Chasing the entrepreneurial dream (and finding crickets)

To view this email in a browser, [click here](. INC. THIS MORNING Chasing the entrepreneurial dream (and finding crickets) Good morning, In case you missed it, meat-free protein is having a moment. Look at meatless burger company Beyond Meat: Its stock has climbed rapidly in recent weeks, especially following its first earnings report last Thursday. The company’s shares were first priced on May 1 at $25 apiece. They closed on Monday at $168.10 per share. The entire alternative protein industry is booming, thanks to companies like Beyond Meat, Impossible Foods, and pea-milk startup Ripple. [Impossible Foods founder and CEO Pat Brown told Business Insider last month,]( “We know enough now to make pretty much the gamut of meat flavors.” That follows January, when [Ripple co-founders Adam Lowry and Neil Renninger appeared on the Inc. Uncensored podcast]( and discussed their ability to create Ripple’s signature protein from any vegetable source--not just peas. Plenty of food startups are finding success pursuing the future of protein beyond meat and dairy. Now, some founders are taking that same mission in a new direction. Case in point: [cricket protein-based food startup Chippin,]( my colleague Leigh Buchanan writes about today. Chippin co-founder Haley Russell couldn’t get her friends and family to eat her cricket-heavy baked goods, but her 8-year-old goldendoodle Wren loved them. Wren, it should be noted, is apparently a picky eater--making this a huge accomplishment. Russell pivoted, and a pet-food company was born. Since launching its dog treats in November, Chippin has sold several thousands of units across major cities like Philadelphia, New York City, and Washington, D.C. That’s a sign of a smart strategy: - Choose a red-hot market. - Identify an underserved market within it. - Stake your claim. Easier said than done, of course. You might have better odds of falling into those opportunities accidentally--much like Chippin--than planning them intentionally. Either way, once you’ve found them, hold onto them fiercely. Take inspiration from Wren and her new snacks: Don’t ever let them go. HERE'S WHAT ELSE I'M READING TODAY: On Monday, President Trump suggested that [big tech companies like Facebook and Apple could be monopolies.]( --The Verge [A private equity firm is buying online photo sites Shutterfly and Snapfish,]( with plans to merge them. --The Wall Street Journal Salesforce just announced its biggest deal ever, buying data visualizer Tableau for $15.7 billion. [Here’s why it matters.](. [Uber is building a fintech team in New York City,]( might even end up offering bank accounts. --CNBC “Pre-burnout” is apparently a thing now. [Here’s how to tell if you have it.]( --BBC [The newest Google Maps safety feature:]( a warning if your taxi goes off-route. --The Verge [Amazon is now the world’s most valuable brand,]( Apple and Google for the first time in a dozen years. --CNBC A new study suggests a simple way to raise smarter kids: [just talk to them more.]( --Inc. --Cameron Albert-Deitch Assistant Editor, Inc.com Story ideas and feedback actively solicited. Find me at [calbertdeitch@inc.com](mailto:calbertdeitch@inc.com?subject=), or on [Twitter](. [Click here]( to forward to a friend. This email was sent by: Mansueto Ventures 7 World Trade Center, 29th Floor New York, NY, 10007, [Unsubscribe]( • [Update Profile]( • [View in Browser]( • [Forward to a Friend](