Grow Deep, Not Wide: Mark Rampolla’s Five-Year Rule for Building Brands That Last

What if your next move isn’t another location—it’s owning a moment in your guest’s life?

Mark Rampolla built ZICO into a category and now backs founders with a $600M fund; his playbook is built for operators under pressure. We talk about the five-year reality of product-market fit, why velocity per store beats “more units,” and how owning a specific occasion (post-workout, post-shift, post-party) unlocks scale.

Mark breaks down risk discipline—grow deep before wide—and what acquirers actually buy: a future customer and a missing occasion, not just a product.

If you’re tempted to expand because it feels like progress, this episode shows a sharper path: focus, proof, and traction that travels.

To learn more, visit groundforcecapital.com
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