The Hatchcast

Danielle Tice & Aaryn Richard sit down with the winners of the Burgess New Venture Challenge to discuss the event, their businesses, and future plans. The group reflects on the opportunities they have here at Michigan State University and how the Burgess Institute helped them to prepare for the event.
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Like what you hear? Let us know! Subscribe and share—we really appreciate it.
Have ideas or comments for us? Email us at [email protected]. For behind-the-scenes content, check us out on Facebook and Instagram.

Hatchcast is made possible by the Burgess Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation at Michigan State University in collaboration with the MSU Innovation Center, the MSU Entrepreneurship Association, & MSU Women in Entrepreneurship.

Today’s episode was written and executive produced by Karina Stankowski.
Original Music & Sound Design by Kakia Gkoudina and Karina Stankowski
Engineered & Edited by Will Rowan

The Hatchcast is co-hosted and produced by Gabe Hales, Gabe Berke, Diego Fernandez, Danielle Tice, Karina Stankowski, Charlotte Bachelor, Will Rowan, & Aaryn Richard.

MSU Burgess Institute
The Burgess Institute empowers Michigan State University students to learn through action.
TEDxMSU
TED is a nonprofit organization devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading.
Women in Entrepreneurship
MSU WE's mission is to inspire, support, & empower women interested in building their ventures.

Rob Smith, CEO & Founder, The Phluid Project / GET Phluid / The Phluid Foundation has created a brand, combining his retail profession with his passion: a commitment to social justice.

After graduating from Michigan State University, Rob began a thirty-year retail career orchestrating multi-billion dollar businesses through merchandising, e-commerce, marketing, product development, and supply chain management.

He worked his way through Macy’s for over two decades, working within four divisions and finishing with his final position as GMM/EVP Macy’s Corporate in product merchandising.

Gaining new experiences, Rob became GMM/EVP at Victoria’s Secret direct. He was the Children’s Global Chief Product Officer for Nike, Levi’s Jordan, Hurley, and Converse with Haddad Brands.

Rob mentors numerous fashion brands and designers, leads the CSR committee as a member of Steve Madden Ltd’s Board of Directors, and raises critical funds for LGBTQIA+ organizations.

Today, Rob leads and manages The Phluid Project, a leader in gender-free fashion. Phluid, joining a global movement of freedom, authenticity, and self-expression, leads with values, a powerful community, and a fearlessness to challenge the status quo. Phluid thoughtfully expands into new spaces where they can offer insight, education, and impact, including GET Phluid (gender-expansive training) and The Phluid Phoundation, a nonprofit supporting the most at-risk members of the LGBTQIA+ community (trans women of color and homeless queer youth).

Rob lives in NYC with his husband, Rod Grozier, and his dog, Jackson.

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Like what you hear? Let us know! Subscribe and share—we really appreciate it.
Have ideas or comments for us? Email us at [email protected]. For behind-the-scenes content, check us out on Facebook and Instagram.

Hatchcast is made possible by the Burgess Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation at Michigan State University in collaboration with the MSU Innovation Center, the MSU Entrepreneurship Association, & MSU Women in Entrepreneurship.

Original Music & Sound Design by Kakia Gkoudina and Karina Stankowski

Engineered & Edited by Will Rowan

The Hatchcast is co-hosted and produced by Gabe Hales, Gabe Berke, Diego Fernandez, Danielle Tice, Karina Stankowski, Charlotte Bachelor, Will Rowan, & Aaryn Richard.

We are officially midway through Spring Semester 2022. After chugging along for eight weeks, it’s time for a break.
But before we take a small hiatus for Spring Break Week, we wanted to offer up last week’s Innovate State: Student Innovation & Entrepreneurship Edition, featuring Charlotte Bachelor, Madison Marsh, Christian Nderu, and Avery Tilley.
Moderated by Gabe Hales and Jason Jia, the conversation is packed full of wisdom, insights, and personal stories of success, failure, and uncommon will. Innovate State: Student Innovation & Entrepreneurship is a special event featuring four Michigan State University students, all of whom are deeply rooted in the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
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Like what you hear? Let us know! Subscribe and share—we really appreciate it.
Have ideas or comments for us? Email us at [email protected]. For behind-the-scenes content, check us out on Facebook and Instagram.

Hatchcast is made possible by the Burgess Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation at Michigan State University in collaboration with the MSU Innovation Center, the MSU Entrepreneurship Association, & MSU Women in Entrepreneurship.

Original Music & Sound Design by Kakia Gkoudina and Karina Stankowski

Engineered & Edited by Will Rowan

The Hatchcast is co-hosted and produced by Gabe Hales, Gabe Berke, Diego Fernandez, Danielle Tice, Karina Stankowski, Charlotte Bachelor, Will Rowan, & Aaryn Richard.

Brian Lai, Co-Founder, The Only Bean
Brian is a first-generation Asian American who embraced an entrepreneurial spirit early while helping his parents run their restaurant. He started his first business when he was 14, and after graduating from MSU with a bachelor’s in marketing, he spent his early career in sales and marketing. In 2015, he got his master’s degree at Hult International Business School in Shanghai and Dubai. In 2015, he started an eCommerce business while traveling and in 2018, co-founded The Only Bean.
Kristine Yang, Founder, The Only Bean
Kristine Yang grew up in Battle Creek, Michigan, where she was surrounded by a family of food scientists. After graduating from Michigan State, she spent her early years in retail and international business while obtaining her MBA. Her business experience and curiosity for innovative food products led her to create The Only Bean, a plant-based food company using beans to develop innovative food products that are sustainable, healthy, and delicious.
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Like what you hear? Let us know and subscribe and share, we really appreciate it! Have ideas or comments for us? Email us at [email protected]. For behind-the-scenes content, check us out on Facebook and Instagram.

Hatchcast is made possible by the Burgess Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation at Michigan State University in collaboration with the MSU Entrepreneurship Association & MSU Women in Entrepreneurship.

Original Music by Kakia Gkoudina and Karina Stankowski

Engineered & Edited by Gabe Hales

Co-created by Aaryn Richard, Tyler Mehigh, & Kurt Creger

Co-hosted by Gabe Hales, Gabe Berke, Diego Fernandez, Danielle Tice, Karina Stankowski, Charlotte Bachelor & Aaryn Richard

MSU Burgess Institute
The Burgess Institute empowers Michigan State University students to learn through action.
TEDxMSU
TED is a nonprofit organization devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading.