#159 What Investors Want to Hear: Lessons from a CPG Investor Hub Winner

She was hyperventilating backstage. Her cards went everywhere. She ran over time. She was ready to congratulate someone else when they announced the winner.

That winner was Theresa Dang from SUP Foods. Theresa won the inaugural CPG Investor Hub pitch competition at Foodpreneurs Festival 2025.

SUP Foods is Asian freeze-dried soup cubes inspired by Theresa’s family’s greenhouses in Vietnam. Before SUP Foods, Theresa had no food industry background, had never pitched to investors, and was up against founders with major retailer listings and corporate pedigree.

In episode 159 of the Foodpreneur with Chelsea Ford podcast, Theresa gets into what it really takes to build a food brand from the ground up while working full-time and what happens when you back yourself publicly, even when every nerve in your body is telling you not to.

Don’t miss this episode — you’ll learn:

💡 What the CPG Investor Hub investors told Theresa about business structure, trademarks, and getting investor-ready

🤝 What happened after she was crowned the winner and what she walked away with

This episode of Season 17 is brought to you by NFTC – The Natural Foods Trading Company. If you’re a growing food brand navigating that tricky middle phase—scaling up, maybe landing your first major retailer, figuring out how to buy smarter—NFTC is worth knowing about.

The CPG Investor Hub returns at Foodpreneurs Festival 2026. Applications are open now at foodpreneursfestival.com.

When you’re ready to take the next step, here are 6 ways I can support your journey:

  1. 1:1 Consulting for Brand Owners & Industry Specialists: Work directly with me and unlock the power of 30+ years of industry expertise to propel your business to new heights.
  2. Book Me as a Speaker: Captivate and empower your audience by booking me to speak at your next event. Input your email and I’ll send you my Speaker Kit.
  3. Join Foodpreneurs Festival: Australia’s unmissable event where food, drink, and pet food founders connect with influential industry leaders and hundreds of fellow brand owners.
  4. Listen to the Podcast for Food, Drink & Pet Food Brands Wanting to Grow: Discover game-changing strategies and insider insights from industry leaders on the Foodpreneur with Chelsea Ford Podcast.
  5. Partner With Me to Get More Leads: Learn about my multi-channel partnership program with long-term goals where value and ROI compound over time, collaboration and feedback is appreciated, and our relationship is strategic and deep.
  6. Ask Me Anything: Got a burning question about the consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry? Get expert answers in my weekly industry expert email, social media, or podcast episode.

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