Unfinished Biz with Robin and Wayne

Bea Dixon, The Honey Pot Co-Founder and CEO, has had an entrepreneurial journey unlike any other. From pharmacy work to running a cleaning business to working with vendors at Whole Foods, Bea learned how to hustle, how to take charge in business, and how to treat her Honey Pot team with care and respect. Join Robin and Wayne as they learn more about the genesis of The Honey Pot brand, Bea's highs and lows along the way, and why feminine wellness is so important.

G.O.A.T. Fuel Founder Jerry Rice and his Co-Founder (and daughter) Jaqui Rice have had quite the entrepreneurial journey. G.O.A.T. Fuel a lifestyle and health-focused energy brand that focuses on a variety of flavors and unique ingredients designed to separate it from its competitors. Jerry Rice also happens to be a National Football League Hall of Famer and 3-time Super Bowl champion who holds the record for most touchdowns in the NFL, so G.O.A.T. Fuel has big shoes to fill! Join Robin and Wayne as they uncover the full story.

Nobody knows fitness quite like Solidcore Founder Anne Mahlum. Solidcore describes itself as pilates redefined, with a full-body workout that utilizes slow and controlled movements, now one of the biggest boutique fitness brands in the US. Join Robin and Wayne as they learn how Anne grew to know and love the exercise, what challenges she faced while scaling her business, and where Solidcore is expanding next.

Founder & CEO of ethnic e-grocer Weee! Larry Liu believes in bringing fresh groceries to customers across the United States. Weee!'s products include meats, snacks, beverages, health and beauty tools, even household essentials. Join Robin and Wayne as they learn how Weee! was born from demand, how scaling as quickly as Weee! did created new business models, and what Larry hopes for the future of retail.

Vintner's Daughter Founder and CEO April Gargiulo honed her entrepreneurial skills running her family's wine business, but it wasn't until she took a leap of faith creating her own skincare line that she truly understood the challenges ahead. April joins Robin and Wayne to share her motivation behind Vintner's Daughter, the parallels of growing grapes and developing face serums, and why her approach to growth at Vintner's Daughter is unlike that at other startups.

Saeju Jeong, Noom Co-Founder and CEO, spent his early years immersed in the world of medicine, but his eventual path took a much less traditional turn. Join Robin and Wayne as they learn how Saeju found his calling, why Noom is more than a weight loss app, and where the future of heathcare is headed next.

Nailah Ellis' entrepreneurial journey literally started from scratch - her family's Jamaican sweet tea recipe was passed down for generations before Nailah decided to share it with the world as Ellis Island Tea. But perfecting taste, securing distribution, and scaling for demand is more than just a labor of love, and Nailah was doing it all on her own. Today, the brand now known as Ellis Isle has fresh funding, celebrity partnerships, and is on store shelves everywhere. Join Robin and Wayne for a truly inspiring story from one founder who never stopped believing in her destiny.

When Bentley Hall joined the Good Eggs team five years ago, he had his work cut out for him. Good Eggs needed an overhaul of not only its grocery delivery business plan but its leadership and company goals, and that forced Bentley to make some tough decisions. Today, Good Eggs is a very different company that's managed to thrive during the pandemic - thanks to some big strategy shifts and a lot of teamwork. Join Robin and Wayne as they learn all about Bentley’s entrepreneurial journey.

Muniq Founder and CEO Marc Washingon is the first to admit that despite his vast experience over the years working with entrepreneurs, becoming one himself hasn't always been easy. Join Robin and Wayne as they uncover how Marc recreated his business expertise into a direct-to-consumer brand that aims to be both delicious and healthy.

When Denise Woodard's daughter was diagnosed with a long list of food allergies, Denise had to start getting creative in the kitchen. But after realizing how much "safe" foods could still be fun and tasty to eat, Denise turned her family's lifestyle into a successful product line called Partake Foods. Join Robin and Wayne as they hear all about Denise's journey, and how much she had to risk early on to find eventual success.

When Mark Taira's father began what's now known as the King's Hawaiian empire, it was a very different business...smaller, scrappier, and family run through and through. Today, King's Hawaiian is beloved all over the world and with $500M in annual revenue, the company has made incredible growth strides to keep up with demand. Robin and Wayne chat with CEO Mark Taira and President, Chief Strategy & Planning Officer and International Officer John Linehan for the decades-long story of success.

