Entrepreneur Shelley Gupta on Startup Funding, Pitching, and Mentorship

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.

In this episode...

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.