The VentureFuel Visionaries

Mayur Gupta, Chief Marketing and Strategy Officer for Gannett, has an incredibly strong track record as a growth and content marketer at big CPGs like Kimberly Clark, as well as disruptive start-ups like Spotify and Freshly that re-shaped their categories. 40 under 40, Forbes’ Top 50 CMO, profiled in Harvard Business Review and the Economist, Mayur is the real deal. We talk about comfort in chaos, day 1 thinking, marketing’s marketing problem, innovation in legacy companies and his 3 flywheels of growth.

2 of the 4 finalists for the upcoming NY MilkLaunch share their origin stories and how they have accelerated their breakthrough products. Meet Pursue Happiness Cold Brew Cowffee an innovative dairy-based, shelf-stable coffee drink with high protein, low sugar and added CLA Plus for increased health benefits. Meet Karviva Gold Sage: Inspired by ancient wisdom, backed by modern science, this wellness beverage infuses functional ingredients like turmeric and other minerals into NY milk to deliver a full range of health benefits.

Meet Superfrau - An alpine-inspired electrolyte elixir made of upcycling surplus whey and infusing it with unique flavors like cucumber lime, lemon elderflower and peach mango. A hydrating, protein and nutrient-packed recovery drink that promotes sustainability in the dairy industry. Meet Slate Milk - a low sugar, higher protein line of lactose free vanilla and chocolate milks for everyone, not just children. These are 2 of the 4 finalists for the upcoming NY MilkLaunch competition.

Commercializing Serendipity. As we work remotely and major conferences and networking events have morphed to digital, the biggest complaint is lack of serendipity. That moment where the ultimate connection is right next to you, hiding in Plain Sight, and you strike up a conversation. That’s why James Chapman created Plain Sight, a localized, social networking platform that connects you with the type of people you’re looking for both online and in physical spaces. We talk about the future of networking, commercializing serendipity and creating your own powerful community. Find Your Tribe.

$605bn – that’s how big snacking is globally. What if you could tap into that with a combination of emerging entrepreneurs, industry mentors and one of the ultimate super foods? The Real California Milk Snackcelerator does just that, and their finals air live on YouTube on Nov. 19th @ 5 PM PST. Here is a sneak peek of the experience from the 3 architects of the program: John Talbot CEO of CMAB, Bob Carroll VP of Business Development CMAB and Fred Schonenberg, Founder of VentureFuel. CMAB is one of the largest agricultural marketing boards in the US.

Decadent French chocolate mousse? Organic flavored paneer. Meet 2 of the 4 finalists for the upcoming Real California Milk Snackcelerator as they introduce you to their products and the mentors helping them accelerate their businesses.

2 of the 4 finalists for the upcoming Real California Milk Snackcelerator introduce you to their products. Learn how an accelerator can actually grow your business, why California Dairy is different and meet delicious premium cheese made easy and decadent ice cream filled with hidden veggies.

“Building Better Marketers” that’s the north star for Lindsey Slaby, Founder of Sunday Dinner, who is often called the CMO Whisperer. Lindsey is part orchestrator, master networker, creative power-house. That helps marketers rethink strategy and deliver by orchestrating new approaches to organizational design and external partner relationships. Lindsey was just named to AdAge’s 40 under 40 list for all the work she does for clients like Target, Microsoft, Stitch Fix, MassMutual. We chat about the disruptive new model that is Sunday Dinner, how to work with external partners and how to inject fresh thinking to drive growth.

DTC is one of the all-time great disruptions, but was seemingly impossible for the alcohol industry due to the prohibition laws in the US, until. Speakeasy Co. They enable craft brands nationwide to sell directly to consumers from their websites without disrupting the three tier system; giving brands the opportunity to fuel their own growth through lean DTC practices embraced by startups across every other food and bev category. We talk with Josh about the power of data, how to launch a spirits brand and the future of alcohol purchases.

Can you eat water lilies? Are brussels sprouts the next pop chip? Want to discover what’s next in snacking and surprise and delight your family? Erica Wagner, the Chief Snack Officer, and Arielle Diskin, The Chief Social Snacker, are the Co-Founders of SnackRiot. SnackRiot is a monthly snack subscription service that introduces busy families to new brands, ingredients and flavors with the goal of expanding their snack cabinet options. We discuss why people love new snacks, new food trends and what large companies can learn from their efforts. PS – there is a discount code hidden within the episode.