How Phoode® Found Validation Through Gordon Ramsay’s Food Stars TV Show
So… I never told anyone, but towards the end of last year, I got a surprise call from a casting producer from Gordon Ramsay’s TV show “Food Stars,” a competition show for entrepreneurs focused on food and beverage-related products and services. She loved the idea of Phoode® and asked if I would be interested in competing in Season 2. She also mentioned I could win $250K to invest in Phoode.
Firstly, I never imagined myself in a TV competition, so I was pretty shocked. Secondly, I had never even heard about the show, so I had to run a quick Google search on it. In fact, I don’t even have cable.
As the founder of Phoode, I have been actively on the lookout for funding to expand the platform, so the show seemed like an amazing opportunity. The prize would allow me to grow and further develop the platform. The exposure to a highly targeted audience and the industry of the show wouldn’t hurt either.
The more I thought about it, the more the idea grew on me.
I was able to find the show on a streaming platform, and over the weekend, I binge-watched the entire first season and got totally hooked, even though I hardly ever watch entertainment of this kind. I definitely got into the vibe of the show and found the challenges in each episode completely in line with my experience as a professional and entrepreneur. Most importantly, I could see myself in it!
I produced two different audition videos that got me to the third round of casting. Unfortunately, I didn’t make the final cut.
But you know what?
The whole experience was eye-opening.
As I recorded the videos, I noticed a lot of things about myself. When I was talking about my vision for Phoode, I was cheerful and glowing, but each time I switched to talking about the numbers (as I would to investors), my smile disappeared, and my face became super serious in a way that wasn’t the real me. I didn’t like it! It hit me that maybe I am losing myself in the startup game and need to think about running it differently. It inspired me to become more playful with all the things I do around my business. If Phoode is my baby, I need to enjoy it 100%.
I also had to fill out several rounds of very detailed and inquisitive applications with lots of tough and deep questions regarding many aspects of my personality, life, business, vision, and relationships with other people. They made me feel and think about a lot of different things. That part alone took me days, but it was worth it because it required a lot of soul-searching and made me answer questions I’d never asked myself. I literally poured 24 pages of my deepest thoughts onto digital paper.
The whole process turned into an amazing journey of self-discovery. It now feels like a real turning point in my life in many different ways. This experience gave me a new perspective on myself, and business, and opened my eyes to the different sources of support that might be available for me and my project.
A Different Idea of Competition.
On another note, I also realized that the idea of competition promoted by these kinds of shows isn’t my idea of competition.
The show is all about drama: watching it, you see people cracking under the pressure, trapped in dramatic friction rather than building something serious or showcasing their unique talents and skills. Watching it, I felt like I could outcompete others simply by staying composed and not getting dragged into the drama that the producers wanted and cast people for. But then again, you don’t know much until you experience something firsthand.
Working with media productions, which is what I do besides being the founder of Phoode®, teaches you teamwork and mental discipline. I am more mature and experienced in both the media and entrepreneurial departments. However, in my work, I select team players who complement each other. The show, on the other hand, makes you work with a mix of people with different mental and emotional capacities, which makes it all the harder.
My idea of competition is coming up with an idea so original and a vision so big that no one can copy it. I’m not particularly competitive in a TV show sense. In business, I don’t involve myself in petty games and am not fond of wasting my energy around people who care more about their “personal” style but don’t have the mental perseverance that entrepreneurship requires. I also strategize toward building a competitive product, not outcompeting my competition. I believe it’s a race to the bottom. In my mind, I want to create something no one else can even imagine. That’s my competitive edge. I only compete with yesterday’s version of myself and my product.
Pretty much all competitors in Season 1 were founders with typical CPG product or food service ideas. The only guy in Season 1 who had a tech product, an app didn’t even have any users. This made me realize how much more advanced and further along Phoode is, even though I sometimes feel stuck without investors willing to take the risks I did. I invested all my money into something I believe is worth it, and our 7,000 users agree.
Phoode Gets the Validation it Deserves!
This experience really validated the Phoode® concept and reassured me that I chose the right path by developing it. Being approached and hand-selected by the show’s producers made me feel like the idea is not only viable but also stands out. When I asked the executive casting producer how I did, she said, “Good, but your idea is really, really good!” When she said that, I instinctively knew that the word “but” meant that I didn’t have the type of personality required by the show. However, these words came from someone who could potentially use Phoode as a professional tool and also had heard hundreds of different contestant pitches and business ideas. This feedback meant just as much as being on the show. It showed that my product is unique and has real potential. I’m not in this to be a TV star; I’m here to create something meaningful that solves problems and makes a difference in the market and industries I work with. I truly know that Phoode could benefit the industry as a whole.
This experience also taught me that my business idea has strong appeal. While I may not be cut out for TV competition, I have a vision that could make a lasting impact. Perhaps one day, I’ll even be a judge on a show like this!
I wanted to share this today because I saw that Season 2 of “Food Stars” aired last night! Even though I wasn’t part of it, I encourage you to check it out and enjoy the show!
Published on: May 24, 2024
the best looking
content
for
food industry
folks
come &
