1. Vicki Kotris | Cleveland Cookie Dough Company (edible cookie dough)

Vicki Kotris is the Co-Founder and CEO of Cleveland Cookie Dough Company & Remixx (launching summer 2020). 
When she wasn't satisfied with the monotony of corporate America, she turned to entrepreneurship to satisfy her creative endeavors. On a trip to New York City with her husband Steve in 2018, Vicki discovered edible cookie dough and instantly knew it would be a hit in her hometown of Cleveland, Ohio. 
What started out as a passion project has since seen tremendous growth and excitement throughout Ohio. Vicki and her team now have a bright pink food truck, pop-up shop and several exciting brand collaborations in the works. As if that wasn't enough, Vicki is taking another step towards dessert domination in 2020 with Remixx, a next generation ice cream storefront that makes custom soft-serve McFlurry type goodness. 
Tune in to hear Vicki's inspiring story and leave a review! 
EPISODE TOPICS: 

• (9:15) Where did the spark for the idea come from? 
• (14:42) How were you affected by self-doubt? 
• (16:38) How did you think about sharing your idea vs keeping it secret? 
• (19:08) What was the process to come up with your first prototype? 
• (22:08) How did you think about getting consumer feedback on your early products? 
• (25:54) How did you start acquiring your early customers? 
• (33:45) How do you think about the product roadmap? 
• (36:31) How are you thinking about your brand evolving over the next 10 years? 
• (37:24) What's different in building Cleveland Cookie Dough (food truck) vs Remixx (brick and mortar)? 
• (39:34) How are you diversifying resources between multiple businesses? 
• (44:58) How did you think about marketing? 
• (50:09) How do you think about competition? 
• (55:39) How did you think about funding the business early on? 
• (1:02:43) What do you look for in people you hire? 
• (1:08:24) Who were the key mentors that have helped you along the way? 
• (1:13:24) What are the biggest struggles you faced early on and what would you have done differently? 
• (1:15:32) What do you know now that you wish you knew? 
• (1:17:15) What are your biggest challenges right now? 
• (1:20:01) What have you had to sacrifice? 
• (1:24:08) What would you say to someone having a quarter-life crisis? 
• (1:30:33) Vicki's startup manifesto 
• (1:33:44) Vicki's founder nomination 

Cleveland Cookie Dough Company - www.clecookiedough.com 

• Follow Cleveland Cookie Dough (@clecookiedough) on Instagram // Twitter 
• Follow Vicki on LinkedIn // Instagram 
• Vicki's learning and resource recommendations 

The Founder - www.thefounderpod.com 

• Follow The Founder (@founderpodcast) on Instagram // Twitter // LinkedIn // Facebook 

Don't have time to listen to the full episode? Read the 5-minute version here