → @mikegelb / @consumervc

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