Startup Junkie Underground - From Fresh to Frozen - Our Path to Success May 23, 2011

In 2002 Phil Anson begins as a subsistence entrepreneur selling homemade burritos out of a cooler to fellow climbers in Colorado’s Eldorado Canyon for $2.99 with his then-girlfriend and himself behind the production line. Over the next ten years Phil’s Fresh Foods grows to ten employees, and supermarkets, corner stores, and coffee shops alike begin to feature the all-natural burritos. It is here that founders of Bear Naked Granola find Phil’s burritos in the freezer section and are enticed by the ‘deliciousness’ of a frozen burrito. They collaborate with Phil to increase production, employees, and locations, and rebrand the company name to EVOL Burritos.

A year later production continues to explode reaching 450,000 burritos produced in one month, and stretching nationwide to over 2,500 stores. Evol launches Deli fresh burritos, gluten free entrée bowls, wraps, and burrito mini’s, and commits to sourcing humanely and sustainable raised protein, and recyclable packaging.

Many businesses have pivots or turning points where they change paths to exciting new levels of scalable revenue. Phil’s story is just an example of one guy who was stuck on a dead-end path of self-production and low revenue, when two entrepreneurs stepped in – causing him to pivot - and find a new path to success. A pivot can take you on a tangent of the products you are currently making, or it can move you in a whole new direction. Pivots can be disguised as repricing, repackaging, redirecting sales channels, etc.

As entrepreneur’s we must be constantly open to multiple pivots, large or small, to avoid going out of business, or worse, living in the land of breakeven. The sudden shifts in a business models are what characterize a startup from an established company, and they are a fundamental component of becoming a successful entrepreneur.

EVENT: Startup Junkie Underground
DATE: May 23, 2011 - Monday
TIME: 6:30pm-9:00pm
WEBSITE: http://www.davinciinstitute.com/events/535/startup-junkie-underground--monday-may-23-2011

LOCATION: DaVinci Institute, 511 E. South Boulder Road Louisville, CO 80027

COST: $20, Members: Free, SuperMembers: Free

PHONE: 303-666-4133

TOPIC: From Fresh to Frozen - Our Path to Success
SPEAKER: Philip Anson, Founder EVOL burritos

Official Website: http://www.davinciinstitute.com/events/535/startup-junkie-underground--monday-may-23-2011