Podcast
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 & Executive Chairman 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
- Episodes
- 251
- Releases
- Weekly
- Typical length
- 30 min
- On air since
- 2021
- Latest episode
- 6 days ago
Episodes
251 episodes, newest first
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30 min
Daniel Herz, Founder, President & CEO, WhiteHawk Minerals — Hit The Gas: Giving investors exposure to the booming natural gas industry
Episode 252
Show notes
Increased global exports and booming energy demand from AI data centers have created an incredible opportunity for US natural gas producers. Today, we’re featuring a company that’s giving investors the opportunity to capitalize on that windfall.
Our guest today is Daniel Herz, the Founder, President, and CEO of WhiteHawk Minerals, a company that owns 3.6 million gross acres of natural gas minerals, primarily in the Marcellus and Haynesville Shales, and receives royalties on thirteen percent of all U.S. natural gas production.
Prior to founding WhiteHawk, Daniel has served as the Founder, President, and CEO of Falcon Minerals Corporation, President of Atlas Energy Group, as well as CEO of Titan Energy and its predecessor, Atlas Resource Partners.
Today, Daniel joins us to discuss what motivated him to start WhiteHawk, the logic behind their hedging strategy, and why he believes so strongly in the future of natural gas.
Highlights:
• Why Daniel Came Back to Build WhiteHawk (2:03)
• How He Got His Start in Energy (4:22)
• How WhiteHawk Came Together (6:39)
• OpEx Efficiency (9:22)
• Managing the Balance Sheet (11:22)
• The Hedging Strategy (14:14)
• Natural Gas and the AI Power Race (17:17)
• The $30 Billion Acquisition Opportunity (20:30)
• Why White Hawk Is Staying Pure Play Gas (23:49)
• The Dividend Philosophy (26:07)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, joe@lowerstreet.co -
30 min
Andrew Kang, CEO, RoboStrategy — Betting on Bots: Investing in the rise of the robot economy
Episode 251
Show notes
Humanoid robots that walk, talk, and work like humans were once exclusively the stuff of sci-fi films. Now, however, some investors believe we’re approaching a reality where robots could reshape the global labor market. If they’re right, the economic opportunity could be enormous.
Andrew Kang is co-founder and CEO of RoboStrategy (NASDAQ: BOT), the first investment fund dedicated to giving public market investors access to the growth opportunities of leading private and public robotics companies. Its portfolio includes significant stakes in Standard Bots, Figure AI, and Apptronik among others.
Throughout his career, Andrew has led early-stage investments in AI, tech, and robotics. In addition to co-founding RoboStrategy in 2025, he is also the Founding Partner of Mechanism Capital, his family office focused on investments in frontier technologies and cryptocurrency.
In this episode, Andrew describes RoboStrategy’s investment approach and impressive NAV growth, the massive opportunity he sees in humanoid robots transforming the global workforce, and his predictions for the future of robotics and physical AI.
Highlights:
• Andrew’s journey into robotics investment (2:05)
• RoboStrategy’s mission and market approach (7:25)
• Defining the robotics total addressable market (8:15)
• How does RoboStrategy differentiate from competitors? (12:50)
• RoboStrategy’s NAV growth and investment strategy (15:35)
• What does RoboStrategy’s due diligence process look like? (17:35)
• The role of robotics in the reindustrialization of America (21:00)
• Misconceptions about robotics and AI (24:50)
• How will individual consumers use robots? (26:40)
• Looking ahead to 2027 (27:45)Links:
RoboStrategy WebsiteRoboStrategy LinkedInAndrew Kang LinkedInICR LinkedIn
Feedback:
If you have questions about the show, or have a topic in mind you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producer, joe@lowerstreet.co
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29 min
Michael Buckley, CEO, True Religion — Tried and True: Redefining a heritage brand’s product and price point for today’s consumer
Episode 250
Show notes
For heritage brands, change can come with a cost. Stray too far from what consumers expect, and you risk diluting the identity they know and love. Stand still, and you can get left behind. Strike the right balance, though, and you evolve alongside your customers, keeping up with what they'll pay, what they're wearing, and who they're following.
