#155 - The Beverage Investors: Salle Jian, Alex Malamatinas, Brandon Yahn and Connor McKenna
The Startup CPG Podcast
Startup CPG
4.9 • 642 Ratings
🗓️ 6 August 2024
⏱️ 59 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
In this episode of the Startup CPG podcast, join Daniel Scharff and a distinguished panel of investors, Salle Jian, Alex Malamatinas, Brandon Yahn, and Connor McKenna from the beverage industry as they explore the latest trends and opportunities in the non-alcoholic and low-alcohol beverage market. They share insights from their experiences with brands like Seedlip, Kin Euphorics, and Liquid Death, highlighting the shift in consumer preferences toward healthier and alternative drinks.
They also cover key topics such as consumer preferences, market opportunities, brand storytelling, and strategies for engaging with investors. The panelists emphasize the importance of authenticity, market understanding, traction metrics, and effective communication in building successful brands in the competitive spirits and beverages market.
Additionally, they delve into startup pitches within the CPG industry. Founders present innovative product ideas, from non-alcoholic beverages to unique food products, aiming to attract investment. Key themes include product differentiation, market potential, sustainability, and personal founder stories, all delivered in concise 30-second pitches.
Tune in for valuable insights and actionable advice for anyone interested in the evolving beverage industry!
Listen in as they shares about:
- Non-Alcoholic and Low-Alcohol Drinks
- Founder's Story and Passion
- Health and Wellness Beverages
- Unique Flavor Profiles and International Influences
- Consumer Behavior Shifts
- Retail and Market Strategies
- Corporate Venture and Strategic Investments
- Consumer Trends and Marketing
- Purpose-Driven Brands and Multicultural Consumers
- VC and Investment Strategies
- Trade Shows and Conferences
- Market Opportunity and Traction
- Feedback from Investors and Diverse Product Offerings
Episode Links:
Diageo Website
SAP.iO Website
Salle Jian LinkedIn
Alex Malamatinas LinkedIn
Melitas Ventures Website
Brandon Yahn LinkedIn
Convivialité Ventures Website
Connor McKenna LinkedIn
Pronghorn Website
Don't forget to leave a five-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify if you enjoyed this episode. For potential sponsorship opportunities or to join the Startup CPG community, visit http://www.startupcpg.com.
Show Links:
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- Questions or comments about the episode? Email Daniel at podcast@startupcpg.com
Episode music by Super Fantastics
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Are you paying a ton in shipping to send out products, samples, and whatever else? |
| 0:05.0 | The fees really add up, but lucky for you, we now have a partner that gets you access to the discounted shipping rates that are usually only available to those big companies. |
| 0:14.0 | I worked with them for my last beverage brand and I can tell you, they definitely got us savings. |
| 0:18.0 | Whether you're sending overnight samples, fulfilling e-commerce |
| 0:21.1 | orders, or even a 40-foot ocean container, our partner, Enterprise Purchasing Group, or EPG, has |
| 0:27.5 | got you covered. There are a bunch of free benefits you can get by signing up with them. You |
| 0:31.8 | can get up to an 86% discount on small parcel shipments from UPS, D-HL Express, UPS, and more. |
| 0:39.1 | You get really competitive L-TL and F-T-L rates through UPS. |
| 0:43.1 | You get discounted spot and fixed ocean rates through Flexport and MERSC. |
| 0:47.2 | You get exclusive air frets, and you also get preferential terms with supply chain financing. |
| 0:52.9 | All you need to do is reach out to |
| 0:54.3 | Francis Agass. His email is Francis, F-R-A-N-C-I-S, at enterprisepurchasing.com. |
| 1:02.0 | Mention the startup CPG discount and take advantage of those savings. Good luck, everybody, |
| 1:06.8 | and happy shipping. |
| 1:21.6 | Thank you. and happy shipping. 30 to 50% of Gen Zs are either abstaining or drinking less. |
| 1:27.6 | And so what is now the alternative for them? |
| 1:30.3 | And so we're looking into those categories and figuring out. |
| 1:34.3 | So those are some of the ways that we think about where we invest and how we invest. |
| 1:38.3 | And then we also invest anywhere from early stage to growth stage. |
| 1:42.3 | It's a really stage agnostic. |
| 1:44.3 | It's really about the opportunity that we're seeing and the right team and the right product, |
| 1:49.8 | right market potential for us. |
... |
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