In The Money: eCommerce, DTC, and CPG

In this episode, I sit down with Cam Mehr, Founder of Vital Plus, one of the fastest-scaling wellness hardware brands redefining the cold plunge category.Cam shares how he built an eight-figure eCommerce business with no outside capital and a lean team, proving that focus, efficiency, and operational discipline can beat headcount and hype.We cover:⚙️ How to run an ultra-lean DTC company that punches above its weight📊 Why reporting...

Brian Berger, Founder and CEO of Mack Weldon, joins the podcast to share the story of building one of the most recognized DTC menswear brands.In this episode, Brian dives into:- The early days of Mack Weldon and the insight that sparked its launch.- How the brand evolved from basics into a full men’s lifestyle platform.- The shift from DTC performance marketing arbitrage to brand storytelling and omnichannel expansion.- What it tak...

In this episode, I sit down with Jay Wright, Founder of Ecommerce Equation, to talk about scaling eCommerce brands in today’s environment. Jay shares insights from managing over half a billion dollars in annual ad spend and coaching thousands of brands.We dive into:- Why Meta’s evolving AI-driven ad platform is still the #1 channel for growth.- How creative and avatar diversification have become the new levers for scale.- Lessons f...

In this episode, I sit down with Caroline Weintraub of True Beauty Ventures, one of the most respected specialist investors in the beauty and wellness space. Caroline breaks down what she and her team look for when evaluating early-stage brands; from their “Five P’s” framework (Positioning, Product, People, Performance, Partnership) to the importance of strong omni-channel distribution and true differentiation in crowded categories...

In this episode, I sit down with Justin Seidenfeld, Co-founder and CEO of Canopy, the beauty-meets-wellness hardware brand redefining humidifiers, shower filters, and home rituals.Justin shares his unique journey from agency operator at Doris Dev, where he worked with breakout brands like Magic Spoon and Pattern, to going all in on Canopy. We cover:- Lessons from his early career at Quirky and Gravity, and why many high-growth cons...

In this episode, I sit down with Andrew Kitirattragarn, Founder of Dang Foods and now a restructuring expert at Sherwood Partners. Andrew’s story is a rare one: he built a beloved, nationally distributed snack brand that raised over $12M in venture funding, scaled into thousands of retail doors - and ultimately didn’t deliver the big exit he had hoped for.We dive deep into:The rise and fall of Dang Foods, and the hard lessons learn...

In this episode, I sit down with Mollye Santulli, Investor at Springdale Ventures, an early-stage VC firm focused on backing the next generation of consumer brands. Springdale reviews nearly 1,000 deals a year and invests in just 5–10, making Mollye’s perspective invaluable for founders navigating the fundraising landscape.We cover:- How Springdale filters opportunities, from first pitch deck to investment decision- The founder tra...

In this episode, Brad Plock of WRK Marketing shares the frameworks and playbooks he uses to help brands get unstuck and scale sustainably.

We talk about:

Why a “good” ROAS in 2025 depends on margins, contribution dollars, and payback windowsHow to diagnose a mid-seven-figure brand that’s plateaued, from MER vs. CAC splits to repeat revenue drivers

Creative frameworks that actually move the needle like persona-led landers and raw UGC ...

Allie Egan, founder and CEO of Veracity, is rethinking what the future of consumer health looks like.

In this episode, we dive into:

• Why Veracity pivoted from at-home hormone testing to building its hero product, Metabolism Ignite, and what that shift taught Allie about consumer adoption in health

• How she sees the “fashionization of supplements”, making wellness products not just about function, but also about identity, design, an...

Josh Williams is the co-founder and CEO of Very Great, the company behind design-led consumer brands like W&P, Wild One, and Courant. In this episode, we dive into how Josh has built and scaled a portfolio of category-defining brands without chasing unsustainable growth. He shares the Very Great playbook for identifying white space, building timeless products, and staying disciplined in an era of hype-driven consumer brands.We ...

In this episode, I chat with Josh Armstrong, Founder of We The Wild, the plant care brand taking root across Target, independent retail, across both the US and Australia.Josh shares how the company built a product moat around living microbes, why he believes in mental availability over marketing hacks, and what he’s learned scaling from zero to a high-growth, omni-channel brand.We cover:How getting kicked out of Home Depot for cust...

What happens when you actually listen to 1,000+ customers before scaling a brand?In this episode, Black Wolf Co-Founder Sam Lewkowict shares how he turned direct customer insight into one of the most operationally disciplined and product-focused men’s grooming brands in the space.We cover:- Why better product, not better marketing, is the CPG moat- The real reason they launched grooming devices (and what didn’t work)- How DTC, Amaz...

In this episode, I sit down with Hudson Davis-Ross, co-founder of Plant People, to unpack how the brand went from a COVID-era collapse to one of the fastest-growing wellness companies in the mushroom supplement space.

We talk about:

• How SKU rationalization and focus on one breakout product (WonderDay mushroom gummies) sparked a turnaround

• Why mushroom-based wellness is set to go mainstream—unlike CBD

• The omni-channel strategy drivi...

Chris Wichert, co-founder of Koio, joins the show to share the full story behind Koio’s transformation — from overextended DTC brand to lean, focused luxury business.

In this episode, we cover:

🧵 How Koio doubled down on Made-in-Italy quality (despite pressure to offshore)
📉 Why they slashed SKUs and shut stores to regain margin and focus
🤝 The economics behind their Rose Anvil and La Marzocco collabs
📦 How Koio restruct...

What if you built a breakout apparel brand without relying on Meta ads?

Connor Hitchcock did just that with Homefield, a cult-loved collegiate brand now licensed with over 200 schools and doing 8-figures in revenue.

In this episode, we dig into:

- Why only 5% of their revenue goes to Meta and how word-of-mouth does the rest

- How recreating tailgates in college bars became their marketing moat

- The surprising ROI of selling $220 bundle...

This week on In The Money, I sat down with Asher Hochberg, Partner at Rootspring Ventures and former GP at CircleUp, to break down the state of early-stage investing and brand building in 2025.

💥 What’s changed?

• No more vibe rounds. Investors are trading buzz for margin discipline.

• Being “cool” isn’t enough. Brands need a reason to exist and a loyal repeat customer.

• Growth equity is back—but with teeth. PE-backed strategics want...

In this week’s In the Money podcast, we chat with Matt Jung, CEO of Goodonya, about his multifaceted career in the CPG world—from his early days as a founder to his role as an investor, executive, and now acquirer. 🛠️💼

💡 Highlights:

• From Founder to Executive: Matt shares what it was like founding multiple brands before taking on leadership roles at CPG startups.

• The Power of Investment & Acquisition: What Matt looks for in ...

We sat down with Anna Whiteman of Coefficient Capital to unpack how institutional investors are thinking in 2025.

Key takeaways:

• Venture funding starts a clock. Founders underestimate how quickly VCs need to return capital. Ask yourself: does your model actually require venture dollars?

• Operate from strength, not scarcity. Don’t raise to feel safe — raise when you have retention, gross margin, and a clear ROI path for growth spend...

In this wide-ranging conversation, Ashwin shares hot takes on the real economics of agencies vs. eCommerce brands. He argues that software is ultimately the best way to build wealth, while agencies offer better cash flow and brands offer scale but require much more upfront capital and risk.

Ashwin walks through his "learn one, do one, teach one" philosophy—where the agency is where he learns, the brand is where he executes...