Michael Buckley is CEO of True Religion, a position he has held since 2019 having previously served as President of the brand from 2006 to 2010. Michael has extensive experience in the retail space. In the interim between his two roles at True Religion, Michael served as CEO of Robert Graham Designs and CEO of Differential Brand Group (renamed Centric Brands after the acquisition of Global Brands Group), a NASDAQ publicly traded apparel and accessories company. His previous experience also includes stints as CEO of Ben Sherman, and a variety of senior positions across the consumer landscape including at Diesel Jeans.
In this episode, Michael walks us through how True Religion defined itself in the luxury denim space, and then redefined its product and price point to align with today’s urban casual customer, finding steady success in a fluctuating macroeconomic environment. He also explains how celebrity endorsements, both paid and organic, from icons like Kylie Jenner, Zara Larsson, and Megan Thee Stallion grow interest in the label and increase brand awareness.
Highlights:
• Michael’s family legacy of consumer products and companies (2:22)
• How True Religion defined itself in denim (5:11)
• Redefining True Religion’s urban casual customer (6:55)
• Evolving the brand’s product offering (9:37)
• Future plans for the retail store and wholesale business (11:06)
• The halo effect of physical locations on ecommerce (15:07)
• COVID and tariffs: adapting the supply chain accordingly (16:47)
• Celebrity brand ambassadors and following consumer trends (20:49)
• How to stay true to yourself as a heritage brand in a changing environment (25:25)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, joe@lowerstreet.co
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29 min
Riad Sherif, MD, CEO, Oculis — Eyes on the Prize: Identifying and innovating on unmet needs in ophthalmology and neuro-ophthalmology
Episode 249
Show notes
Developing breakthrough medicines takes both courage and discipline. New treatments can transform patients' lives, but the path to approval is rigorous and leaves little room for error.
Dr. Riad Sherif, MD, is the CEO of Oculis, a global biopharmaceutical company focused on breakthrough innovations in ophthalmology and neuro-ophthalmology. Oculis’ two late-stage clinical candidates, Privosegtor and Licaminlimab, present promising treatment options for those suffering from a broad range of neuro-ophthalmologic diseases and dry eye disease respectively.
In this episode, Dr. Sherif explains how Oculis identified significant unmet needs in eye care and set out to address them with an approach that departs from the traditional pharmaceutical model. He discusses the parallels between building a successful pharmaceutical company and running a successful public company, and looks ahead to a future with better treatment options for patients with optic neuritis and dry eye disease.
Highlights:
• Oculis’ origins: defining its place in the pharmaceutical landscape (3:01)
• What is neuroprotective therapy? (7:13)
• Privosegtor’s effects on optic neuritis (9:32)
• Neuroprotective therapy’s potential for treating multiple sclerosis (12:44)
• Trial progress for Privosegtor and Licaminlimab (15:17)
• The challenging realities of drug development (17:26)
• Why transparency and quality matter as a public company (20:50)
• Oculis’ go-to-market strategy (22:51)
• Defining success for the future of Oculis (26:40)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, joe@lowerstreet.co
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24 min
Maria Stipp, CEO, Suja Life — Juice That’s Worth the Squeeze: How one better-for-you beverage company serves the evolving needs of the modern consumer
Episode 248
Show notes
Today’s consumer has become much more discerning about what they put into their body. And when people go to buy a beverage, they’re not just thinking about whether it’s refreshing or tastes good, they’re wondering about things like sugar content, hydration, and even the impact it will have on their mood.
Maria Stipp is the CEO of Suja Life, a beverage company with a slate of offerings to satisfy the needs of the modern health-conscious consumer.