When Maggie Patton and Alex Buckley co-founded Bitsy's after many years in the child education and wellness non-profit sector, they knew their mission to offer nutritious kids' food to all families was solid. But when mother, actor, and activist Gabrielle Union joined the team as co-founder, Bitsy's entered a new era of brand visibility and core team strength. Find out how the three co-founders found each other, how they've developed their synergy, and how the Bitsy's brand differentiates itself in a sea of healthy snacks. Learn a little more about some of their lessons learned from other entrepreneurial endeavors as well!

As the Unfinished Biz team continues to shelter in place and the COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect companies of all sizes worldwide, we decided to highlight one of our favorite up-and-comers in the brick and mortar space. Nicci Levy, Alchemy 43 Founder and CEO, started her beauty career at a very young age and hasn't looked back. With years of cosmetics experience under her belt, Nicci sought out to revolutionize the dermatology and med-spa experience, one aesthetics bar at a time. Find out how Alchemy 43 is rebranding the microtreatment space and how Nicci's ambitious growth plans aim to change the face of beauty forever.

FRAME Co-Founder and Chairman Jens Grede was already an advertising rockstar alongside his business partner Erik Torstensson when he decided he needed a change. Pairing his deep connections within the fashion industry with his own branding savvy, Jens zeroed in on Los Angeles to launch a premium denim line like no other, and FRAME was born. Find out why Jens put lifestyle at the core of the FRAME brand, how the company set itself apart in a saturated market, and what Jens wants to conquer next.

In this special episode of Unfinished Biz, Robin and Wayne are joined by VMG partners Kara Roell and Mike Mauzé for a candid discussion about the potential effects of COVID-19 on business ecosystems worldwide. VMG’s partners have been working closely with their portfolio companies to ensure that team efficacy and morale stays solid in the face of instability. Supply chain and liquidity concerns must be dealt with proactively to weather a rapidly unfolding storm. And after many years of experience through past financial crises and uncertain times, the VMG team is sharing their advice with you.

Randi Christiansen, Necessaire Co-Founder and CEO, knows what she is doing. After honing her skills at one of the most prestigious beauty and personal care companies in the world, Randi knew what was missing and what she wanted to build. Join Robin and Wayne as they uncover the story behind Necessaire and find out which products Randi believes have yet to disrupt the beauty industry.

When Rachel Drori, Daily Harvest Founder and CEO, found herself in need of better nutrition while juggling work and family, she realized she could solve the problem for others as well..Find out how Rachel’s formative years paved the eventual way to her own nutritional food line, how making smoothies turned into a much bigger business, and why frozen food is better for you than you think.

Dave Heath, Bombas Co-Founder and CEO, stumbled into his successful sock business unexpectedly when he realized how important they were for people experiencing homelessness. Join Robin and Wayne as they learn how Bombas used the 1-to-1 model to not only help people in need, but also to create a business ethos Bombas is proud of today.

Nancy Twine is a founder at heart, but she started down a dramatically different path before finding her passion. After a personal tragedy changed her family forever, Nancy hit the reset button and realized what she was meant to do, even though it was a huge departure from what she had already established as a lucrative finance career on Wall Street. Find out how Nancy is disrupting the haircare industry, how she grew the company to where it is now, and where Briogeo is headed next. #vmgfamily

Bill Creelman has always loved food and beverages. That's why he founded Spindrift, a hugely successful sparkling water line you now see in most grocery stores, big and small. But getting to this point wasn't easy, and Bill had to tackle a variety of challenges to make his brand the behemoth it is today. Find out how Bill's passion drove him to build Spindrift, how his team has weathered the ebbs and flows of scaling the business, and where Spindrift is headed next. #vmgfamily

Stasher Founder and CEO, Kat Nouri, calls herself a rebel, and her unconventional founder journey backs up that claim. From a young age, Kat was taught to value health and wellness, but also to maintain a strong work ethic. When she found herself juggling the entrepreneurial life while also raising a family, she decided to bring her two worlds together... and Stasher was born. The smart alternative to plastic is eco-friendly, microwave and oven safe, versatile, and reusable, and Kat has big plans for Stasher's future.

Laura Modi, Co-Founder and CEO of Bobbie, spent years in the tech sector building new platforms in high-paced environments. After becoming a mother, Laura's frustration with the lack of clean-ingredient baby formulas inspired her to take action, and Bobbie was born. Find out what Bobbie is doing to make formula healthier than ever, why regulation makes this goal so complex, and how Bobbie plans to expand its products and community.

