#169 - "How to Take Advice" with Nikhil Arora

The Startup CPG Podcast

In this episode of the Startup CPG podcast, host Daniel Scharff engages with Nikhil Arora, co-founder of Back to the Roots, an innovative organic gardening company now selling $100M at retail. Nikhil shares the inspiring journey of how he and his co-founder, Alejandro Velez, transformed their initial idea of growing mushrooms from coffee grounds into a successful urban farming business.

Nikhil opens up about the various kinds of advice he has received along his startup journey - the good, the bad, and with an overall focus on the perspective founders should have when hearing or giving advice, acknowledging that companies have very different paths, and what works for one person may not work for another. They delve into the essential qualities of resilience, focus, and adaptability in entrepreneurship, emphasizing that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to building a brand.

Nikhil and Daniel explore the complexities of decision-making in the startup world, referencing Jeff Bezos’ "one-way" and "two-way" doors framework and contrasting it with Steve Jobs’ focus on product innovation. Nikhil opens up about the emotional challenges of entrepreneurship, including the pressures of comparison and the importance of a strong co-founder relationship in sharing the burdens of startup life.

Tune in for a thought-provoking discussion filled with valuable lessons for aspiring entrepreneurs and seasoned business owners alike.

Listen in as they share about:

• Background and Origin of Back to the Roots
• Key Growth Stages
• Challenges
• Networking and Serendipity
• The Nature of Advice
• Finding Value in Experiences
• The Role of Trust and Collaboration
• Susceptibility to Bad Advice
• The Importance of Having a Co-Founder
• Organizational Structure and Financial Insights

Episode Links:

Website: https://backtotheroots.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aroranikhil/

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Show Links:

• Transcripts of each episode are available on the Transistor platform that hosts our podcast here (click on the episode and toggle to “Transcript” at the top)
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• Questions or comments about the episode? Email Daniel at [email protected]
• Episode music by Super Fantastics