Prior to joining the company, Maria served as CEO of Sapporo Stone Brewing, and before that, she was the CEO of Lagunitas Brewing Company. Early in her career, Maria spent over a decade in the software and gaming industry, including serving as an EVP of Owned Properties at Activision, overseeing some of the company's most iconic franchises, including Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and Guitar Hero.
Today, Maria joins us to talk about her journey from the world of gaming into the beverage industry, how vertical integration gives Suja an edge in the marketplace, and how they strive to meet evolving consumer needs while staying true to their brand.
Highlights:
• From Gaming to Brewing to Better-For-You (2:25)
• Why Maria Said Yes to Suja (3:35)
• Born in a Kitchen, Delivered by Skateboard (4:30)
• What Sets Suja Apart (5:20)
• The Farm-to-Bottle Advantage (6:20)
• Why Going Public Made Sense (8:10)
• Three Brands, One Platform (13:35)
• Competing Against Pepsi and Coke (17:40)
• What Investors Miss About the Story (20:15)
• What's Next for Suja (21:50)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, joe@lowerstreet.co
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27 min
John Melby, CEO, Xpansiv — Energy Registry: Operating the Global Infrastructure for the Renewable Energy Market (Re-broadcast)
Episode 247
Show notes
For all the recent negative news surrounding renewable energy in the US, the reality is that in 2025, around 80% of the new power generation that came online globally was renewable.
But to encourage global players to participate in that market for renewables, you need a rigorous system of verification, and a stable modern marketplace. That's where today's company comes in.
John Melby is the CEO of Xpansiv, the world's largest registry platform for renewable energy and carbon. John is an accomplished leader in energy and environmental markets, with over two decades of experience driving innovation in renewable carbon, natural gas, and power markets.
John joins us for an in-depth discussion on the current state of power generation, and how Xpansiv's platform is facilitating the growth of renewables.
Highlights:
• John's experience with energy markets (2:24)
• The opportunity for Xpansiv (3:44)
• Xpansiv's slate of services (5:05)
• Shifting energy consumption (6:22)
• Importance of registry infrastructure (9:05)
• Xpansiv's power business (11:39)
• Partnership with Constellation (13:56)
• Asia's role in the energy transition (15:25)
• Xpansiv's acquisition strategy (18:06)
• The evolving role of AI (20:48)
• Outlook for Renewables in the US (22:45)
• What's success for Xpansiv? (28:06)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, joe@lowerstreet.co
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24 min
Kirsty Ross, COO, Super Group — Betting on Success: Building a global gambling platform with a distinctly local flavour (Re-broadcast)
Episode 246
Show notes
Super Group runs gaming and betting operations on every continent, but where they really dominate is in Africa, where they have worked very hard to understand — and cater to — regional differences in consumer preference.
Our guest today is Kirsty Ross, Chief Operating Officer of Super Group, which trades under the symbol SGHC. As COO, Kirsty is responsible for global operations, organizational effectiveness, and scalable growth.
Kirsty joins us today to discuss Super Group's ongoing expansion in Africa, their strategy for utilizing AI, and how the upcoming World Cup will drive further brand engagement.
Highlights:
• What is Super Group? (2:07)
• Kirsty's evolving role (2:53)
• The African Market (4:44)
• Super Group's main brands (6:41)
• Using tech to service local markets (8:20)
• Plans to expand in Africa (9:35)
• The World Cup (11:31)
• Capitalizing on Brand Partnerships (13:41)
• Approach to Capital Allocation (15:32)
• Turning Strategy into Action (16:25)
• AI Deployment Strategy (18:21)
• Building Company Culture (20:25)
• 5-year Outlook for Super Group (21:52)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, joe@lowerstreet.co
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35 min
Josh Charlesworth, President and CEO, Krispy Kreme — Doughnuts to Dollars: An iconic American brand expands globally while staying true to its roots (Re-broadcast)
Episode 245
Show notes
Krispy Kreme has built a global brand on the strength of their incredible doughnuts. But the brand has recently gone through some struggles, and they're turning it around by finding new ways to get their products to consumers.
