SKU

Planting for Profits DTC Workshop
2025-04-29 - 2025-04-30 | Austin, TX
Spring ’25 Mentor Patrick Scott Pitman is hosting ‘Planting for Profits‘, a DTC workshop for founders and digital marketers. In the hands-on workshop, founders will have a a chance to work together to fix opt-in offers and pre-purchase flows in Klaviyo to double opt-in rates and and grow email & SMS channels. You will learn the following in the workshop:

Quizzes + Popups Built On-Site
Flows Optimized & Sending Before You Leave
Hands-On Help From Pros + Peer Insights
Immediate Wins, No Busywork
Breakfast Tacos, Coffee, Sunshine

Brand Founders Panel: Decision-making in Turbulent Times
2025-04-29 19:00 - 21:00 (America/Chicago) | Inn Cahoots, 1221 E 6th St., Austin, TX, 78702
In a turbulent market with uncertain consumer shopping demand and even more uncertainty around cost of goods, how are you making decisions?
Join our panel oriented to the Direct-To-Consumer sales channel for a discussion about:

What investments are you making now for profitability this year?
What are you stopping or redirecting now given market uncertainty?
How are you making decisions amidst rapid change in the market?

Let’s talk about how to position your company for profitability in times of economic uncertainty. Whether planning inventory or marketing investments, we’ll discuss both practice and theory for how to navigate uncertainty.
Host Patrick Scott Pitman will ask questions of a panel that includes CPG brand co-founder Jake Chambers of Pupsentials. Read the Shopify case study on its remarkable sales growth. Jake is a graduate of SKU, a CPG accelerator based in Austin.
Brand co-founder Shaz Rajashekar of SHAZ & KIKS will describe how her corporate background informs her entrepreneurial process. With most of her sourcing from India, she’s modeling scenarios and imagining possible futures. She’ll tell us how it’s going!
Also joining the panel will be entrepreneur and investor Taylor Pearson. Author of The End of Jobs, Pearson champions clear-thinking amidst uncertainty. His Interesting Times Newsletter is beloved by executives challenged to make decisions under opaque conditions. An advocate for applying the OODA Loop to business, Pearson spent the last 5 years running a hedge fund and coaching entrepreneurs and executives.
Klaviyo is also sponsoring this event. There will be lots of people in the room who prioritize email & sms marketing, retention practices.

SKU Town Hall: Navigating Tariff Uncertainty, Strategies for CPG Startups
2025-04-30 11:00 - 12:00 | Virtual
With tariffs top of mind for everyone in the CPG space, navigating this uncertainty has become a critical challeng, especially for startups who have fewer resources to deal with their potential impact.
Join us at 11 a.m. CT, April 30th for a virtual panel of founders, retailers and financial experts where we’ll explore how tariffs are impacting CPG startups and some coping strategies in these uncertain times.
Moderated by SKU’S CMO Michelle Breyer, this conversation brings together a panel of experts who will share insights, strategies, and stories. From sourcing challenges to retailer negotiations, we’ll unpack how to stay resilient and strategic in an environment that continues to evolve
The panelists include:

Kelly Spillane, Investment Principal for Whole Foods Market who also leads investments in the retailer’s LEAP CPG accelerator companies.
Lex Evan®, founder and CEO of LEXINGTON BAKES
Julia Megson, founder and CEO of Rescale and former director of operations at Trader Joe’s
Julie Wolf, founder of Spring ’25 brand Fairly Nuts.
Faheem Siddiqi, managing partner at FinanceWithin

What You’ll Learn:

How tariffs are affecting founders and their brands first hand.
Tactical advice on financial projections, pricing and supply chain shifts.
How retailers are responding and what it may mean for your brand.

