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DESCRIPTION: What happens when a former ad agency CEO — who built campaigns for Disney, Diageo, Southwest Airlines, and Sony — decides to co-found a rum company with his son? You get Hook Hand Rum: a premium, award-winning blood orange rum built around storytelling, community, and a market primed for explosive growth.
In this episode of Invst Guru, Jeff "Fuzzy" Wenzel sits down with Dan Olson, CEO and co-founder of Hook Hand Rum, to unpack why rum is the next big premiumization wave, how the brand is staying lean with smart partnerships, and why they're building an experience brand — not just a bottle.
What you'll learn in this episode:
00:00 – Welcome & intro: Who is Dan Olson?
00:45 – Origin story: From ad agency CEO to rum co-founder
01:58 – Why rum? Identifying the premiumization opportunity
03:13 – Distribution strategy: Park Street coverage in CA, FL, NY & NJ
05:10 – Go-to-market: AI-powered app, the "Rumbulay," & Original Crew loyalty program
07:02 – The brand: Bartholomew Scott & storytelling-first marketing
09:24 – The product: Puerto Rican rum, blood orange & Madagascar vanilla (Gold Medal – LA Spirits Awards)
11:30 – Product line: The Tito's model & four ready-to-drink cocktails coming
14:44 – Why Netcapital? Crowdfunding as a consumer acquisition strategy
16:22 – What retail investors should know about spirits investing
18:23 – Navigating objections & keeping crowdfunding investors engaged
20:02 – Use of funds: Production, staffing, marketing & app development
20:39 – What keeps Dan up at night
25:49 – Where to find Hook Hand Rum & how to invest
🍹 Invest in Hook Hand Rum on Netcapital (deadline March 27, 2026):
🛒 Buy a Bottle (ships to 41 states): hookhandrum.com
📊 Investor Data Room: hookhandrum.com/investors
🎙️ More episodes: invst.guru
This is not investment advice. Investing in startups involves risk, including the possibility of losing your entire investment.
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“Disclaimer: This content is provided for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as investment advice or a solicitation to invest. Invst Guru and its affiliates are not broker-dealers or investment advisers and do not make recommendations regarding any securities.
If any company mentioned is conducting a Regulation Crowdfunding (Reg CF) raise, all investments must occur through an SEC-registered intermediary platform such as DealMaker Securities, StartEngine, Republic, or Wefunder. No investment terms or returns are discussed here.
Investing in private and early-stage companies involves significant risk, including loss of capital and illiquidity. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Always conduct your own due diligence and consult a licensed financial advisor before investing.
All opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not represent endorsements or partnerships by Invst Guru.”
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