SKU

The SKU Fall '24 Showcase was an overwhelming success. Each of the seven brands crushed their pitches in front of the standing-room only crowd in Rowling Hall at the Texas McCombs School of Business. CPG leaders and investors flew in from around the country for the event. The event kicked off with an inspiring and heart-felt keynote address by SKU co-founder Clayton Christopher. Clayton is a serial entrepreneur and respected CPG investor known for founding Sweet Leaf Tea Co.(acquired by Nestlé), Deep Eddy Vodka (acquired by Heaven Hill Distilleries NZ Ltd), and Waterloo Sparkling Water (acquired by Flexis Capital), CAVU Consumer Partners and Astō Consumer Partners. Congratulations to Dr. Arash Aftabi and Dr. Farnoush Fadavi, the founders of Bala Enzyme, Jenn Brown, founder of Foraged & Found, Caroline Brain, founder of Kif & co, Samuel Taylor, founder of Long Table, LLC, Eric Wentworth and JD Mitchell, founders of Modica, Maddie M., founder of Peace Love Hormones and Buddy Jordan and Joey Kindred, founder of The Bloody Buddy. Their decks were created by the talented Kelly Stevens at Seven Creative. Congratulations to Samuel and Long Table for winning both the Judge's Choice and the Fan Favorite. A big thank you to our judges: Ann Frazier, founder of 731 MGNT, Christopher Cain, Co-Chair Transactions Practice Group of Foley & Lardner LLP, Alex Bodney, Co-founder of Midnight Venture Partners and Karen Howland, managing director of Rose Park Advisors. Thank you Jon Brumley Texas Venture Labs for hosting usAnd a special thanks to the sponsors of the prize package: Proof Advertising, TikTok, , eBusiness Solutions, Inc., Balanced Business Group, 1Q, Wonderkind Co and Foster Garvey PC. As the Fall Track comes to a close, we are preparing for the Spring '25 Track. If you are a dedicated and creative founder with a disruptive product with the potential and passion to successfully scale, we invite you to apply to the Spring '25 SKU Track. Learn more here: https://sku.is/apply/ Michelle Breyer Brooke Wilson Buff Greebe Maddie S. Adrien Petersen

Our mentors and founders had a wonderful time in Austin for the final activities for the Fall Track. They e Ben partook in a yoga class taught by SKU Program Director Brooke Wilson!

Mike Gelb, a CPG legend, interviewed SKU CMO Michelle Breyer during a recent visit to Austin. She talks about her curly journey and how she's used her own entrepreneurial lessons to help startups at SKU. Michelle Breyer Buff Greebe Brooke Wilson Adrien Petersen Maddie S. #cpg #cpgs #texturedhair #curlyhair #beautyproducts #accelerator #cpgaccelerator #emergingbrands #startups #cpgstartups #consumerpackagedgoods

Congrats to SKU alum Waka Coffee and Tea, which is making a splash at Walmart! David Kovalevski Michelle Breyer Buff Greebe Maddie S. Adrien Petersen Brooke Wilson #coffee #coffelover #coffeeandtea #tea #hotbeverages #instantcoffee

What an amazing experience! Last night, I had the priviledge of attending SKU's Fall 2024 Showcase. Founders of seven fantastic companies pitched to a crowded auditorium. So much passion, so much growth, so much potential. Congrats to all the founders! Thank you, Joey Kindred and Buddy Jordan of The Bloody Buddy for allowing me to be part of your journey. Great things are in store for you and for Bloody Mary connoisseurs, professional and home bartenders alike. Thank you to the amazing SKU team, Buff Greebe, Michelle Breyer and Brooke Wilson for being so welcoming and making this experience so wonderful! And thank you to all the mentors - I learned so much from you! #sku #cpg #bevalc #atx

Clayton Christopher spoke at the SKU Pitch showcase in Austin last night: "In the early days of my first company Sweet Leaf Tea Co., my ego and self-worth were way too tied up in the business," he said to the audience of #CPG and #DTC brand builders. The crowd had come at SKU's invitation, traveling from across the country (Alaska, Chicago, etc.) to meet at Texas McCombs School of Business. Clayton contined: "I was often too proud to ask for help and too insecure to ask a stupid question. I was intimidated by people smarter than me and too slow to seek out mentors. And it held the company back." Wow, that sounds familiar to my experience! I wish Clayton spoke at my Guidance for Growth event at Capital Factory in September that Michelle Breyer joined as a panelist and Marc Nathan helped Abigail P. organize. It encourages me when I listen to people who've 'been there, done that', and they're willing to reflect and speak candidly. Clayton described the significance of his prayerful morning routine, and what's different about his experience today: "My work mantra is to leave everything on the field yet hold the outcome lightly. It's easier to do this when you believe that everything is unfolding as it should."