When Madeline Haydon, Founder and CEO of Nutpods, set out to create a delicious, non-dairy coffee creamer made entirely from clean ingredients, she had her work cut out for her. Financial setbacks, market volatility, and family obligations all threatened to derail Madeline's dream, but she did not give up. Today, Nutpods is the fastest growing non-dairy coffee creamer in the market and can be found in nearly every grocery chain in the U.S. Find out how Madeline made some big bets that rocketed Nutpods to massive success online, how Amazon helped her ecommerce business thrive, and how she continues to translate the early momentum into retail.

Kerry Cooper, Rothy’s President and COO, has expertly navigated the complex intersection of Tech and Retail for much of her career. Now, she spends her days focused on sustainable shoes. On this episode, find out how Kerry took the reins at Rothy’s, what she and Rothy’s founders, Roth Martin and Stephen Hawthornthwaite, needed to fix, and how the environment is their ultimate driving force.

Matthias Metternich, Art of Sport Co-Founder and CEO, might be our most unusual story yet. Join Robin and Wayne as they get to the bottom of how Matthias came up with the idea for Art of Sport, why the world’s best athletes wanted in, and the difference one day on a billboard can make.

Former CEO of Clif Bar, Kevin Cleary, takes us through his impressive entrepreneurial journey: a blend of building and growing to make Clif’s business thrive. Find out how a company as successful as Clif had to navigate unforeseen challenges along the way, and how Kevin himself had to evolve alongside the business.

Nicole Dawes was practically destined for her career as Founder of Late July Organic Snacks and now Founder & CEO of Nixie Sparkling Water. Both of her parents worked in the food industry and early on Nicole knew it would be her path as well. Find out how she weathered many storms in Late July's early days, why selling the business was eventually the right call, and how Nixie is poised to stand out in the much-hyped sparkling water industry.

Courtney and Gordon Gould, Co-Founders and Co-CEOs of SmartyPants Vitamins, have always put the health of their kids, their friends, and the planet first. To do this, they created SmartyPants gummy vitamins, which are non-GMO, allergen-free, and made with eco-friendly ingredients. The Goulds have found a way to combine their experiences in tech and non-profits to grow the SmartyPants business side-by-side. Find out how SmartyPants was born, why a hyper-focused approach keeps it ahead of the competition, and how these gummy vitamins are bringing health and nutrition to every corner of the planet.

Tina Sharkey has held influential leadership roles across multiple industries, having broken new ground in the blogosphere, cinema, and Sesame Street — just to name a few. Now at the helm of Brandless, Tina is facing a brand new challenge as she attempts to disrupt the entire CPG industry. Find out how she's gotten this far, and where Brandless is headed next.

Josh Tetrick isn’t your average entrepreneur, and neither is the JUST story. JUST, formerly Hampton Creek, has gone through countless twists and turns in its quest to get - and stay - on the map. But Josh says the past is behind JUST, and he’s committed to bringing quality food to the planet. Josh’s journey may just be beginning.

GT Dave was just a teenager when his kombucha journey began, and his company’s rise to stardom was swift but not without its challenges along the way. Find out how GT built the GT’s Kombucha empire, how he deals with a largely unregulated beverage catetgory, and where his empire looks to expand next.

Sheena Yaitanes was an entrepreneur before she knew it. A lifelong love of makeup and the desire to evolve an aging industry propelled Sheena toward what is now Kosas Cosmetics. Find out how discipline, passion, and patience put Sheena and Kosas on the map, how she keeps her company lean, and how Kosas does things differently enough to set it apart from the crowd.

Few direct-to-consumer businesses have had as much success as Casper, and Philip Krim saw an opportunity to disrupt the mattress industry after familiarizing himself with a product that could be sold much more effectively. Find out how Philip's business experience made him perfect for his role as Casper chief executive, how he and his team work harmoniously, and why physical retail is still a must.

Tarang Amin grew up learning how to sell. From the early days of his family's successful motel business to running some of world's biggest CPG brands, Tarang's experience is hard to beat. Find out how the e.l.f. Cosmetics CEO found himself in the makeup industry, why he believes observing others is the best way not to make common mistakes, and where he wants to take e.l.f next.

When Doug Bouton made the jump from a job as an attorney to the ice cream space, he knew he had a lot to learn. Find out how Doug's refusal to do things everyone else's way helped catapult Halo Top to household name impressively quickly, what he learned along the way, and why Halo Top didn't want to sell.

Katlin Smith believes that a healthy diet means a better life, and she has the degrees to prove it. Find out how Katlin created Simple Mills while still working full-time, why she believes eating better is better for physical and mental health, and where her company is going next.

