How do you take a Maine lobster roll—yes, the classic, buttery, delicious kind—and build a brand that stretches from the East Coast to the heart of Milan, Italy?

That's the kind of breakthrough story we love to feature at Founderology: Built to Breakthrough. And it's exactly what unfolds in this powerful episode with Dan Beck, Founder of Mason's Famous Lobster Rolls.

Dan's story is not built on flash or shortcuts. It's built on vision, values, and a deep understanding of operations. He took one small store and turned it into a 40-plus unit brand without losing control, without compromising quality, and without sacrificing what makes the brand special.

This episode is a front-row seat to a Founder who's proving that you can grow a brand with soul—and take it globally. Here are just a few highlights from our discussion on the growth of Mason's Famous Lobster Rolls.

Scaling Smart

Dan Beck built his brand unit by unit, not headline by headline. From the start, profitability, not press, was the priority. Learn how he scaled intentionally, choosing strategic growth over fast expansion.

Franchising with Integrity

Dan's approach to franchising wasn't transactional. It was transformational. He focused on partnerships, not just locations. Dan shares how he developed a franchise system rooted in trust, support and shared standards.

From Maine to Milan

International expansion wasn't part of the initial plan. That's what makes the Milan story even more remarkable. It happened through connection, belief in the brand, and the readiness to embrace new opportunity. Dan provides great insights on how he navigated EU regulations while staying true to Mason's quality standards.

Funding with Purpose

Dan didn't chase capital. He waited for alignment. When the time came, he looked for more than a check—he looked for value. Learn why strategic supply partnerships created win-win financial outcomes.

Founder-Led – Growth Focused

This is what Founder-led looks like; Dan's story is more than a success story. It's the journey about being committed to growing for all the right reasons.

• Are you building a business that reflects your vision?
• Are your growth decisions aligned with your values?
• Are you expanding without losing what made you unique in the first place?

If you're a Founder ready to grow with intention, expand with clarity, and stay grounded in what works, this episode is for you. Tune in now and be inspired by the possibilities and potential of the brand you are building to breakthrough!

I have been a fan and follower of Pinky Cole Hayes and Slutty Vegan since her first opening in Atlanta. Her entrepreneurial drive is unmatched. She has built a brand that reimagines vegan food, empowers her community and sets a new standard for Founder-led success.

I recently visited her latest opening in Tampa and enjoyed a Chik'N Head sandwich with crispy hot fries. Pinky Cole Hayes is the embodiment of the Founder spirit. If you need inspiration on your good days, your hard days, and every day in between, follow her on Instagram. When you are near one of her locations, go.

Pinky built Slutty Vegan from a shared kitchen to a $100 million brand. She has appeared on the covers of Forbes, Time 100 and Inc. In 2025, she faced $20 million in debt, filed for an ABC (Assignment for the Benefit of Creditors), and in just 43 days, she bought back her company. With that bold move, she restructured leadership, rebuilt her systems, and launched Slutty Vegan 2.0 with sharper strategy, stronger teams and unstoppable energy.

In this episode of "Founderology – Built to Breakthrough," Pinky shares her "PhD. lessons" and mindset that fueled her comeback. She opens up about the decisions that saved her company, how she aligned her team for growth, and what it takes to lead when everything is on the line.

Honest Lessons No One Wants to Talk About

Pinky Cole Hayes delivers lessons that cut straight to the realities of building and scaling a company. She shares the moves that turned a financial crisis into a foundation for growth and the leadership strategies that continue to drive her success. Founders will walk away with a deeper understanding of how to lead with clarity, grit, and precision.

Phd. Lessons" from Pinky

• How Pinky used ABC (Assignment for the Benefit of Creditors) as a strategic move to save and reclaim her company
• The leadership shifts and team restructuring that powered Slutty Vegan 2.0 and positioned it for scale
• The mindset and execution strategies that turn failure into a foundation for growth
• The non-negotiable principles of leading with vision, focus, and relentless drive.

Pinky speaks to the heart of what it means to be a Founder. She knows the weight of leading when everything is on the line. She understands the courage it takes to make impossible decisions and the relentless drive required to bring a vision back to life.

This conversation is direct and real for anyone who has built something from nothing, fought for every inch of progress, and faced the fear of losing it all. Pinky's journey is a powerful reminder that Founders are built to rise, built to adapt and built to break through the toughest chapters.

Connect with Your Founder Power

Listening to this episode feels like sitting across from a Founder who has walked through fire and emerged stronger, smarter, and more determined. It hits every emotion Founders know — the pressure, the sacrifice, the grit, and the moment when you decide to keep going, knowing it's about your calling, not just your business.

What do late-night drinks, a lobster roll, and a cross-country cousin connection have to do with building a national brand?

Everything.

In this episode of Founderology: Built to Breakthrough, Sabin Lomac—co-founder of Cousins Maine Lobster—shares how one wild night idea with his cousin Jim Tselikis, turned into a Shark Tank deal, 100+ locations, international expansion, and a brand that still runs on family, hustle, and heart.

No experience. No roadmap. Just two Founders who committed to figuring it out and stayed focused to make it happen.

This conversation is for every Founder who's working the dream and managing the ups and the downs. Sabin talks openly about the early days—balancing multiple jobs, building the first truck, and learning the business from the ground up.

Here's what stood out:

• They didn't wait for the perfect moment—they started where they were.
• They didn't overexplain the idea—they protected it until it was real.
• They didn't pretend to have all the answers—they asked better questions.

And the moment they opened their first truck? Lines around the block—and a message from Shark Tank on the first night they were open. Here's a taste of what you'll get:

• The real story behind how a food truck in a random LA parking lot sparked national buzz overnight.
• Why keeping their idea quiet for a year was the smartest move they made.
• How Sabin's "just go" mindset created a culture of fearless leadership—and what you can learn from it.
• What Barbara Corcoran told them that changed their entire trajectory (and why they almost ignored it).
• The single trait Sabin says separates successful founders from everyone else—and it's not what you think.

If you've been stuck in the middle—overthinking, second-guessing, or wondering if it's all worth it—Sabin's story will remind you exactly why you started.

Tune into Founderology now.

The only real difference between an idea and a breakthrough—is doing something about it.