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Ankith Harathi
@ankithharathi
empire building @playhousehunt & sprinting @trackratsprints | prev founder @withmacro (acq) @gamersenseiapp (acq)
Austin, TX
playhousehunt.com
Joined May 2018
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  • user avatar
    Ankith Harathi
    @ankithharathi
    Dec 22, 2020
    A janitor making $4/hour walked into a Fortune 500 company boardroom. Shaking, he took a seat opposite the CEO. "So I had an idea..." he nervously began. Years later, that idea would become an iconic consumer brand and make him worth ~$20M. Here's how that meeting went 🧶👇
  • user avatar
    Ankith Harathi
    @ankithharathi
    Dec 22, 2020
    Replying to @ankithharathi
    13) Flamin’ Hot Cheetos became one of the most successful launches in Frito-Lay history. They went on to become a viral, pop-culture sensation. Richard became a VP and amassed a $20M fortune. Not bad for a boy from Cucamonga.
  • user avatar
    Ankith Harathi
    @ankithharathi
    Dec 22, 2020
    Replying to @ankithharathi
    Sharing some sources here for those who want to read more! cnbc.com/2018/03/27/a-j… thehustle.co/hot-cheetos-in… newsweek.com/flamin-hot-che…
  • user avatar
    Ankith Harathi
    @ankithharathi
    Dec 22, 2020
    Replying to @ankithharathi
    12) He’d even sealed the bags with a clothing iron, and had hand drawn a logo on each one. The room went silent. After a few moments, the CEO spoke, “Put that mop away, you’re coming with us”
  • user avatar
    Ankith Harathi
    @ankithharathi
    Jan 12, 2021
    In 1959, a Swedish engineer at Volvo patented what would become one of the greatest inventions of all time Volvo stood to make billions But after a meeting with Volvo's President, he decided to give it away for free - and it changed the world Here’s how that meeting went 🧶👇
  • user avatar
    Ankith Harathi
    @ankithharathi
    May 26, 2021
    Imagine trying to compete with YouTube and Netflix at the same time. That's what Anjali Sud faced when she joined Vimeo 6 years ago. She quickly felt their strategy was wrong, and brought it up in a meeting. Today, as CEO, she took Vimeo public. Here's what happened 🧵👇
  • user avatar
    Ankith Harathi
    @ankithharathi
    Dec 22, 2020
    Replying to @ankithharathi
    4) As he was getting ready for his first day of work, his grandfather pulled him aside and said: “Make sure that floor shines. And let them know that a Montañez mopped it.”
  • user avatar
    Ankith Harathi
    @ankithharathi
    Dec 22, 2020
    Replying to @ankithharathi
    7) Then, he called the CEO. “Mr. Enrico’s office. Who is this?” “Richard Montañez, in California” “You’re the VP overseeing CA?” “No, I work at the Rancho Cucamonga plant.” “Oh, so you’re the VP of Ops?” “No, I work inside the plant.” “You’re the manager?” “No. I’m the janitor.”
  • user avatar
    Ankith Harathi
    @ankithharathi
    Dec 22, 2020
    Replying to @ankithharathi
    9) 2 weeks later, he entered that boardroom. After taking a moment to catch his breath, he started telling them what he'd learned about Frito-Lay and the idea he'd been working on.
  • user avatar
    Ankith Harathi
    @ankithharathi
    Dec 22, 2020
    Replying to @ankithharathi
    10) “I saw there was no product catering to Latinos.” On the sales trips he shadowed he saw that in Latino neighborhoods Lays, Fritos, Ruffles, and Cheetos, were stocked right next to a shelf of Mexican spices. Frito-Lay had nothing spicy or hot.
  • user avatar
    Ankith Harathi
    @ankithharathi
    Dec 22, 2020
    Replying to @ankithharathi
    8) The CEO got on the line. Loving the initiative, he told Richard to prepare a presentation, and he set a meeting in 2 weeks time. Stunned, Richard ran to the library and picked up a book on marketing strategies. Then, he started prepping.
  • user avatar
    Ankith Harathi
    @ankithharathi
    Dec 22, 2020
    Replying to @ankithharathi
    6) In the mid-1980s Frito-Lay started to struggle. The CEO announced a new initiative to all 300,000 employees. “Act like an owner” Trying to empower them to work more creatively and efficiently. Montañez listened.
  • user avatar
    Ankith Harathi
    @ankithharathi
    Dec 22, 2020
    Replying to @ankithharathi
    5) Richard made it his mission to be the best janitor Frito-Lay had ever seen. He spent his off-time learning about the company's products, manufacturing, marketing and more. He even asked salesmen to tag along and watch them sell.
  • user avatar
    Ankith Harathi
    @ankithharathi
    Dec 22, 2020
    Replying to @ankithharathi
    11) The Latino market was ready to explode, Monteñez explained. Inspired by elote - a Mexican street corn covered in spices - Richard had created his own snack He pulled out 100 plastic baggies. He had taken Cheetos from the factory and coated them in his own mix of spices