Summary This is the Startup Junkies Podcast. Welcome back! This week, the usual crew, Matthew Ward, Caleb Tally, and Jeff Amerine meet with Dustin Finkel, CEO and Founder of Ka-Pop!, which recently merged with Bubba's Fine Foods to create Awakened Foods. From brand awareness, relationship building, and family-work balance to the importance of community, we discussed all the things that lead Dustin and his team to success. Thank you for joining us! Shownotes (0:53) Introducing Dustin Finkel (1:41) From Investment Banking to Food Production (5:05) Shark Tank and Brand Awareness (7:13) Building Relationships While Sourcing (9:52) Company Culture + Branding (14:42) Balancing Family and Running a Corporation (18:40) The Value of Intentional Community and Partnerships (29:46) Advice to Younger Self (33:58) Wrap Up Links Matthew Ward Caleb Talley Jeff Amerine Dustin Finkel Ka-Pop! Awakened Foods Awakened Foods Crafters Bubba's Fine Foods Quotes "So despite my food background, it started just like everyone else. I thought there was a better way... The difference is I had a network that allowed me to really kind of partake and grow this business fairly quickly." (4:12) - Dustin Finkel "And that's really the differentiator that our branding is about… it's about enjoyment. Snacking is fun. It should not be a trade off. It shouldn't be about this serious engagement." (11:15) - Dustin Finkel "I want consumers to love my product to just gravitate toward it, [to] enjoy the eating experience." (12:26) -Dustin Finkel "That was the whole point; build as much flexibility to grow. Because who knows what the next COVID is or who knows what the next growth trend is or what that might be." (20:40) - Dustin Finkel "I don't accept mistakes. I hate them, but understanding how to deal with them, understanding how to react, understanding how to take patience into account." (33:28) - Dustin Finkel https://www.startupjunkie.org/ http://wlj.com/http://wlj.com/

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