From Meetups to Meatless Jerky with Matt Feldman, Founder and CEO of Moku Foods
Stairway to CEO
· with Matt Feldman
· September 13, 2022
· 51 min
Summary
Matt Feldman, CEO of Moku Foods, transformed king oyster mushrooms into a popular meatless jerky by partnering with a Michelin chef. This episode reveals his journey from leveraging vegan meetups for networking to achieving viral YouTube success, culminating in over $4 million in funding. Learn how to innovate and scale in the competitive food industry through strategic partnerships, impactful content, and effective fundraising.
Key takeaways
Collaborate with culinary experts to elevate product quality and credibility: Matt partnered with a Michelin chef to develop Moku Foods' mushroom jerky, demonstrating the value of professional food science and culinary artistry in product innovation.
Leverage online content platforms like YouTube for brand awareness and customer engagement: Matt garnered over a million YouTube views, proving the power of digital marketing in building a direct-to-consumer brand from scratch.
Strategically network within relevant communities for early traction and insights: Feldman's attendance at vegan meetups provided valuable market insights and connections, illustrating the importance of community engagement in niche markets.
Master the art of fundraising by effectively articulating your vision and market opportunity: Moku Foods successfully raised over $4 million, highlighting the critical need for a compelling business narrative and solid growth strategy to attract investors.
Focus on unique product development based on consumer trends: By identifying the growing demand for plant-based alternatives, Moku Foods developed a distinctive mushroom jerky that stands out in the crowded snack market, catering to evolving consumer preferences.
Themes
brand building & marketingentrepreneurial journeyproduct innovation & developmentstartup fundraising
Joining the show today is Matt Feldman, the Founder and CEO of Moku Foods, a mushroom-based jerky. Matt shares about how he partnered with a Michelin Chef to turn king oyster mushrooms into a delicious alternative beef jerky. In this episode, Matt talks about his childhood growing up in Hawaii, why he joined a vegan meetup in San Francisco, how he earned over 1 million views on YouTube, and how he's raised over $4 million for Moku foods.
Frequently asked about this episode
What does this episode say about brand building & marketing?
Collaborate with culinary experts to elevate product quality and credibility: Matt partnered with a Michelin chef to develop Moku Foods' mushroom jerky, demonstrating the value of professional food science and culinary artistry in product innovation.
What does this episode say about entrepreneurial journey?
Leverage online content platforms like YouTube for brand awareness and customer engagement: Matt garnered over a million YouTube views, proving the power of digital marketing in building a direct-to-consumer brand from scratch.
What does this episode say about product innovation & development?
Strategically network within relevant communities for early traction and insights: Feldman's attendance at vegan meetups provided valuable market insights and connections, illustrating the importance of community engagement in niche markets.
What does this episode say about startup fundraising?
Master the art of fundraising by effectively articulating your vision and market opportunity: Moku Foods successfully raised over $4 million, highlighting the critical need for a compelling business narrative and solid growth strategy to attract investors.
What does this episode say about brand building & marketing?
Focus on unique product development based on consumer trends: By identifying the growing demand for plant-based alternatives, Moku Foods developed a distinctive mushroom jerky that stands out in the crowded snack market, catering to evolving consumer preferences.
