Building a successful brand takes more than a great product. It takes showing up, sharing your story, and earning trust, day after day.
Lindsay Pinchuk sits down with Ali Bonar, the co-founder and the CEO of Oat Haus, to talk about turning personal struggles into a business with real impact. After spending years battling an eating disorder, Ali wanted to change how people experience food. That journey led her to create granola butter, the world’s first oat-based spread. Now, Oat Haus products are stocked in over 5,000 stores, including Target and Whole Foods. But getting there wasn’t easy.
Ali shares what it took to bring a completely new product to market, why consistency matters more than overnight success, and how social media became a powerful tool for connection and credibility. She also reflects on her experience on Shark Tank and why not getting a deal turned out to be a blessing.
What does it really take to grow a business in a crowded industry? How do you build trust with customers before they even try your product? Ali’s story offers answers. If you’re an entrepreneur wondering how to stand out and keep going, this episode is for you.
Episode Breakdown:
00:00 Introduction
05:30 Ali’s Journey and Inspiration
09:00 Early Challenges and Development
11:00 Bringing on a Culinary Expert
13:00 Initial Production and Scaling Up
15:30 Marketing and Customer Education
17:00 Leveraging Social Media for Growth
19:00 Authenticity and Building Trust
23:00 The Myth of the Big Break
25:00 Importance of Telling Your Story
27:00 Current Scale and Retail Presence
29:00 The Role of Press and PR
31:00 Shark Tank Experience
35:00 Funding and Investment Strategy
37:00 Profitability and Lean Operations
39:00 Challenges and Realities of Being a Founder
41:00 Marketing to Moms and Schools
Connect with Ali Bonar:
https://www.instagram.com/alibonar
http://www.instagram.com/oat.haus
Get on the Marketing Made Simple Waitlist: https://lindsaypinchuk.myflodesk.com/waitlist
Dear FoundHer Forum: https://www.dearfoundher.com/dear-foundher-forum
Don't forget to follow Lindsay on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lindsaypinchuk
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Popular Podcasts
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.