In this episode of the Startup CPG podcast, Daniel Scharff speaks with three visionary founders who have built and scaled their businesses without external funding. Joining the discussion are Lisa Mastela of Bumpin Blends, Ben Bacon of Lentiful, and Jack & Tessa Schrupp of Drink Wholesome—leaders who have mastered lean operations, strategic growth, and creative problem-solving.
Lisa shares how she turned a small investment into a $10 million revenue smoothie brand, leveraging unconventional marketing and scrappy operational tactics. Ben reveals how Lentiful grew from an idea to a profitable omnichannel brand, balancing DTC sales and retail expansion while staying lean. Jack and Tessa discuss how Drink Wholesome has scaled to $2 million in revenue with just two employees, focusing on product differentiation and strategic partnerships.
This episode explores cost-efficient scaling strategies, organic customer acquisition, and practical insights into operating a CPG business without outside capital. Whether you're an early-stage founder or looking to refine your growth strategy, this conversation offers actionable takeaways from those who have successfully bootstrapped their way to success.
Tune in to hear how these founders navigated challenges, optimized resources, and built thriving businesses—without giving up equity!
Listen in as they share about:
- Lisa Mastela - Bumpin Blends
- Overview
- Bootstrapping Tactics
- Marketing Approach
- Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) & Retail Expansion - Ben Bacon - Lentiful
- Overview
- Bootstrapping Tactics
- Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) & Retail Expansion
- Retail Strategy - Jack Schrupp & Tessa Schrupp - Drink Wholesome
- Overview
- Bootstrapping Tactics
- Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) & Retail Expansion
- Scrappy & Creative Growth Strategies
Episode Links:
Website: https://bumpinblends.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisamastela/
Website: https://eatlentiful.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminpbacon/
Website: https://www.drinkwholesome.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tessa-schrupp/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jack-schrupp-4a14a7a1/
Don't forget to leave a five-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify if you enjoyed this episode. For potential sponsorship opportunities or to join the Startup CPG community, visit http://www.startupcpg.com.
Show Links:
- Transcripts of each episode are available on the Transistor platform that hosts our podcast here (click on the episode and toggle to “Transcript” at the top)
- Join the Startup CPG Slack community (20K+ members and growing!)
- Follow @startupcpg
- Visit host Daniel's Linkedin
- Questions or comments about the episode? Email Daniel at podcast@startupcpg.com
- Episode music by Super Fantastics