Josh Charlesworth is the President and CEO of Krispy Kreme, which trades under the symbol D-N-U-T. Josh has served as President and CEO since January of 2024, and he joined the company as CFO in May of 2017. He was also appointed COO in May of 2019, and global president in 2022.
Josh joins us to discuss Krispy Kreme's revamped business plan, including their approach to domestic expansion, and their strategy for capital-light international franchising.
Highlights:
• How Josh Joined Krispy Kreme: From Mars to Doughnuts (2:28)
• Krispy Kreme's 89-Year History (3:32)
• The Scale of the Business Today (4:38)
• The 2025 Turnaround: Why the Business Model Had to Change (6:29)
• Capital Light Strategy & the Hub-and-Spoke Model (9:02)
• US Expansion (10:16)
• International Growth: Brazil, Spain, France & Beyond (12:05)
• Surprising Markets & The Brand's Global Reach (13:27)
• Japan Case Study (14:30)
• Revenue vs. Profitability (16:22)
• Margin Improvements, Leverage Reduction & Outsourced Delivery (17:57)
• Preserving Quality while Franchising (20:57)
• Target, Costco, Walmart & Fresh Delivery Expansion (22:53)
• E-Commerce & Loyalty Membership (24:46)
• LTOs, Collaborations & Staying Culturally Relevant (26:27)
• GLP-1s & Changing Consumer Trends (29:07)
• Top Priorities for 2026–2027 (31:11)
• Josh's Favourite Krispy Kreme Doughnut (32:49)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, joe@lowerstreet.co
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26 min
Peter Milner, Founder & CEO, Renexxion Ireland — Efficacious and Safe: How an innovative new drug could revolutionize the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders
Episode 244
Show notes
Millions of people around the world suffer from gastrointestinal issues like gastroparesis, reflux, and constipation, but until now, the available treatments haven’t been very effective, and often carry some pretty nasty potential side effects. Today, we're featuring a company hoping to bring those people relief with a drug that's both efficacious and safe.
Today's guest is Peter Milner, the founder and managing member of Renexxion, where he serves as the CEO of its wholly owned operating subsidiary, Renexxion Ireland Limited, a clinical stage biopharma company committed to delivering innovative drugs to patients with gastrointestinal disorders globally.
Peter’s a board-certified cardiologist, a physician-scientist and a serial entrepreneur with a proven track record of building successful biotechnology companies, including CV Therapeutics and Aptivio Biotechnology, and advancing novel therapeutics from discovery to development.
Today, Peter’s going to walk us through Renexxion’s very promising new drug, the treatment gap it aims to redress, and what it will take to get it through clinical trials and into the hands of patients.
Highlights:
• From Medicine to Serial Entrepreneur (3:00)
• The Gap in GI Treatment (3:30)
• How the Drug Works (6:10)
• Where Others Failed (5:05)
• Trial Results and the Road to Phase 3 (8:20)
• The Problem with Current Treatments (9:45)
• The Dr. Falk Partnership (17:10)
• Pipeline in a Pill (20:20)
• The Billion-Dollar Opportunity (21:45)
• What's Next for Renexxion (23:50)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, joe@lowerstreet.co
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30 min
Ramy Brook Sharp, Founder, Co-CEO & Creative Director, Ramy Brook — Sexy, Sophisticated and Timeless: How the search for a stylish and affordable top led to one of the world’s fastest growing…
Episode 243
Show notes
So many women’s clothing companies are all about fast fashion: trendy products that are made to sell, but not to last. Today, we’re talking to the founder of an apparel company that’s focused on making quality clothes that feel good to wear, and live in your closet long-term.
Ramy Brook Sharp is the Founder, Co-CEO and Creative Director of the women’s clothing brand, Ramy Brook. In 2010, Ramy set out to create the perfect timeless top to complement her jeans and jewelry. Unable to find what she wanted, she designed it herself, and within six months, her pieces were picked up by Bergdorf Goodman.
