In this episode, I sit down with Dan Abel, Co-founder and CEO of Pilot Project Brewing, a first-of-its-kind beverage incubator helping brands navigate one of the most competitive and complex CPG categories: beverages.

From launching home-brew experiments in his garage to opening multi-location tasting rooms and scaling more than 20 innovative brands, Dan shares the real story behind building an incubator that acts more like a record label than a traditional brewery.

We discuss how Pilot Project removes barriers for founders, democratizes access to manufacturing and distribution, and gathers real-time consumer data to help determine which brands will succeed. Dan also shares lessons on entrepreneurship, brand validation, and why beverage founders shouldn’t go it alone.

Key Moments in This Episode:

* How Pilot Project Brewing was inspired by the music industry’s support system for creatives

* Why real product validation means gathering comparative data, not just compliments

* What founders need to know about packaging, shelf presence, and customer experience

* The trends Dan sees emerging from over 1,200 brand applications (including what’s next)

* How this incubator helped a non-alcoholic brand scale and get acquired in under two years

Join me, Ramon Vela, in listening to this episode for a deep look into how smart support systems and shared resources are reshaping the beverage world. Whether you’re a founder or a fan of what’s next, this one’s for you.

For more on Pilot Project Brewing, visit:  https://www.pilotprojectbrewing.com/

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Today’s Sponsors:

Compass Rose Ventures - Advisor for CPG Brands: https://compassroseventures.com/contact/

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Color More Lines: https://www.colormorelines.com/get-started

Color More Lines is a team of ex-Amazonians and e-commerce operators who help brands grow faster on Amazon and Walmart. With a performance-based pricing model and flexible contracts, they’ve generated triple-digit year-over-year growth for established sellers doing over $5 million per year.

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