We’re back from fall break! 🎉 After a 5–6 week reset, The Brand Blueprint returns with a special Seed Spot Founder Series rolling out over the next several weeks. We’re kicking it off with Tristan Gandolfi, VP of Programming at Seed Spot, to unpack what actually gets founders retail-ready: data-driven storytelling, buyer psychology, live buyer simulations, and non-dilutive support that turns proof into POs.

In this episode (Capsule 6 | Sales & Distribution):

• Why buyer pitches must lead with data (velocity, margin, trend fit)

• How to make a buyer’s job easy (answer their questions before they ask)

• DTC → regional → chain: building your proof trail

• Why “Shark Tank pitches” ≠ buyer pitches

• Seed Spot’s national programming, mentor network, and outcomes

• New Seed Spot Emerging Brand cohort for pre-buyer founders

00:00 We’re back from fall break + Seed Spot Series kickoff

01:00 Why Sales & Distribution matter (Dana’s Big CPG background)

02:18 Rapid Fire + Midwest ↔ AZ life

10:58 What Seed Spot is & why it’s different

15:40 Going national/virtual: access anywhere

22:10 Why the Retail Accelerator (who it serves)

25:10 NEW “Emerging Brand” cohort (pre-buyer)

28:05 Data > drama: the buyer’s POV

31:05 Iterating curriculum to real founder needs

33:15 Live buyer simulations (why they work)

39:15 Build a buyer-ready, data-driven deck

46:10 Adapting to category shifts (Ozempic effect)

47:30 KPIs & outcomes: tracking success

53:05 Making mentor meetings high-ROI

54:20 Other Seed Spot tracks (nonprofit, health equity, spring training)

58:05 Spanish/English programming

59:30 How to evaluate accelerators (equity vs non-dilutive)

1:03:15 What’s next in the Seed Spot Founder Series

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