A founder presents his snack delivery business, Handle, to a panel of investors. They discuss profitability, expansion plans, unique approach to customer acquisition, financials and valuation, challenges of hiring and managing personnel, the rise and fall of a pitch, impact of a regulatory change, successful fundraising and plans for future growth, and the importance of gratitude in the startup environment.
The podcast discusses the challenges of using delivery robots for order fulfillment due to technological limitations, safety concerns, and higher costs compared to existing workflows.
The podcast explores the issue of managing personnel in a business that heavily relies on a specific demographic, highlighting the importance of identifying and developing talent early on.
The speaker mentions the potential future of drone delivery as a more efficient alternative to robotic delivery in the snack delivery business.
Deep dives
Overview of Hikerkind
Hikerkind is a premium women's outdoor hiking brand and community that offers women's outdoor apparel and accessories designed by women, inspired by references from the 40s and 50s. The clothing features streamlined and androgynous designs, offering a more flattering fit for different body types. Hikerkind aims to fill the gap in the market for women's outdoor clothing that prioritizes both functionality and style.
Addressing the Market Gap
The current market for women's outdoor apparel is underserved, with only 12.5% of the largest outdoor companies being led by women. Hikerkind recognizes the disconnect between what women look for in gear and the limited options available. They aim to provide women with desirable colors, versatile silhouettes, and functional features that meet their needs for both outdoor adventures and everyday wear.
Unique Selling Points
Hikerkind sets itself apart from the competition by offering a premium women's outdoor hiking brand and community. Their clothing is designed by women for women, providing a more inclusive and flattering fit compared to the traditional 'shrink it and pink it' approach. Hikerkind combines functionality with fashionable designs inspired by the 40s and 50s, creating a unique and appealing option in the $8 billion women's outdoor apparel market.
Unexpected challenges with delivery robots
The podcast discusses the challenges of using delivery robots instead of human workers for order fulfillment. The speaker mentions that they considered using robots for delivery, but ultimately decided against it due to technological limitations and safety concerns in certain areas. They also highlight the higher cost per delivery associated with using robots compared to their existing workflows. Additionally, the speaker mentions that they see a potential future for drone delivery as a more efficient alternative to robotic delivery.
Managing personnel and operations
The podcast explores the issue of managing personnel in a business that heavily relies on a specific demographic, such as college students. The speaker talks about the challenges of attrition, where good employees may leave due to graduation or other reasons. They discuss the importance of identifying and developing talent early on to ensure the smooth operations of the business. The speaker also mentions their strategy of hiring students or recent graduates and gradually promoting them based on their performance. They highlight the advantage of this kind of business experience for future job opportunities.
For our season 10 finale, we’re trying something crazy. We’re giving you a full pitch from start to finish with no editing whatsoever! Founder Chase Robbins presents his snack delivery business, Handle, to investors Paige Doherty, Neal Bloom, Elizabeth Yin, Mark Phillips and Charles Hudson. Will they back this college dropout who promises on-campus deliveries in 15-minutes or less? Or will they steer clear of a space that's seen billions of VC dollars go up in flames?
You can also watch the Handle pitch on YouTube. To learn more about Chase's snack delivery startup and the investors featured on this episode, check out the Handle show page.
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