Summary:

In some industries, new players try to shake things up by breaking them down. But in sectors like food, where traditions run deep and habits are hard to change, collaboration can be a far more palatable strategy and can be leveraged to create scalable, sustainable solutions. Today's guest is doing just that, using decades of industry expertise to partner with key players, tackle global challenges, and redefine what’s possible for the future of food.

Jeff "Trip" Tripician is the CEO of Meatable, a Dutch biotech company dedicated to the development of cultivated meat products. Trip is an industry veteran with more than 25 years of experience in the organic and natural meat industry in the U.S.

He most recently served as CEO of Grass Fed Foods and, prior to that, as President of Perdue Premium Meat Company. Trip also brings extensive experience across the U.S. meat market with deep expertise in the U.S. supply chain, marketing of sustainable meat products, fundraising, and M&A. In fact, at Grass Fed Foods, Trip orchestrated a successful merger between Teton Waters Ranch and SunFed Ranch, which positioned the company as the foremost regeneratively focused grass-fed beef platform in the U.S.

During his time at Perdue Premium Meat Company, he spearheaded the company's growth and premium meat brands, such as Niman Ranch and
Coleman Natural, among others. Notably, he oversaw the acquisition and integration of Panorama Organic Grass-fed Meats and Alexander & Hornung.

In this episode, Trip shares how his background in the traditional meat industry shaped his work at Meatable. We dive into the cultivated meat-making process and the nuances of producing different cuts and types of meat. Trip also discusses the challenges the industry is facing, from scaling production and licensing to food security and navigating regulatory hurdles.

Highlights:

• Trip's history in the meat industry and journey into cultivated meat (3:34)
• Trip describes what drew him to his role at Meatable (4:51)
• Population growth and the increasing global demand for meat (6:40)
• How investor mindset in cultivated meat has changed over time (7:49)
• The science behind cultivating different cuts of meat (9:53)
• Current cultivated meat projects and innovations at Meatable (12:04)
• Meatable's business model and how it has evolved (14:26)
• Public reception to cultivated meat and industry hurdles (17:57)
• Trip describes the value of spreading awareness and education about cultivated meat (22:39)
• Future scalability and current field economics (25:16)

Links:
Jeff Tripician on LinkedIn

Meatable on LinkedIn

Meatable Website

ICR LinkedIn

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ICR Website

Feedback:

If you have questions about the show, or have a topic in mind you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producer, marion@lowerstreet.co.

Summary:

When it comes to running a business, data insights are invaluable, but that data has to come with meaningful action. You need to be willing to evolve alongside your customers and constantly refine your approach to meet their needs. Today’s guest has mastered this balance, building a platform that drives engagement, growth, and innovation at scale.

Today, we're sitting down with Chuck Davis, Chairman and CEO of Prodege. Chuck's business journey began by creating a sports newsletter in middle school that caught the attention of NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle. He went on to earn degrees from Brown University and then Harvard Business School. Afterward, he embarked on a career that would shape the digital landscape. Chuck started in publishing, working for Time, Inc. and TV Guide before becoming the Walt Disney Company's first President of E-Commerce in 1996, where he launched pivotal online platforms like Disneystore.com and ESPNstore.com.

Chuck's career progressed as he led Shopzilla, formerly known as Bizrate.com, through its acquisition in 2005 and transformed Fandango into a leading entertainment website. For the last 10 years, he has built Prodege into a cutting-edge marketing and consumer insights platform.

In this episode, Chuck explores how adaptability and customer focus have shaped Prodege’s success, from harnessing gamification to leveraging AI for innovation. He also shares his approach to leading through change and building a company culture that drives lasting impact.

Highlights:

• Chuck remembers the early days of the internet and the digitalization of brands (3:18)
• Prodege's background, and what makes their platform unique (6:54)
• Prodege's approach to data privacy (11:07)
• Chuck's strategy for navigating business cycles and economic fluctuation (12:17)
• Chuck describes Prodege's current platform features and how the site has evolved (14:56)
• How Prodege adapts alongside changing data regulations (16:30)
• How Prodege maintains quality in their consumer insights (19:36)
• Chuck discusses how Prodege is incorporating AI into their platform internally and externally (21:07)
• Current innovations and plans for the future of the platform (23:30)
• Growth and acquisition opportunities (25:43)
• How Prodege maintains company culture amid acquisitions and expansion (27:33)

Links:
Chuck Davis on LinkedIn

Prodege on LinkedIn

Prodege Website

ICR LinkedIn

ICR Twitter

ICR Website

Feedback:

If you have questions about the show, or have a topic in mind you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producer, marion@lowerstreet.co.

Summary:

Innovation often starts with asking tough questions, like: What if the systems we’ve always relied on aren’t equipped to handle today's complexities? By leveraging data and challenging outdated assumptions, new possibilities are arising in unexpected industries.

Today, we're sitting down with Jay Jackson, Chairman and CEO of Abacus Life, which trades under the symbol ABL. Jay joined Abacus Settlements in 2016 as President and Chief Executive Officer and has also served as CEO of Longevity Market Assets since June 2019.

He serves as a current member of the Orlando Mayor's Committee on Livability and as an Executive Board Member for the Senior Resource Alliance, an agency of the Florida Department of Elder Affairs. Jay began his career at Franklin Templeton Investments, and prior to joining Abacus, he co-founded and managed the Fayerweather Street Life Fund, as well as the Cambridge Life Management origination platform for FDO Partners, a three billion quantitative investment firm founded by Harvard Business School professor Ken Froot.

With over 20 years of experience in the financial services and life settlement industry, Jay is not only a pioneer in the life settlement and longevity industry but has also formed multiple verticals within that umbrella.

In this episode, we explore how Jay Jackson and Abacus Life are transforming life insurance into a powerful financial empowerment tool, offering policyholders and their loved ones newfound flexibility. He'll also tell us how Abacus is leveraging data to unlock hidden value and drive innovation across the longevity market.

Highlights:

• Abacus' background and mission (3:05)
• The total addressable market for Abacus in life insurance (4:14)
• Market competition and key business differentiators (6:10)
• Abacus' target audience and customer profiles (8:12)
• Abacus Life's business model and how it has evolved (9:49)
• Jay describes Abacus' technology platform and the value of data collection (12:11)
• How data insights will unlock opportunities for innovation and efficiency in the field (16:03)
• How life insurance policies will change if human lifespans increase (17:50)
• Jay describes the benefits of taking Abacus public (21:19)
• The senior team at Abacus Life (23:24)
• Future goals at Abacus and balancing growth with M&A (25:44)

Links:
Jay Jackson LinkedIn

Abacus Life on LinkedIn

Abacus Life Website

Book: Pursuing Wealthspan: How Science is Revolutionizing Wealth Management

ICR LinkedIn

ICR Twitter

ICR Website

Feedback:

If you have questions about the show, or have a topic in mind you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producer, marion@lowerstreet.co.