SKU Dallas Happy Hour
2025-05-01 16:00 - 18:00 | The Rustic, 3656 Howell Street, Dallas, Texas, 95204
Please join us for a gathering of mentors, founders and Dallas CPG leaders at The Rustic from 4-6 p.m. May 1. It will be an opportunity to network with industry leaders, share experiences, and forge meaningful connections in a relaxed setting. Come unwind and raise a toast with us! We hope to see you there.
A special thanks to SKU partner Foley & Lardner for sponsoring the happy hour. Foley & Lardner ‘s 80-plus Emerging Growth and Venture Capital attorneys understand the complex and diverse needs of venture funds, portfolio companies, and startups. They have guided hundreds of companies, from startup to commercialization to liquidity events.

Austin Startup Week
2025-05-05 - 2025-05-09 | CA
Austin will be the epicenter of the CPG world May 5-9! Austin Consumer Week is a packed with activities focused on CPG, with some of the industry’s top leaders heading to Austin for the event.
SKU is proud to be one of the sponsors of this incredible week. Some of the highlights include:
May 5
Consumer VC Live (4 p.m.):​ Mike Gelb will host a live podcast conversation with CPG legends Clayton Christopher and Brian Goldberg, both managing partners at Astō Consumer Partners. Clayton is the co-founder of SKU and also founded Sweet Leaf Tea Co. (acquired by Nestlé), Deep Eddy Vodka (acquired by Heaven Hill Distilleries), and Waterloo Sparkling Water (acquired by Flexis Capital) and co-founder and former Managing Partner at CAVU VENTURES LLC.
Request to Join here
May 6
BevNET.com Taste Radio Meetup (5-7 p.m.): The meetup at Torchy’s Tacos will feature two hours of live podcast recordings and industry networking, as well as adult and non-alcoholic beverages, and appetizers. Join the Producer & Editor of Taste Radio, Ray Latif, and Taste Radio co-hosts John Craven, Jacqui Brugliera and Mike Schneider, along with industry professionals within the food, beverage, beer and beyond industries. SKU is a co-sponsor of this event.
RSVP here
May 6
KS WELI End of Year Celebration 2025 (9 a.m.): The Kendra Scott Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership Institute (KS WELI) at The University of Texas at Austin strives to strengthen the next generation of leaders who will change the world in business and beyond.
RSVP here
May 7
2025 iFlyVC Consumer Summit (9 a.m.): This is a premier gathering of consumer innovators, founders, and investors from across the United States.
This day-long summit will feature engaging keynotes, thought-provoking panels, and networking opportunities designed to foster collaboration and inspiration among attendees. Join us as we soar into the future of consumer innovation!
RSVP here
May 8
Turn Up! CPG Happy Hour (5-7 p.m.: SKU, Willpower and Marc Nathan are teaming up to present the launch of TexasCPG.org at a casual CPG Community Happy Hour and brand showcase.
Get ticket here
See details about all of the week’s activities here.

2025 iFlyVC Consumer Summit
2025-05-07 | Springdale Station, 979 Springdale Rd Suite #160, Austin, Texas, 78702
The iFlyVC Consumer Summit 2025 is a premier gathering of consumer innovators, founders, and investors from across the United States. This one-day event will explore the dynamic intersections of technology, culture, and generational trends shaping the future of the consumer landscape.
This summit will feature engaging keynotes, thought-provoking panels, and networking opportunities designed to foster collaboration and inspiration among attendees.

Panel topics include

AI-Powered Disruption: The Future of Consumer Innovation
​Gen Z & Gen Alpha: The Next Billion-Dollar Consumer Wave
​Culture-Driven Brands: Winning with Cross-Cultural Experiences
​Breaking Growth Limits: How CPG Brands Scale to the Moon
​VC Unfiltered: What Investors Really Think About Your Business
​Surviving & Thriving in the New Tariff Era: The Playbook for U.S. Commerce
​Tech Meets Retail: The New Generation of Service-Driven Disruptors

