Nombase Podcast

What Actually Breaks First When a CPG Brand Starts Working

This conversation began as a Nombase webinar, and due to listener demand, we turned it into a podcast episode. In this episode, Evan Walther of Oceans walks through a discussion with Troy Bonde, co-founder and CEO of Sauz, William Hicks, CEO and co-founder of Magic Mind, and Ian Myers, founder of Oceans, on what really happens when a CPG brand moves from early traction into serious growth.They get into the messy middle between roughly $2M and $20M in revenue, when product market fit is real, but the team, cash flow, operations, and retail systems are suddenly under pressure. You will learn: • How Sauz handled a Target PO bigger than its lifetime revenue • Why founder bandwidth becomes the first real scaling bottleneck • How Magic Mind improved cash flow by renegotiating supplier terms • Why unit velocity matters more than top line revenue in retail • When to spend on packaging before paid marketing • How to use retail media, demos, and display to drive trial • Why early hiring mistakes can create more drag than leverage • How to know when your systems are breaking before your team does If your brand is working, but everything is starting to feel stretched, this episode will help you understand what's normal, what's avoidable, and what to fix before growth breaks the business.

They Invested In Poppi, Siete & Bachan's. How A 'Supernatural' Team Evaluates Early-Stage Brands.

*]:pointer-events-auto [content-visibility:auto] supports-[content-visibility:auto]:[contain-intrinsic-size:auto_100lvh] R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(--scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(--thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" data-turn-id="ce2b53dc-7798-4ae5-a680-465ac155c919" data-turn-id-container="ce2b53dc-7798-4ae5-a680-465ac155c919" data-testid="conversation-turn-34" data-scroll-anchor="false" data-turn="assistant"> Chris Robb, founder of Supernatural Ventures and early investor in brands like Bachan's, shares how he evaluates founders before revenue, what separates breakout brands from the rest, and why most CPG companies waste money too early. You will learn: • Why unit velocity matters more than total revenue in early retail growth • How to price your first fundraising round without hurting future raises • Why packaging is the one area early brands should overspend on • How to use retailers and store buyers as real world product validation before scaling • What Chris looks for in founders before investing pre revenue capital Chris also breaks down how Supernatural Ventures approaches pre-seed investing, why he avoids heavy marketing spend early on, and how brands can build momentum organically before raising larger rounds.

OpenSky Ventures Fund II Is Live: Is This Investor For You?

OpenSky Ventures has backed brands like Fishwife, Magic Mind, and Habiza, and is actively deploying capital into the next wave of innovative businesses. They focus on brands with early traction, strong customer loyalty, and clear potential to scale into lasting, differentiated brands. In this episode, Stephanie Nwokolo Hussey, Principal at OpenSky Ventures, breaks down exactly what they look for, how they evaluate founders, and how to know if your brand is a fit before you pitch. You will learn: • How to prove real brand strength through repeat rates, subscriptions, and early customer loyalty signals • What investors actually want in a deck, including must show metrics and common deal breaking mistakes • How to stay capital efficient by controlling marketing spend, supply chain costs, and team structure • How to build a go to market strategy using organic growth, community tactics, and customer first channels • How VCs separate real trends from hype using examples like protein demand and GLP 1 driven behavior shifts If you are a food or beverage founder thinking about raising, this episode will help you quickly understand whether Open Sky should be on your target list.

Zeroing in on Costco, Target, Walmart? What to Fix Before You Go Big

Landing a major retail account can change a brand overnight, but only if the operational foundation is ready to support it. Join Paul Verdu and Mitch Wedemeier from Octopi, a co-manufacturing partner backed by Asahi Group, to break down what really happens when brands scale into large national and club retailers. You'll learn: • Why landing a retailer like Costco or Target often creates a 90 to 180 day production sprint and what must happen within that window • The critical documentation required including specs, certifications, and material data to enable a smooth transition between co manufacturers • How differences in co-manufacturer equipment and capabilities impact product quality, timelines, and scalability • Common surprises around packaging, lead times, and retailer requirements and how to plan for them early • How to balance forecasting, inventory risk, and production flexibility to avoid stockouts amid unpredictable reorder cycles

25 Million Americans Use Yuka. Here Are The Things That Will Kill Your Score

Yuka is increasingly influencing what gets bought and what gets put back at shelf, with millions of consumers using it in real time while they shop. In this episode, we're joined by Gabriella Sebag-Weingrad, who leads Yuka's US business, to break down how it all works and what it means for food and beverage brands trying to stay competitive. For founders, understanding Yuka is no longer optional, it's a competitive advantage. * How Yuka's scoring system actually works and which ingredients can instantly cap your score or drag it down * The specific additives and formulation choices most likely to get your product put back at shelf * What happens after a scan, including when consumers switch, trade up, or abandon products entirely * How brands are reformulating in response and what they're removing without replacing * Ways to improve your score without destroying margin, taste, or shelf life * How to turn Yuka from a risk into a growth lever by positioning your product as the winning alternative