E109: Will Sold 100 Million Protein Bars

In this episode the Operators interview Will Nitze, the founder of IQ Bar, a rapidly growing nutrition bar company. They discuss Will's journey from the software industry to launching IQ Bar, the challenges of introducing a consumable product, and the impact of market dynamics such as cocoa prices on business operations. The conversation also delves into the current state of the CPG industry, investment trends, and the role of crowdfunding in startup success. Will shares insights on building a profitable business in a competitive landscape and the importance of survival in the ever-evolving food and beverage market. 00:00 Introduction 02:52 The Growth of IQ Bar and Market Strategy 05:50 Challenges in Launching a Consumable Product 09:05 The Impact of Cocoa Prices on Business 11:55 Navigating the E-commerce Landscape 17:52 The Role of Crowdfunding in Startups 21:12 Building a Profitable Business in CPG 24:00 The Future of Food and Beverage Industry 41:14 The Challenges of E-Commerce and Brand Adaptation 45:51 Navigating Supply Chain and Ingredient Sourcing 50:45 Building a Brand: From Kickstarter to Retail Success 55:51 The Importance of Trend Adaptation in Business 01:00:11 The Risks and Rewards of Entering Mass Retail 01:07:52 The Long Game: Strategies for Retail Success 01:12:46 Maintaining a Long-Term Perspective in Business Operators Exclusive Slack: https://join.slack.com/t/9operators/s... Dr James Richardson's LinkedIn:   / premiumgrowthsolutions   Powered By: Fulfil.io. https://bit.ly/3pAp2vu The Only Cloud ERP Designed to Efficiently Scale 8 and 9-Figure Brands. Northbeam. https://www.northbeam.io/ Postscript. https://postscript.io/ Richpanel. https://www.richpanel.com/?utm_source... Saras. https://saras-analytics.typeform.com/... Subscribe to The Marketing Operators Podcast here:    / @marketingoperators   Subscribe to The Finance Operators here:    / @financeoperatorsfops   Sign up to the 9 Operators newsletter here: https://9operators.com/