What a night to remember! The SKU Fall ’24 Showcase was a tremendous success, with an incredible turnout and an evening full of energy, inspiration, and celebration. Every founder absolutely crushed their pitches, showcasing the hard work, creativity, and passion that define the future of CPG innovation. Over the past 12 weeks, these founders worked tirelessly alongside their mentors to refine their brands and strategies—and the results were on full display last night. It was an honor to serve as a mentor to Bala Enzyme (Dr. Farnoush Fadavi and Dr. Arash Aftabi) during this journey. I also learned so much from the incredible group of mentors—your expertise and insights made the experience even more rewarding. A big congratulations to the entire cohort: ? Bala Enzyme ? Foraged & Found ? Kif & co ? Long Table ? Modica ? Peace Love Hormones ? The Bloody Buddy A huge shoutout to the SKU team for orchestrating such a fantastic program and event. Your dedication, organization, and support made this showcase and the 12-week journey a huge success. Thank you for making it all happen and for continuing to elevate the CPG community. The energy in the room was unmatched, and the future of CPG is in great hands with these visionary founders leading the charge. Here’s to continued success for all of you!

Over the past 12 weeks, SKU guided seven incredible brands through an intensive program that blends expert mentorship with a dynamic curriculum, culminating in tonight’s Showcase event and celebration in Austin, TX. This cycle, I had the honor of mentoring Samuel Taylor, founder of Long Table Pancakes. It’s truly inspiring to see him join the ranks of notable SKU alumni like Siete Family Foods, EPIC Provisions, DUDE Wipes, and so many other remarkable brands. I wholeheartedly recommend this program to anyone looking to scale their business and become a transformative force in their industry. Applications are now open for the Spring ’25 Track—apply here:?https://sku.is/apply/ #CPG #Entrepreneurship #Founders #Startups #Accelerator #Mentorship #Marketing

SKU Fall 2024 Showcase drops the mic ?? Last night's SKU whowcase reminded me why Austin is such a special place for startups. You have all these founders excited and nervous to pitch their pictures in front of 400 people Then you have all these supporting mentors giddy as can be and super proud of the founders they've been working with over the last 12 weeks In the crowd, you have this eclectic community service providers, retailers, investors, family members, customers and friends of friends and fans of CPG making up the audience. And at the heart of it all, you have this motely crew that is SKU that is the beating heart of this accelerator Buff Greebe, Michelle Breyer, Brooke Wilson, Maddie S., Adrien Petersen... All ignited by a spark Shari Wynne Ressler had a decade ago. And I'm standing tall and proud in the back beaming to see how far they’ve come since that first Storytelling Pitch mentor session 84 days ago. I'm privileged to have a made a tiny Story dent on their journey over those 2 hours and felt like an uncle filming every presentation, taking photos of everything, and trying to find them afterward to congratulate them on a job well done. ?? Bala Enzyme: Dr. Arash Aftabi & Dr. Farnoush Fadavi redefining recovery and rehydration with a zero-sugar, all-natural solution. ?? Foraged & Found: My favorite yatch chef Jenn Brown bringing sustainability to our pantries with her kelp-powered products. ?? Kif & Co: Caroline Brain turning her gut health journey into probiotic-packed kefir water that’s as delicious as it is functional. ?? Long Table: Playwright (in my mind anyway) Samuel Taylor made heirloom whole-grain pancakes a love story worth tasting. ?? Modica: Eric Wentworth & JD Mitchell elevating cocktails with mixers that deliver big flavor and better ingredients birthed at college ?? Peace Love Hormones: Maddie M., Braxton Manley, & Zach Manley Maddie M. empowering women to take control of their health with natural hormone-supporting supplements. ?? The Bloody Buddy: Buddy Jordan & Joey Kindred giving us the perfect Bloody Mary, straight out of Dripping Springs. Congratulations to all the founders, the incredible SKU mentors, and the entire SKU team for continuing to nurture the next wave of CPG innovation. Your work strengthens the very fabric of what makes Austin the thriving, entrepreneurial hub it is today. A special congrats to Samuel Taylor for taking home both trophies awarded last night (Shakespearean Storytelling for the Win - literally). But I'm pretty sure we all won last night. To everyone who came out, connected, and celebrated these amazing founders—thank you. And to the founders: your hard work and courage inspire us all. Here’s to Austin, to storytelling, and to the future of CPG! #Founder #CPG #Entrepreneurship #AustinSKU #StartupStories #Pitching #Austin

Amazing event! Listened to 7 pitches tonight at the SKU showcase. I’m invested as a mentor and proud to be associated with such talented folks.