Mark Rampolla is a visionary entrepreneur who founded ZICO Coconut Water, pioneering the now multi-billion-dollar coconut water category in the U.S. and globally. He took ZICO from startup to a $200 million acquisition by Coca-Cola, before later leading a buy-back of the brand. Mark’s investment firm, GroundForce Capital, backs purpose-driven consumer companies focused on health, wellness, and sustainability. His latest book, An Entrepreneur’s Guide to Freedom, dives deep into the limiting beliefs and inner work necessary for both wealth creation and personal liberation.
On this episode we talk about:
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Mark’s early work and career journey, from dishwashing in Pittsburgh to Peace Corps volunteer in Costa Rica, then a pivot from corporate roles to entrepreneurship
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Lessons from failure: Why Mark built a “cemetery” for lost investments and business attempts—and how mourning and learning from failure is essential in entrepreneurship
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The real risk and emotional journey of launching ZICO, enduring years on the edge of bankruptcy, and aligning with his family to manage risk
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The breakthrough that came from honing a niche “beachhead” market strategy—targeting hot yoga practitioners in NYC and expanding from there
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What large brands and acquirers look for in fast-growth consumer companies, and why velocity and loyalty in a core market often matter more than national reach
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Mark’s best advice: Freedom and success start with inner work—addressing limiting beliefs, ownership over failures, and taking full responsibility for your outcomes
Top 3 Takeaways
1. Monumental brand growth comes from relentless niche focus, customer intimacy, and resisting the urge to expand too broadly, too soon.
2. The path to entrepreneurial freedom starts with self-awareness, emotional resilience, and the capacity to mourn losses without getting stuck.
3. When facing risk, build a realistic plan B with your family—optimism helps, but full financial and emotional transparency is vital for long-term success.
Notable Quotes
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“We mourn failures for a reason—if you don’t process and ritualize loss, it will haunt future decisions.”
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“Velocity in your best market beats scale in many—Coca-Cola wanted ZICO for how it dominated its niche, not just national shelf space.”
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“Freedom starts and ends inside—you’ll only reach it externally when you break limiting beliefs and take full responsibility.”
Connect with Mark Rampolla:
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