Ramy Brook is now available in over 250 boutiques, at major retailers like Saks, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, and Bloomingdale's, and the company has a flagship store on Madison Avenue in New York City.
Today, Ramy walks us through the incredible origins of the brand, how she’s had to adapt the business to meet the demands of major retailers and social media platforms, and what we can expect to see from Ramy Brook in the coming years.
Highlights:
• From Advertising to Fashion (2:25)
• The $1,000 Top That Started It All (4:00)
• Getting Into Bergdorf and Learning Fast (6:50)
• Sexy, Sophisticated, Timeless (11:00)
• Building a Multi-Generational Brand (12:55)
• From Tops to Head-to-Toe (14:10)
• Marketing in a Crowded Space (16:10)
• E-Commerce and the Omnichannel Mix (18:00)
• Leading People Through Change (21:10)
• What's Next for Ramy Brook (25:25)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, joe@lowerstreet.co
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29 min
Max Martin, Co-founder & CEO, Enhanced — Let The Games Begin: How a competition involving the safe use of performance-enhancing substances builds trust among elite athletes and average consumers
Episode 242
Show notes
The health and wellness space is crowded, with a lot of companies selling products that they claim will keep you healthier and more active into old age. To differentiate themselves, one company has organized an entire sporting event featuring elite athletes, but with a twist: competitors are allowed to use performance enhancing substances.
Max Martin is the Co-founder and CEO of Enhanced, an elite sports competition and performance products company that trades on the NYSE under the symbol ENHA. With a unique background spanning technology, investment banking at Morgan Stanley, and entrepreneurial leadership, Max brings a distinctive perspective on building and scaling disruptive businesses at the intersection of technology, finance, and emerging markets.
Today, Max takes us inside Enhanced, their groundbreaking sporting event, their unique product offerings, and why the emergence of peptides could create major tailwinds for the business.
Highlights:
• What is Enhanced and How It Started (2:20)
The Enhanced Games Explained (10:05)
A Billion Eyeballs on Year One (11:25)
Athletes as a Customer Acquisition Engine (12:50)
The Peptide Opportunity (14:45)
How to Become a Customer (17:05)
Standing Out in a Crowded Market (20:25)
How Big Is the Market (22:35)
Why Enhancement Is for Everyone (25:05)
What's Next for Enhanced (27:00)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, joe@lowerstreet.co
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34 min
Sami Inkinen, Co-founder & CEO, Virta Health — Reversing Diabetes: How nutrition and technology are rewriting what’s possible in metabolic health (Re-broadcast)
Episode 241
Show notes
As we continue to work on some new episodes for you, please enjoy this episode from June featuring Sami Inkinen, the co-founder and CEO of Virta Health.
Summary:
The medical establishment spent decades telling patients that type 2 diabetes is a chronic and irreversible disease. Today’s guest decided to prove them wrong.Sami Inkinen is the co-founder and CEO of Virta Health, a company using a combination of nutrition science, remote monitoring technology, and individualized coaching to help patients reverse type 2 diabetes, obesity and other metabolic conditions.
Previously, Sami co-founded Trulia, the online real estate marketplace, serving as COO and president through its IPO and eventual sale to Zillow. He has also held roles at Microsoft and McKinsey, and rowed from California to Hawaii with his wife to raise awareness of the dangers of sugar.
Sami joins us to talk about how his own health journey influenced his decision to start Virta, the challenges of scaling in the health space, and the incredible success they’ve had in treating metabolic disease.
