Daeyna Grant
Daeyna Grant is a former attorney turned entrepreneur working on her startup, Gold Crush Cocktails, which is mixing natural ingredients and the spirit of Caribbean rum culture into convenient, ready-to-drink…
food and beverages
Food is universal. Everyone eats. But building a food business? That’s a special kind of challenge. The founders in this section have done it. Restaurants, food brands, beverage companies, meal delivery services, and everything in between. All while dealing with razor-thin margins and the fact that your product literally expires.
These interviews cover the full food and beverage landscape. CPG brands. Restaurant concepts. Food tech. Alcohol. Coffee. Health food. The farm-to-table movement. And the logistics of getting perishable goods from point A to point B without anything going wrong. Which it always does.
What makes these founders interesting is the passion. Nobody gets into food for the easy money. Because there isn’t any. They get into it because they care about what people eat and drink. And that passion comes through in every conversation.
You’ll find insights on product development, retail distribution, restaurant operations, food safety, branding in a crowded market, and the particular challenge of scaling something that started in a kitchen. If you’re building in food and beverage, or thinking about it, these are your people.
Chef LaToya Larkin
Chef LaToya Larkin is a culinary powerhouse and visionary entrepreneur reshaping the food industry with bold innovation and soulful authenticity. With over 25 years of experience as a classically trained…
Jeff Mahony
Jeff Mahony is the CEO of NEFT Vodka, a premium vodka brand renowned for its award-winning taste and eco-friendly packaging. With a background in finance and a deep passion for…
Naushad Parpia
Naushad Parpia is a visionary entrepreneur and the Founder and CEO of Earthside Farms, a company devoted to producing healthy, better-for-you snacks. Since its launch in February 2022, Earthside Farms…
Raul Luis
Raul Luis is the owner and operator of Birrieria Chalio’s, an authentic Birria restaurant. His family founded one of the first Birrierias in the United States, now with locations in…
Justin Connor
Justin Connor is a business builder who currently serves as the Founder of Camp. He started his first business, The Noble Vine, while studying at Georgetown University School of Foreign…
Brandon Blackwell
Brandon Blackwell is a chef and co-owner of Elysian Events Catering. Brandon and his wife, Jen, got started in catering with their own wedding! They share a lot of career…
Eran Mizrahi
Eran grew up watching his father grow a successful import business that was built on integrity and customer service. A South African transplant, Eran started his career at Deloitte. From…
Serge Krikorian
Chef Serge Krikorian and his wife, Mary Krikorian, started their catering business in 2002 and have been in the family restaurant business since 1994. Having catered thousands of events over…
Bassem Nowyhed
Bassem Nowyhed has more than a decade of experience in the convenience store management and food & beverage industries. As a master connector and natural networker, he’s brought numerous innovations…
Austin Kelly
Austin Kelly serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Willamette Valley Pie Company. Since March 2021, he has led a team of over 200 to continue to produce world-famous pies,…
Katy Coffield
Katy Coffield is the Co-Founder and CEO of Foodie Tribe, an influencer marketing and creative agency that works exclusively with food + beverage brands. In the years leading up to…