Today we’d like to introduce you to Colin Stuckert.
Thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, how did you get started?
A college dropout from pro poker player to CrossFit gym owner to selling everything to move to Austin, Wild Foods was incepted on the 18-hour drive to Texas, and soon after, I was shipping products around the country out of my Rainey St. apartment (Skyhouse)! The company grew over the next 4 years to a multi-million exit. I’ve since repurchased it from the PE group, fixed all their neglect, and am not focused on growing again. I’m focused on helping bring Real Food nutrition and health to as many people as possible.
Would it have been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The obstacles are too many to count, everything from:
- Lawsuits
- City of Austin Health Department Run-ins
- Failed partnerships
- Hundreds of thousands in lost capital and other costly mistakes
- I grew to the big team, then down to me and 1 remote employee. Now back up to a team of 10.
- The founder is the most important part of a business. Next is the customer.
- Entrepreneurship is brutally hard and the most personally shaping endeavor anyone can undertake.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might need to become more familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m proud of my focus on first-principle thinking. I don’t like doing things the “way they are done” just because others decide that’s how they want to do it. Test everything—constant iteration (kaizen). Don’t force it never works. Let the people that belong come, and they will stay, and don’t try to make anyone else if they aren’t the right fit. People don’t generally care about you or your story. They care about themselves. Every business owner learns this the hard way.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
Show up. Show up. Ask questions. Be interested in people. I’d have done much more at this point if I had done that early in my 20s.
Contact Info:
- Website: wildfoods.co
- Other: nobleorigins.com
Image Credits
nobleorigins.com Booth (my other, new company) Brett Ender (Co-founder in noble)