Highlights:
• A personal pre-diabetes diagnosis (2:35)
• Lessons from Trulia (6:00)
• Why reversal, not management (9:30)
• Clinical results and outcomes (12:47)
• GLP-1s and Virta’s approach (15:26)
• Technology and personalization (17:33)
• Selling to employers (20:17)
• Overcoming the status quo (22:33)
• Building a full-stack team (25:15)
• Rowing California to Hawaii (28:30)
• Goals for ‘26 into ‘27 (30:58)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, joe@lowerstreet.co
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34 min
Mike Silvestrini, Co-founder & Managing Partner, Energea — High Yield and High Impact: Bringing clean energy to emerging markets, and generating incredible returns for investors (Re-broadcast)
Episode 240
Show notes
As we take a short production break for summer we'll be re-releasing some old favorites, including this episode from back in June, featuring Mike Silvestrini, the co-founder and Managing Partner of Energea.
Enjoy!
Show Notes:
Investing in clean energy infrastructure in emerging markets sounds more altruistic than profitable. But today's company shows that doing the right thing can also be incredibly lucrative.Mike Silvestrini, co-founder and Managing Partner of Energea, a US-based renewable energy investment platform. Mike's a seasoned renewable energy professional who has played a central role in developing over 500 solar projects across the US, Brazil, and Africa, contributing meaningfully to the global transition to clean energy.
Today, we talk to Mike about how Energea evaluates investment opportunities, how they mitigate risk, and the incredible differences he's been able to make in different regions around the world.
Highlights:
• Where the idea for Energea came from (2:20)
• How the platform functions (5:58)
• The types of deals Energea pursues (7:30)
• The minimum investment in Energea (9:52)
• Investment portfolios (11:53)
• Brazil (13:33)
• Investor Relations (15:27)
• Energea's Wealth Management Channel (18:32)
• Vetting new deals (19:45)
• Big institutional partners — Brookfield & Goldman Sachs (22:20)
• Community impact (24:23)
• Life perspective (28:16)
• Emerging Markets (30:11)
• Goals for '26 into '27 (31:37)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, joe@lowerstreet.co
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30 min
Jeremy Morgan, CEO, American Family Care — Not Just Emergencies: How a national network of urgent care clinics is expanding their services to meet patient needs
Episode 239
Show notes
Historically, urgent care clinics were places you only went to treat acute injuries, but people are now turning to them for a growing slate of non-emergency medical services. And for operators in the space, that's creating a huge amount of opportunity.
Jeremy Morgan is the CEO of American Family Care, the nation's leading provider of urgent care with nearly 400 walk-in clinics across the United States. AFC's team of over 3,500 highly trained healthcare professionals deliver care to more than four million patients annually, driving system-wide sales exceeding a billion dollars.
Jeremy joins us to discuss how changes in American healthcare are impacting AFC's growth prospects, their approach to franchising, and how they're leveraging technology to deliver fast, convenient, and high quality healthcare to the communities they serve.
Highlights:
• Why Jeremy Joined AFC (2:20)
• Urgent Care as a Retail Business (4:00)
• What Makes AFC Different (6:22)
• Taking Over a Founder's Business (8:26)
• The Three-Stage Growth Plan (10:48)
• Building the Leadership Team (12:58)
• Going All-In on AI (17:36)
• The Case for Franchising with AFC (20:10)
• Buying Out the Competition (25:39)Links:
Jeremy Morgan LinkedIn
AFC LinkedIn
AFC Website
ICR LinkedIn
ICR Twitter
ICR WebsiteFeedback:
If you have questions about the show, or have a topic in mind you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producer, joe@lowerstreet.co -
30 min
Orazio Buzza, Founder & CEO, Fooda — Table Stakes: How Fooda reimagined workplace dining across America
Episode 238
Show notes
What if instead of a corporate cafeteria, your employer brought a different local restaurant to your office every day? It’s a simple idea, but the execution is surprisingly complicated.
Orazio Buzza is the founder and CEO of Fooda, a leading workplace dining platform serving offices, hospitals, distribution centers and other workplaces across the US. Before founding Fooda in 2011, Orazio was part of the founding team at Echo Global Logistics, where he served as president and COO and helped take the company public.
