Welcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business Leaders Jake Karls, Co-Founder & Rainmaker, Mid-Day Squares – Bittersweet Victory: Showcasing challenges and successes in the entrepreneurial journey
Introducing a new product into the extremely competitive snack market is not for the faint of heart. To succeed, you need more than a unique product; you need energy, creativity, and a bold approach. Today’s guest has all that in spades.
We're sitting down with Jake Karls, who is the first to admit that he's a different kind of business leader, unapologetically authentic, refreshingly relatable, and completely free of bullshit. Jake is the Co-Founder and Chief Rainmaker of Mid-Day Squares, the good-for-you chocolate brand that turned a kitchen table dream into a global household name.
Mid-Day Squares is leading the disruption of an extremely competitive vertical with a winning team, innovative marketing and a fearless spirit. Jake is recognized as a rising star in the business world, was a finalist for Ian Wise Entrepreneur of the Year Award, was named to Forbes’ 30 under 30 List for food and beverage, and has featured as a regular contributor to media outlets across North America.
Jake has also nicknamed the ICR conference The House of Capital, and we love him for that. He’s officially a “FOICR” which stands for Friend of ICR.
Highlights:
- Jake discusses his path into the business sector (3:57)
- Jake and Tom talk about their favorite Shark Tank Shark (6:51)
- Jake talks about failure, finding work purpose, and skill sets (7:35)
- Finding your niche in a competitive market, and Mid-Day Squares' social media approach to branding, and (9:57)
- Building a brand with emotional connection, and modernized marketing (12:10)
- Mid-Day Squares' conception and the idea behind the product (14:15)
- Jake and the team's experience with manufacturing and building their own facility (16:12)
- Best-selling products (19:02)
- Mid-Day Squares' retail connections and their proudest deal (19:45)
- Refrigerated snacking, and how Mid-Day Squares target their audiences (21:00)
- How the team balances retail and direct channels (22:55)
- Goal and mission of Mid-Day Squares (24:00)
- Jake explains the complexity and challenges in the CPG (consumer packaged goods) industry (25:21)
- Jake gets honest about building your own business (26:35)
- Ideas for near-future product extensions at Mid-Day Squares (27:57)
- How much capital Mid-Day has raised for growth and development (29:13)
Links:
Feedback:
If you have questions about the show, or have a topic in mind you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producer, marion@lowerstreet.co.