SKU Spring '25 CPG Showcase Pitch Event
2025-05-20 04:30 - 21:00 | Robert B. Rowling Hall at the University of Texas McComb’s School of Business, 300 W Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Austin, TX, 78705, United States
SKU, the nation’s leading CPG accelerator, will celebrate the culmination of the Spring ’25 Track with an in-person event in Austin on Tue, May 20th from 4:30-9:00 PM at Robert B. Rowling Hall at the University of Texas McComb’s School of Business. RSVP here to attend the event – one of the industry’s premiere pitch events.
The SKU Showcase provides an opportunity for founders to present to an audience of CPG leaders from around the country, integrating all they have learned during the immersive 12-week program. The founders participate in weekly classes led by industry experts, covering essential topics for CPG entrepreneurs, including channel strategy, branding, packaging, labeling and safety, operations, and fundraising.
The eight Spring ‘25 Track brands are:
Fairly Nuts: Founded by Julie Wolf, FairlyNuts offers a carnival of delicious trail mixes made from in-house roasted mixes of nuts, all packaged sustainably.
good dirt: Founded by c good dirt® is a delicious low-sugar sparkling beverage brand using mushrooms and fiber for optimal digestive support and overall well-being.
Kobi: Founded by Siôn Owen, Kobi makes better body care products for kids and teens designed specifically for the more sensitive skin that young people have. Kobi currently offers kid-friendly deodorant, face wash, body wash, and foot spray, with more products in the works.
Niramaya: Founded by Mehek Khera, Niramaya is an Indian-American snack food brand that brings healthy, grain free snacks with bold flavors that everyone can enjoy at any time of the day. They have a line of 3 versatile dips and 4 flavors of Naan Pretzels.
PetPax Co: Founded by Anthony Gatti and Nathan Ruff-Williams, PetPax is revolutionizing pet wellness with fast-acting, science-backed supplements designed for convenience and effectiveness.
pi00a: Founded by Rylan, Russ, Melody and Tasyia Stein, pi00a is a Deaf and CODA family owned business that specializes in handcrafted frozen Asian-inspired Neapolitan pizzas. Their mission is to create job opportunities for the Deaf community.
Rookie’s: Founded by Jordan and Holly Nickerson, Rookie’s seeks to create “memorable dessert experiences” through its handcrafted ice cream and cookie sandwiches.
Saint Rocco’s Treats: Founded by brothers Kaleb and Kolby Rush, Saint Rocco’s makes human-grade dog treats, meal toppers and food.

SKU NYC Happy Hour
2025-06-30 17:30 - 19:30 | City Winery New York, 25 11th Ave, New York, 10011, United States
​Are you attending the Fancy Foods Show or located in the NYC metropolitan area? SKU is hosting a happy hour on June 30th from 5:30–7:30pm ET in the Barrel Room at City Winery — just a 5-minute drive or a short walk from the Javits Center, home of the Fancy Foods Show.
​Enjoy small bites and beverages, including our signature cocktail:
The Sample and Sparkle (aka Vineyard Spritz) – a refreshing mix of vodka, Giffard Pêche de Vigne, lime, strawberry, City Bubbles Cava, and soda.
​Special thanks to our sponsor, Highlight – the first and only vertically integrated product insights platform, helping emerging and disruptive brands build products people love.

Navigate Q4 Profitably featuring Drew Sanocki
2025-07-30 15:30 - 18:30 | Inn Cahoots, 1221 E 6th St., Austin, TX, 78702
The Wall Street Journal just published The US Economy Is Regaining Its Swagger, but many brands are discounting at levels reserved for BFCM. Must summer sales go deeper in October and November How do you make it through Q4 profitably when the American consumer seems more careful than ever in choosing their next purchase?
DTC turnaround pro, investor / operator, and ecom veteran Drew Sanocki visits from New York to offer his perspective on finding the signal in all the noise. Sanocki is gathering his team of direct postal marketing pros at PostPilot for an all-hands meeting in Austin. But first they’ll join the conversation at our Shopify Meetup! Sanocki’s Q&A will be followed by a panel of owners, investors, and marketing leaders from local brands like Bare Performance Nutrition, Poncho, Chubbies, Grunt Style, Yeti, Duck Camp, Howler Brothers, Elastique Athletics, and more.
3:30 – 4 pm – Check in, networking
4 – 4:15 pm – Pulse of DTC Ecom Marketing by Patrick Scott Pitman
4:15 pm to 4:30 pm – Interview with Drew Sanocki: Signal vs Noise?
4:30 pm to 5 pm – Panel of brand leaders & Drew
5 to 6 pm – Small group ice breakers / Happy Hour drinks
Register here.