Today, Orazio walks us through how Fooda went from a single pop-up program at a Chicago office to a national platform, how they rebuilt the company almost from scratch after losing 95% of their business during COVID, and why food has become table stakes for employers trying to attract the best talent.
Highlights:
• Echo Global Logistics and the IPO (1:54)
• The origin of Fooda (4:12)
• The three-sided marketplace (6:06)
• The scale of the business today (12:35)
• City-by-city expansion (13:20)
• Losing 95% of business in COVID (15:00)
• Return to office and food as a perk (19:07)
• Technology and Fooda OS (22:33)
• Goals for ‘26 into ‘27 (27:20)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, joe@lowerstreet.co
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27 min
David Cantu, CEO, Craftable — Solving Margin Drift: How Craftable is giving hospitality operators real-time visibility into where the money is going
Episode 236
Show notes
Summary:
In a restaurant, food and labor account for 60 to 65 cents of every dollar spent, and there are a lot of ways to lose money when you’re not watching them closely. Most back-office tools only tell operators what went wrong after the fact; today’s company gives them a clear picture of what’s happening right now, and what it will cost them if they don’t do anything about it.
David Cantu is the CEO of Craftable, one of the hospitality industry’s leading SaaS profit management platforms. He’s been in the industry for approximately 35 years — starting in operations at P.F. Chang’s, co-founding HotSchedules, and most recently serving as CEO of Black Box Intelligence.
Today, David walks us through how Craftable works, what they’re most focused on as they look to automate the back-office workflow, and why you can’t manage costs at the expense of the customer experience.
Highlights:
• Hooked from the first shift (2:08)
• From P.F. Chang's to HotSchedules (2:52)
• How David came to Craftable (6:40)
• The back-office workflow, explained (9:21)
• Scale and ideal customer (11:40)
• Staying operator-first (13:40)
• Actual vs. theoretical (17:37)
• Cost discipline vs. guest experience (20:09)
• Texas Roadhouse and playing the long game (23:18)
• What's next for Craftable (24:29)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, joe@lowerstreet.co
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32 min
Joe Musselman, Founder & Managing Partner, BVVC — Building Deterrence: Bolstering national security by investing in defense tech (Re-broadcast)
Episode 237
Show notes
We're taking a short hiatus for the holiday, and we thought now would be a great time to resurface this episode from March about a venture capital fund focused on restoring America’s arms manufacturing capabilities.
We hope you enjoy! Happy Fourth of July!
Summary:
When it comes to defense tech, it's not enough to design the best weapons systems, you need to be able to actually build them. Today's company is investing in the infrastructure that will restore American arms manufacturing capabilities, and preserve our advantage in a world that's becoming more dangerous.Our guest today is Joe Musselman, Founder and Managing Partner of Bravo Victor Venture Capital, a US-based early seed and series-A venture capital fund. Joe is accountable for the firm's strategic vision and day-to-day mission, and leads all teams at the firm, including capital, investment, portfolio, and fund operations.
Since 2019, Joe's invested in companies like Firestorm, Epsilon3, Havoc AI, and notable early breakouts like Anduril, and Figure AI. And importantly for our conversation today, he recently led investments into Union, a new energetics prime where he is Co-Founder and Chairman.
Today, Joe discusses his fascinating journey as a founder, how BVVC is enabling national security start-ups to scale effectively, and why winning the AI race will be crucial for the future of our country.
Highlights:
• Joe's journey (2:17)
• Why defense tech? (6:01)
• Fund in the field (8:26)
• Scaling national security startups (13:18)
• Union and the manufacturing advantage (19:01)
• The importance of AI (23:25)
• Why defense tech investments are crucial (27:29)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, joe@lowerstreet.co
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27 min
Meghan McGowan, Founder & CEO, Barramundi — Inflection Points: Leveraging networks and technology to give investors timely access to some of the world's most exciting companies
Episode 235
Show notes
In ‘ID Fund’, Meghan McGowan and her husband Joe built a platform that gave their investors seamless access to exclusive — and lucrative — private investment opportunities. Now, with their new firm, Barramundi, they hope to build on that previous success by leveraging new technology, and expanding their total addressable market.
