From Baltimore to Soho: The Rise of Cloudy Donuts
Earn Your Leisure
iHeartPodcasts
4.9 • 7.9K Ratings
🗓️ 10 February 2026
⏱️ 7 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
In this engaging clip, explore the entrepreneurial journey of Derrick Falcon, a visionary who traded the fast-paced restaurant scene in Baltimore for a singular focus on vegan donuts in the heart of Soho, New York. Co-host Rashad Bilal introduces Derrick's story, highlighting the shift from running Homemade in Baltimore to launching Cloudy Donuts, a venture that blends simplicity with ambition.
Derrick shares his unique business philosophy—prioritizing a single product, in this case, donuts, for their scalability and efficiency. This strategic approach allows him to focus on quality and expansion rather than the complexities of a full restaurant menu. The clip delves into Derrick's past, detailing how he transitioned from a criminal lifestyle to establishing legitimate and impactful business operations. His goal? Significant financial growth and redefining success for Black entrepreneurs in affluent areas.
A crucial element in this transformation is Derrick’s partnership with Zoditu. Together, they masterfully introduced Cloudy Donuts to New York, using community ties and free samples to generate buzz and build a loyal customer base. The decision to situate the business in Soho, rather than in traditionally Black neighborhoods, reflects a bold strategy to position themselves in prime retail markets and challenge existing racial economic stereotypes.
Derrick’s journey is about more than making delicious vegan donuts—it's about making a statement. He aims to establish a prominent presence in commercial spaces typically dominated by others, showcasing that Black entrepreneurs can thrive in every market. This inspiring clip offers insights into Derrick's innovative mindset, highlighting his capacity to teach us about business and community impact.
Join us as we uncover how one man's vision is not only transforming the donut industry but also reshaping perceptions and creating opportunities for future generations.
**Hashtags:** #Entrepreneurship #BusinessJourney #VeganDonuts #Innovation #BlackExcellence #NYC #CloudyDonuts #DerrickFalcon #SohoBusiness #FoodIndustry #CommunityImpact #Scalability #BusinessStrategy
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | This is an IHeart podcast. |
| 0:02.6 | Guaranteed Human. |
| 0:04.3 | The last time that we spoke on the episode, you had the restaurant, homemade in Baltimore. |
| 0:09.7 | The reason why the episode is a legend that you guys should check it out, episode 11, |
| 0:13.1 | is that you kind of, you broke down your business model. |
| 0:15.4 | You broke down the streams. |
| 0:17.4 | And it was very detailed as far as numbers and all that. |
| 0:20.1 | And people wasn't really familiar with. |
| 0:21.6 | I think it was kind of new. |
| 0:23.6 | Yeah, it was something new. |
| 0:24.6 | That wasn't something that people really did before, right? |
| 0:26.6 | I think you kind of changed the game where you opened the door as far as transparency. |
| 0:30.6 | But since then a lot has changed. |
| 0:32.6 | You moved from Baltimore to New York. |
| 0:34.6 | Yeah, yeah. |
| 0:35.6 | You switched from the restaurant to we had Cloudy Donuts. |
| 0:40.3 | That's your new operation that you got running. |
| 0:44.2 | So a lot has changed, right? |
| 0:46.4 | So let's catch the audience up to speed. |
| 0:50.8 | How did you transition from Baltimore, the restaurant, to Soho, the vegan donut spot? |
| 0:57.6 | Yeah, you know, my thing is this. |
| 0:59.6 | I always tell the person, when you go fast, you grow fast. |
... |
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