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.
What is Welcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business Leaders?
In the increasingly crowded and competitive corporate and financial ecosystem, it’s harder than ever for companies to break through the clutter and be heard. The media, investors, agenda-driven influencers, even customers and competitors, are defining your business story on their terms. Therefore, it is imperative that companies take control and proactively drive the conversation with stakeholders in an effort to build & maintain equity value.
In Welcome to the Arena from ICR, Co-Founder & CEO of ICR, Tom Ryan, interviews key business and financial players who influence the fate of public or aspiring public companies in the capital markets. As a former Wall Street Journal ranked sell-side equity analyst and the founder of one of the largest strategic communications firms in the world, Tom understands what it takes to navigate this complex environment.
This is a forum for CEOs, CFOs, institutional investors, sell-side analysts, financial journalists, private equity professionals and other financial community participants to share their stories and give advice in an open and candid conversation.
For more information, visit http://www.icrinc.com