Welcome to the Startup CPG podcast. I'm your host, Amanda Rodriguez, and today I'm sitting down with my friend Daniel Sharf, the founder of the Startup CPG Network.

We're going to be discussing our vision for the podcast and what you can look forward to hearing about as you listen to future episodes of this podcast.

Daniel, let's talk about what the startup CPG network is and why you started it.

So I launched startup CPG because when I came out here almost four years ago now, I think I had an advantage that a lot of people don't have, which is I came from big CPG. I have a big

network. I know who to reach out to when I have questions about how to do my job better or what

additional things my company should be focusing on out here. Startup CPG is a networking group

that aims to level the playing field. And this podcast is an additional resource to help level the playing

field. Our listeners can expect to hear tidbits of wisdom from industry experts to help save time

and get you set up for success. There is so much expertise in this city and not really a mechanism

to bring all of that to the small brands who can really use it. And startups get

another opportunity to shine by being featured on our podcast. I'll be interviewing founders on this

podcast and they'll be sharing their stories about why their product is so awesome. Where did the

ingredients come from specifically? Who's making them? And why do they exist? What's the

purpose? And usually they're pretty heartfelt, intentional missions behind the creation of these products.

That's great. Amanda, I think you and I have the same vision for the podcast, which is we want to give

everybody a better chance of succeeding. And it can be done by showcasing people, giving them an opportunity to tell a story about

themselves and their brands and the context within which their ideas were born.

Or it can be showcasing specific expertise and people who have a lot to add to the small brands

and giving people a way to just get to know them.

In a way that's convenient for them, you can just listen to the podcast on your way to work.

Basically, I think it gives everybody a chance to familiarize themselves with brands and concepts that are foreign to them and learning

just a little bit through a podcast can make a huge difference.

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