Connection Accepted Meet the Willy Wonka of LinkedIn: Jake Karls
Jan 2, 2026
Jake Karls, the co-founder of Midday Squares, shares his unconventional journey from a condo kitchen to selling millions of bars. He discusses the importance of authentic storytelling in marketing and warns against 'safe' corporate content, which he believes stifles creativity. Jake opens up about founder burnout and the necessity of patience in scaling operations. He emphasizes the power of using LinkedIn for genuine connection and community building, while also reflecting on the fun and messy process of entrepreneurship.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Condo Kitchen To Community
- Jake started Midday Squares in a condo kitchen making 50 bars a day and hand-delivering samples to customers.
- That early hustle and raw storytelling helped build an engaged community that followed their journey and bought the product.
Document The Messy Middle
- The founders filmed and posted the messy behind-the-scenes: fights, failures, and milestones.
- That transparency made people feel front-row to the journey and increased organic trial and retail interest.
Built A Factory After 26 Failures
- Midday Squares built a dedicated factory after 26 failed co-manufacturer attempts and a $2M plan led by Jake's sister.
- That factory now produces about 150,000 bars a day and was made possible by unconventional problem-solving.