#288 - How Bawi Went From College Dorm to Nationally Distributed Beverage Disruptor
Episode Summary
Victor Guardiola and Jordan Hicks are the co-founders of Bawi. With a passion for entrepreneurship, they turned their vision of creating ready-to-drink agua frescas into a reality. From testing their products at farmers markets to securing distribution in over 600 stores nationally, Victor and Jordan continue to grow their brand and bring refreshing beverages to consumers nationwide.
Episode Notes
Episode brought to you by Trend & Finaloop.
Join 15k founders and marketers & get our pod highlights delivered directly to your inbox with the DTC Pod Newsletter! On this episode of DTC pod, Jordan & Victor join Blaine & Ramon to discuss everything about building a top tier CPG brand from the ground up.
We cover:
1. Overcoming obstacles, fundraising struggles, scaling strategies.
2. Agua fresca innovation, commercialization process.
3. Cultural representation, Working Assembly partnership, Lotteria card motif.
4. Sprouts and Safeway partnerships, focus on Texas and California.
5. Raising capital, following up with investors, breakthrough investment.
6. Hiring and delegating, scaling systems and operations.
7. Farmers market success, pandemic challenges, post-college jobs.
Timestamps:
04:42 Bawi's progression from soda stream to cans.
06:39 Product market validation and self-funding.
13:19 Timing, friendship, and opportunities for growth.
17:58 Salesmanship and persistence in business.
21:11 Initial unfamiliarity with fundraising led to success.
26:47 Involvement of agencies, food scientist, commercialization.
29:25 Fundraising ease with a single check.
34:01 Focus on branding, package design, and cultural representation.
38:14 Feedback leading to branding adjustments.
41:25 Expansion to stores, focus on Texas, California.
45:10 Rapid scaling, easy fundraising, system building.
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Past guests & brands on DTC Pod include Gilt, PopSugar, Glossier, MadeIN, Prose, Bala, P.volve, Ritual, Bite, Oura, Levels, General Mills, Mid Day Squares, Prose, Arrae, Olipop, Ghia, Rosaluna, Form, Uncle Studios & many more.
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Victor Guardiola and Jordan Hicks - Co-founders of Bawi
Ramon Berrios - CEO of Trend.io
Blaine Bolus - Co-Founder of Seated
Episode Transcript
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Ramon has Co-Founded Trend. It is a curated marketplace of creators and brands. We help brands source high quality custom content. We love working with new, innovative companies that are changing the game.
Blaine Bolus is the Co-Founder of OmniPanel, the first software platform connecting CX & Internal teams.OmniPanel, backed by top Silicon Valley VCs, is building software infrastructure that powers cross-functional work, in an industry projected to be a $641 Billion Market in 2022.