SKU Propeller Happy Hour
2025-10-21 05:30 - 19:30 | CA
Please join SKU from 5:30-7:30 p.m., Oct. 21 for Austin Happy Hour. We’ll be gathering at the Hotel ZaZa overlooking downtown Austin — the perfect setting for connecting with founders, mentors, and industry leaders.
SKU happy hours are about much more than drinks. They represent what makes our community so powerful: building authentic relationships, sparking new ideas, celebrating our wins and helping each other with challenges.
A big thank you to our Propeller Industries for sponsoring this event and being such an invaluable partner. Propeller is a leading strategic finance and accounting partner for venture-stage companies, offering a dynamic, fractional workforce solution that provides a cost-effective alternative to hiring full-time talent too early.

Austin Shopify Happy Hour
2025-10-22 19:00 - 21:00 | Plaza Saltillo, 1300 E 4th St., Austin, 78702, United States
It’s time for our first Happy Hour of the Fall!Meet ecommerce peers and make new connections. You’ll get to know ecommerce brand owners with multiple exits alongside those who are just starting their store. Meet experts who help stores with fulfillment, SEO, paid traffic, email, and design. Find your next hire among those seeking a job, or get a tip on who is hiring. You don’t have to already be in the Shopify ecosystem to be welcome. Amazon store sellers curious about Shopify attend, as do Magento, Klaviyo, & BigCommerce people with questions or ideas to share.
Enjoy a free drink sponsored by ebusiness pros email marketing agency if you arrive before 7:45 p.m. There’s a taqueria on site if you’re hungry.

SKU Fall '25 Showcase
2025-11-18 16:30 - 20:30 | Robert B. Rowling Hall at the University of Texas McComb’s School of Business, 300 W Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Austin, TX, 78705, United States
Join us in celebrating the journey of our Fall ’25 cohort at the SKU Showcase Pitch Event – an evening of powerful storytelling, authentic connections, and the energy of a room packed with CPG superstars! Showcase is the culmination of the rigorous 12-week program, which includes weekly classes on key topics and mentoring by industry leaders.
RSVP here.
​Details:

Tuesday, November 18
Doors open at 4:30 PM | Pitches begin at 5:00 PM | Reception to follow

​Expect an unforgettable evening featuring:

Live pitches– Meet eight standout brands as they share their stories and big visions.
A special keynote– ​Allison Ellsworth, the co-founder of @drinkpoppi, will be our keynote speaker! Allison revolutionized the beverage industry with its better-for-you prebiotic sodas by experimenting in her kitchen to create an apple cider vinegar-infused soda that tasted great. From the farmers market to a Shark Tank deal, in just five years, poppi quickly became one of the fastest-growing beverages in the U.S.
Product sampling and brand showcases– Get a taste (literally!) of the innovation – sample products from the participating brands during the reception.
Networking– Connect with founders, investors, mentors, and CPG insiders from across the country.

