Shelley Gupta is the Founder and CEO of BāKIT Box, a subscription-service baking company offering culturally diverse recipes through baking kits with pre-measured ingredients brimming with global flavors. Shelley conceived the idea during the pandemic after realizing a gap in baking options. She began experimenting with no-fuss baking ingredients while maintaining her corporate career in marketing. Today, BāKIT is available nationwide, creating delectable cultural baking experiences for households, with features in the Chicago Tribune, Bake Magazine, and CNET.

Do you have an innovative business concept you want to realize? Embarking on an entrepreneurial venture could help you do so. However, the journey can seem intimidating and overwhelming for innovators uninformed about where to begin.

CPG entrepreneur Shelley Gupta explains that besides having a business plan, entrepreneurs should secure funding for startup costs. Joining early-stage funding organizations and entering pitch and award-based competitions are some ways to navigate the arduous process of searching for investors. Shelley highly recommends practicing your pitch with a network of supporters to make pitching experiences increasingly comfortable. Pitching opportunities can be as short as one to two minutes, meaning that your elevator pitch should include necessary facts and your concept’s market potential. Additionally, Shelley explains it is helpful to research judges involved in entered competitions to learn the criteria they prioritize. Above all, obtain a mentor. Entrepreneurship, on its demanding side, can be lonely and stressful. A reputable mentor listens to your concerns, gives honest feedback, and allows you to be vulnerable and transparent about challenging experiences. 

In this episode of the CPG Troublemakers, Aalap Shah interviews Shelley Gupta, Founder and CEO of BāKIT Box, about startup advice for inexperienced entrepreneurs. Shelley discusses the lessons she learned as a new business owner, startup funding options, the art of pitching, and why it is essential for entrepreneurs to have mentors.

Shahira Marei is the Founder and CEO of The Dirty Cookie, a gourmet dessert company renowned for its one-of-a-kind cookie shot glasses. The concept was inspired by Shahira's favorite dessert — cookies and milk. Having worked as a project manager at Boeing, she admits she is not the Betty Crocker type. After witnessing poverty during a trip to her native Egypt, her father's words inspired her to create Shot for Education, a program supporting education-focused nonprofits that provides resources, tools, and access to education for children in underserved communities.

 In 2021, Shahira opened the first international franchise in Egypt. Since its inception, The Dirty Cookie has been featured on the Today Show, Good Morning America, Shark Tank, the Food Network, and the Cooking Channel and recognized by Forbes as one of the Next 1000. 

Have you dreamed of being a business owner but don’t know where to start? Perhaps you’re struggling to scale because of a lack of experience. Starting a business is difficult, but the challenges, self-doubt, and mental stress do not end once established.

That’s why entrepreneur Shahira Marei recommends finding a community of peers. Having peer support provides knowledge and expertise to avoid making mistakes early on. Furthermore, they share resources and can refer you to a network of entrepreneurs, investors, and potential customers. In addition to peers, seek mentors through acquaintances or platforms like LinkedIn who will encourage and hold you accountable. Mentors also furnish tools and coping mechanisms to help you manage stress and anxiety. Entrepreneurship can be isolating, but having a village to depend on offers a social connection and an outlet to grieve insecurities. 

In this episode of the CPG Troublemakers, Aalap Shah welcomes Shahira Marei, Founder and CEO of The Dirty Cookie, to discuss insights and learnings about creating a dream business. Shahira shares The Dirty Cookie’s origin story, why she transitioned from a brick-and-mortar to an e-commerce store, and advice for aspiring and established entrepreneurs.

Heather K. Terry is the Co-founder and CEO of GoodSam Foods, a sugar-free, equitable, and B-certified chocolate company that partners with global farmers. Her first entrepreneurial venture was as the Founder and CEO of NibMor, an organic vegan chocolate company that she later sold. Heather has over 10 years of experience in the CPG industry, having held leadership positions at S.W. Basics and BeyondBrands. Heather's interest in natural foods developed after witnessing her father's struggle with terminal lymphoma. She is a thought leader on natural products, a CPG mentor, an angel investor, and the author of From Broadway to Wall Street: Cautionary Tales of an Unlikely Entrepreneur. Heather is also the host of Scaling with Soul, a podcast where she shares her business knowledge and experience.

Equitable food companies are businesses committed to providing healthy, affordable food to everyone regardless of income or social status. In this economic climate, how can food companies produce safe and edible products and earn a profit?

Heather K. Terry, a chocolatier and CPG entrepreneur, recommends using a good sam supply network. This type of supply chain allows sourcing ingredients from local farmers and producers. Through these efforts, companies pay the workers a fair and livable wage, building a strong economy. Equitable food companies benefit the environment by producing food sustainably and reducing waste.

In this episode of the CPG Troublemakers, Steve Gaither interviews Heather K. Terry, Co-founder and CEO of GoodSam Foods, about the benefits of direct chain supply and regenerative agriculture. Heather addresses her introduction to the CPG industry, the inspiration for creating GoodSam, and the challenges the company experienced before going to market.