Founder Feature: Spencer Hoddeson, Gay Water

In this bonus episode of the Startup CPG podcast, Grace Kennedy sits down with Spencer Hoddeson, the CEO of Gay Water. They delve into the inspiration behind creating Gay Water, a mission-driven brand that is aiming to increase representation for the queer community in the alcohol space. With a rich background in media and tech, Spencer shares his journey of developing Gay Water, highlighting the personal experiences and meaningful conversations that shaped the brand.

They explore the challenges of entering a competitive market and how Spencer's commitment to vibrant packaging and purpose-driven marketing has struck a chord with millennial and Gen Z consumers. Spencer candidly discusses overcoming founder-related stresses like imposter syndrome through prioritization, stress management techniques, and the power of positive customer feedback.

Discover how Gay Water is making waves in the beverage industry through strategic branding and a deep commitment to community representation. Tune in now!!


Listen in as they share about:

  • Product Details of Gay Water
  • Brand Inspiration, Mission, Development and Impact
  • Challenges and Learnings
  • Marketing Strategies
  • Sales and Distribution
  • Growth and Expansion
  • Future Plans

Episode Links:
Gay Water’s Website
Gay Water’s Instagram

Don't forget to leave a five-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify if you enjoyed this episode. For potential sponsorship opportunities or to join the Startup CPG community, visit http://www.startupcpg.com.


Show Links:


  • Transcripts of each episode are available on the Transistor platform that hosts our podcast here (click on the episode and toggle to “Transcript” at the top)
  • Join the Startup CPG Slack community (15K+ members and growing!)
  • Follow @startupcpg
  • Visit host Daniel's Linkedin 
  • Questions or comments about the episode? Email Daniel at podcast@startupcpg.com
  • Episode music by Super Fantastics

Creators and Guests

Founder Feature: Spencer Hoddeson, Gay Water
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