​The eight SKU Fall ’25 Track brands are:

​18 Chestnuts Soups: Founded by Ilona Kossoff, 18 Chestnuts offers seasonal, plant-based, small-batch soups that combine rich flavor with optimal nutrition. Ilona launched the brand after her personal healing journey led her to discover the power of food as medicine, following years of debilitating digestive issues and conventional treatments that failed.
​cMOSS Beauty: Founded by Laurie Larkey and Stephanie Sand, cMOSS Beauty® is derived from ethically harvested Irish Sea Moss (Chondrus Crispus) and combines the natural power of the sea with the advancements of science and technology to deliver clean, transformative skincare.
​DOGISTRY: Founded by Lauren Ephrat, DOGISTRY is a luxury pet accessories brand that fuses sophisticated design with functional innovation. DOGISTRY has earned national recognition for its award-winning harnesses, patent-pending City Leash, and Fi-compatible collar bands, all designed to elevate the dog-walking experience.
​FocusFuel: Founded by Daniel Herz, John Senn, and Brandon Herwig, FocusFuel is a clean caffeine gummy designed for high performers, go-getters, and everyday hustlers who want energy without the crash or the can. With better ingredients, better taste, and better convenience, we’re redefining how caffeine fits into your daily routine.
​Lotza: Founded by Laura Markewicz, Lotza is a classic party punch, but better. A sparkling blend of juicy fruits and vibrant botanicals with a feel-good functional twist—mood-boosting adaptogens for now, replenishing vitamins and electrolytes for next-day.
​Thanks Danks: Founded by husband and wife Garret and Jordan Danks. Thanks Danks creates beef jerky with zero sugar and the highest protein count on the market. They are committed to fueling better-for-you health enthusiasts with a clean meat snack made from simple ingredients rather than fillers.
​Ulu Foods: Founded by Courtney Mills, Ulu Foods makes grain-free, climate-positive snacks using breadfruit. By transforming this nutrient-dense fruit into delicious alternatives, Ulu Foods is redefining healthy snacking while supporting more sustainable food systems.
​Wild Monkey Bar: Founded by husband and wife John and Brooke Campbell, Wild Monkey Bar is reinventing the candy bar — indulgent and nourishing. A multi-layered experience with crunchy toasted granola, creamy cashew butter, rich dark chocolate, and sea salt flakes. Whether you’re tackling your to-do list or unleashing your wildest self, every bite is a little reward that keeps your momentum going.

​Schedule at a glance:
4:30-5:00 pm: Drinks, bites & sampling
5:00-7:15 pm: Founder pitches (including brief intermission)
7:15-8:30 pm: More drinks, bites & sampling
8:30-10:00 pm: After party if you want to continue the fun 🙂
​Parking & Getting There:
Paid parking is available in the parking garage attached to Rowling Hall and directly next door at the AT&T Conference Center. There is also paid street parking nearby. Otherwise we encourage you to Lyft/Uber. From the Rowling Hall garage, take the stairs/elevator to the first level where you’ll find Crum Auditorium. From the street/campus level, enter the main entrance to Rowling Hall across from the AT&T Center/courtyard area and Crum will be on the right side on the first level.

SKU Spring '26 Founder Info Session
2025-11-21 13:00 - 13:45 | Virtual
Join the SKU Crew for an info session to learn more about SKU’s Spring ’26 Track – the nation’s leading CPG accelerator for emerging brands.We’ll walk through what to expect from the program, the application process, and how SKU’s mentor network helps founders scale smarter and faster.
You’ll get an inside look at SKU — the top-notch curriculum, hands-on mentorship, and powerful community. The ideal brand has traction ($100K or more), innovative products in a hot category, and a dedicated, passionate founder. We work with brands in a wide range of categories, including food & beverage, wellness, pet, beauty, personal care and apparel.

Expo West
2026-03-03 - 2026-03-06 | Anaheim Convention Center, 800 West Katella Avenue, Anaheim, CA, 92802, United States
Expo West is the industry’s defining event for natural and organic professionals. For four decades, we’ve been the ultimate CPG and retail ecosystem experience in Anaheim, CA where breakthrough connections, visionary insights, and market-transforming discoveries revolutionize your business trajectory. Unearth your next big seller among the largest collection of emerging and pioneering brands. Every conversation, every product discovery, and every relationship forged here becomes your competitive advantage in the rapidly evolving natural & organic landscape.
Empower Your Future at Expo West—where tomorrow’s opportunities begin today.