Meghan is the Founder and CEO of Barramundi, a private markets and pre-IPO investment firm. Under her leadership, the company has grown to roughly 1.5 billion in assets under management, with more than five hundred million invested across the companies, and they are defining the next era of the economy, from AI infrastructure to drone technology and digital finance.
Meghan joins us to discuss her atypical career path from wine futures to founding Barramundi, and the incredible opportunities they're creating for investors.
Highlights:
• From wine to private markets (2:41)
• Coming up with a better way to invest (7:20)
• Investment opportunities (11:09)
• Barramundi vs. ID Fund (14:02)
• Leveraging Technology (16:38)
• 50k Minimum (17:50)
• Investing at Inflection Points (18:53)
• Marriage and Business (22:29)
• 5-year Outlook (25:05)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, joe@lowerstreet.co
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31 min
Ricardo Azevedo, CEO, Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming — Canine Coifs: Building America’s largest premium pet brand through a commitment to quality and care
Episode 234
Show notes
Many people view their dogs as more than just pets — they see them as family members. So when they bring them to the groomer, they want to be sure they're well cared for. And many dog owners are willing to pay a premium for that kind of certainty.
Ricardo Azevedo is the CEO of Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming, America’s largest premium pet brand. Since joining in 2022, Ricardo has led the company from 150 locations to more than 330, adding five to eight new stores every month.
Prior to Woof Gang, Azevedo held senior leadership roles at Restaurant Brands International, where he worked across iconic brands, including Tim Hortons and Burger King.
Today, we talk to Ricardo about how his QSR experience translated to the pet space, what it takes to scale a franchise brand sustainably, and why the grooming industry is ripe for a dominant national player.
Highlights:
• A decade at RBI (2:15)
• Inside Woof Gang (5:14)
• The white space in grooming (6:55)
• Footprint, growth, and real estate (9:48)
• Building the infrastructure (13:26)
• Restaurants vs. services (17:07)
• Selecting franchisees (18:38)
• Protecting brand standards (21:49)
• The pet industry today (23:49)
• Goals for ‘26 into ‘27 (27:38)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, joe@lowerstreet.co
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34 min
Sami Inkinen, Co-founder & CEO, Virta Health — Reversing Diabetes: How nutrition and technology are rewriting what’s possible in metabolic health
Episode 233
Show notes
The medical establishment spent decades telling patients that type 2 diabetes is a chronic and irreversible disease. Today’s guest decided to prove them wrong.
Sami Inkinen is the co-founder and CEO of Virta Health, a company using a combination of nutrition science, remote monitoring technology, and individualized coaching to help patients reverse type 2 diabetes, obesity and other metabolic conditions.
Previously, Sami co-founded Trulia, the online real estate marketplace, serving as COO and president through its IPO and eventual sale to Zillow. He has also held roles at Microsoft and McKinsey, and rowed from California to Hawaii with his wife to raise awareness of the dangers of sugar.
Sami joins us to talk about how his own health journey influenced his decision to start Virta, the challenges of scaling in the health space, and the incredible success they’ve had in treating metabolic disease.
Highlights:
• A personal pre-diabetes diagnosis (2:35)
• Lessons from Trulia (6:00)
• Why reversal, not management (9:30)
• Clinical results and outcomes (12:47)
• GLP-1s and Virta’s approach (15:26)
• Technology and personalization (17:33)
• Selling to employers (20:17)
• Overcoming the status quo (22:33)
• Building a full-stack team (25:15)
• Rowing California to Hawaii (28:30)
• Goals for ‘26 into ‘27 (30:58)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, joe@lowerstreet.co
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