Interview with Stryve’s Co-Founder and CEO, Joe Oblas
Can jerky be disruptive? Absolutely.Joe Oblas, co-founder and CEO of Stryve, decided to disrupt the beef snacks category with a brand that doesn’t believe in compromises. Stryve’s “jerky without the junky” product is nutritious and delicious. That’s because they use biltong, an air-dried meat snack with 50% more protein than jerky — and no sugar, nitrates, preservatives or chemicals. “Typically, the healthier a snack product is, the worse it tastes,” Joe shared. But that isn’t true with biltong — it’s almost like a miracle snack. On The Irresistible Factor, Joe and I explore biltong’s South African roots, and its growing foothold in the U.S. market. “It checked every single box we had,” Joe told me. “We were all in.”Despite hurdles — a pandemic and drastically increased commodity prices — Stryve has grown significantly since its founding in 2018. Joe shares why he and his business partner chose to become a publicly traded company, what keeps him motivated through difficult times, and some valuable advice for entrepreneurs at the beginning of their founding journey. “The sun is going to shine again, if not tomorrow, then the next day,” he said.Listen to The Irresistible Factor’s Interview with Stryve Co-Founder and CEO, Joe Oblas. Here’s what you won’t want to miss from our conversation:
- How Joe and his business partner built Stryve
- Some of the biggest challenges that Joe and his business partner have faced on their journey with Stryve
- How Joe deals with the inevitable sacrifices that come with being an entrepreneur
Links mentioned in this episode: StryveJoe Oblas on LinkedIn