When Nick Green cc--founded Thrive Market, an online membership community delivering high-quality organic, non-GMO products to customers, he'd already achieved entrepreneurial success, but nothing quite like this. Now Nick brings healthy products to a huge user base that saves money by bypassing retail markups. Thrive also offers free memberships to low-income families, teachers, veterans, and students.

Soylent Co-Founder John Coogan never thought his engineering and data science expertise would lead him to a nutritional beverage brand....but that's exactly what happened. Find out how Soylent was born out of a need to save time and money, how John's team wrote the business script as they went along, and why Soylent has captured startup hearts worldwide.

Moj Mahdara is a master salesperson. At a very early age, Moj began perfecting the art of the hustle and identifying industries ripe for disruption. Find out how Moj tore through the music, real estate, and apparel industries through courage and persistence, and why Beautycon is at the forefront of a new cultural revolution.

When Veronica Garza was forced to adopt a grain-free diet, her deep connection to food as a family and cultural bond had to be reimagined. Learn how Veronica, her brother and Siete Foods CEO Miguel, and the entire Garza family worked toward the goal of what is now a delicious, health-conscious, and successful brand.

When Eric Ryan co-founded the natural cleaning brand Method, he changed an entire industry. But even with Method's impressive success, over-scaling taught Eric some valuable lessons along the ride. Find out how Eric's current role as Olly Co-Founder & CEO combines a love of health, sleep, and energy with a savvy growth strategy only the most seasoned entrepreneur could pull off.

Episode 16 of Unfinished Biz is now available! On this episode we catch up with Drunk Elephant Founder Tiffany Masterson. Learn how a combination of grit, instinct and great products defined a new category (“clean clinical”) and launched one of the fastest growing beauty brands on the market today.

Jillian Michaels and Giancarlo Chersich understand the value of teamwork and great product timing, most recently in the cold brew coffee space. Find out how Jillian left the constraints of the television world to reinvent herself as an entrepreneur, how Giancarlo sees the industry changing, and why the Lucky Jack brand was a truly savvy purchase.

Sarah Michelle Gellar knows show business, but has learned the entrepreneurial path is an entirely different investment. Together with her co-founders Galit Laibow and Greg Fleishman, Sarah tapped into a food category that celebrates an experience as much as its ingredients. Find out how Foodstirs aims to bring loved ones back together in the kitchen, why co-founders don’t always have to separate their skills, and why baking is just the beginning of the journey.

Zak Normandin, Founder of Little Duck Organics and current Co-Founder & CEO of Dirty Lemon Beverages knows how to do things differently. Dirty Lemon's text-message based payment and customer service platform created a brand-new category in the CPG space. Find out how Zak applied his early highs and lows as an entrepreneur to live more harmoniously, and why thinking outside the box propelled Dirty Lemon into an influencer brand, most recently partnering with Vogue magazine.

Sheryl O'Loughlin, formerly Clif Bar and Plum Organics CEO has had a storied career as a serial entrepreneur, but realized along the way that sometimes taking a step back is the only way to achieve success. Hear how Sheryl found a balance between business, health, and family, and how the magic of REBBL brought her back into the startup life.

College friends Conor Begley and Jonathan Namnath founded Tribe Dynamics because they knew they'd work well together, but set forth in a market they knew very little about: the beauty industry. Find out how Conor and Jonathan disrupted an entire B2B legacy, how they invented an industry measure that actually stuck, and how co-founder harmony is the key to success.

When Adam Lowry co-founded the hugely successful natural cleaning brand Method, he was about to learn a lot about partner dynamics. Now armed with invaluable wisdom, Adam's back at it again as the Co-CEO of Ripple Foods, a sustainable food brand looking to replace dairy with alternative ingredients that are also delicious.

Jody Levy was a successful creative director when she decided to tackle the business of reducing agricultural waste. Find out how her big bet on turning watermelons into water became a lucrative consumer line, the power of celebrity endorsements, and why timing is everything.

Tim Brown, former pro soccer player and New Zealand native, knew creating a shoe line was near impossible, but despite the challenges, he pressed on. Find out how a combination of tenacity, disappointment, struggle, and unwavering belief in his Allbirds vision kept Tim on the path to what's now a wildly successful direct-to-consumer business. It also happens to be the only shoe Wayne wears every single day.

Former Annie's CEO John Foraker achieved the unheard of when he took the organic food brand public before leading Annie's through a successful sale to General Mills. Find out why John's next bet as CEO of Once Upon A Farm surprised an entire industry, and how he plans to strike gold again.