episode 0015- from silicon valley to dog food: a former facebook vp's journey to founding a canine wellness company with tom arrix

In this episode, we delve into the fascinating journey of a former Vice President of Marketing at Facebook. Tom Arrix helped grow the company in its early days into the Facebook (or Meta) that we know today, from startup to global phenomenon. After taking some time off and wondering what was next, his beloved dog fell ill. Rather than accepting his fate, Tom got to work at addressing the root of the problem for his furry friend: his diet. He embarked on a mission to improve his own dog's health, as well as to revolutionize the pet food industry.

Tune in as we explore his transition from the tech world of Silicon Valley to the realm of canine wellness, ultimately leading to the founding of a human-grade dog food company, Get Joy. In an unfamiliar world of dogs, health, and nutrition, how did he do it? Discover the lessons learned at Facebook that propelled his success, as well as the passion and determination that drove this remarkable transformation.

Show Highlights:
1- Tom discusses his background and the early days of Facebook. (10:00)
2- Tom’s transition out of Facebook and into dog food. (16:30)
3- How Tom was able to gently tackle the education piece of marketing through telling dog owners they may be missing the mark on keeping their dog healthy. (20:45)
4- Without a background in this industry, how did you learn what you needed to learn, and how much reliance did you place on experts to solve the problem you were seeing in the dog food industry? (27:00)
5- We discuss testing new recipes in his own kitchen. (34:30)
6- Tom discusses the future and the growth of human grade dog food, and how supplements are playing a role. (38:00)
7- How do you market as a small company in such a crowded and competitive space? (42:20)
8- Tom’s “why” behind saving the Tompkins Square dog parade. (45:00)
9- Where can we learn more about Get Joy? (51:55)
10- How has your team grown, as well as revenues, since the beginnings? (55:15)
11- Listener question: How do you navigate having a wife and kids and prioritizing your family, all while being the CEO of a startup? (58:25)

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