From Dreamer to Drink Magnate with Bill Moses, Founder and CEO of Flying Embers
Stairway to CEO
· with Bill Moses
· February 7, 2023
· 47 min
Summary
Bill Moses, founder of Flying Embers and KeVita, shares an incredible journey from Wall Street to selling his first company for $220 million. This episode is a masterclass in identifying market gaps for healthier beverage options, building a brand for acquisition, and navigating personal and business challenges to re-establish success. A must-listen for CPG founders aiming for a successful exit.
Key takeaways
Identify clear, unmet market needs, as Moses did with healthier beverage options, to create disruptive products and gain market share.
Develop a clear exit strategy from the outset, understanding how acquisition by a larger entity like PepsiCo can scale your brand and provide a significant return.
Build resilience and adaptability into your business model; personal or market crises can be transformative opportunities for re-evaluation and renewed success.
Prioritize strong brand storytelling and unique product positioning (e.g., sugar-free, organic, vegan) to differentiate in a competitive market and resonate with conscious consumers.
Leverage early career experiences, even seemingly unrelated ones like Wall Street, to develop financial acumen and strategic thinking crucial for entrepreneurial success and investor relations.
Today, Lee is joined by Bill Moses, an influential leader, proven innovator, and inspiring mentor in the beverage industry. Bill is the Founder and CEO of Flying Embers, an alcoholic beverage brand that offers delicious, sugar-free, vegan, and certified organic canned cocktails, including flavored mojitos, hard kombucha, and hard seltzers. In this episode, Bill shares his lifelong love for napping and outlines how he started his career on Wall Street before navigating his first startup exit at just 32 years old, which ultimately led him to Ojai, California, where his popular beverage brand, KeVita, was born. Tuning in, you’ll learn how Bill sold KeVita to PepsiCo for $220 million in 2016, the story behind the name Flying Embers, and how a near-death experience with COVID in 2020 changed Bill’s perspective and enabled him to reestablish his business for success, plus so much more!
Frequently asked about this episode
What does this episode say about brand building?
Identify clear, unmet market needs, as Moses did with healthier beverage options, to create disruptive products and gain market share.
What does this episode say about entrepreneurship?
Develop a clear exit strategy from the outset, understanding how acquisition by a larger entity like PepsiCo can scale your brand and provide a significant return.
What does this episode say about exit strategy?
Build resilience and adaptability into your business model; personal or market crises can be transformative opportunities for re-evaluation and renewed success.
What does this episode say about market disruption?
Prioritize strong brand storytelling and unique product positioning (e.g., sugar-free, organic, vegan) to differentiate in a competitive market and resonate with conscious consumers.
What does this episode say about brand building?
Leverage early career experiences, even seemingly unrelated ones like Wall Street, to develop financial acumen and strategic thinking crucial for entrepreneurial success and investor relations.
