Episode 4 | Nate Hybl

The Atlanta Story

The Atlanta Story podcast features meaningful stories of Atlanta’s builders, creators, and entrepreneurs. In this episode Jon Birdsong sits down with Nate Hybl, Founder of Gusto!. Born and raised in Hazelhurst, Georgia, Nate has spent the majority of his career experimenting, crafting, and serving life-giving food through his fast-casual food company, Gusto! What first started out as vast and obsessive research around menu design and branding during nights and weekends, has transformed into a 12 store company with plans to double in unit count over the next 18 months.

In today’s interview, we learn how Nate started Gusto!, what it takes to reinvent yourself, leadership principles he applies across his 450 team members and much more!

The Atlanta Story is put together by the folks at Atlanta Ventures -- and we can’t wait to share some of the personalities behind the brand. Atlanta Ventures invests in entrepreneurs through community, content, and capital -- most notably through our Studio with companies like Greenzie and Intown Golf Club. We believe the best entrepreneurs learn from other great artists in different fields.

In this episode, we discuss…

1. The concept of Gusto! and how it actually comes to fruition. (1:30)

2. Why are there not more healthy fast food options? (1:37)

3. Nate discusses the options that were available for business because of his past as an athlete. (2:21)

4. Jon and Nate talk through what the first 4 years were like? Was their money raised? Did Nate put together the brand first or the menu? (8:53)

5. Leadership principles at Gusto! and how they communicate the values that mean so much to them and the business. (15:20)

6. The parallels or un parallels to being a leader in the athletic field and in business. (20:46)

7. Jon asks about co-founders and who helped along the way? What did that look like in business? (22:20)

8. Nate shares about the art of reinventing yourself. (24:08)

9. Growth and what the growth vision looks like for the future. (29:51)

10. Balancing life with the one and a half year old in the family? And what lessons has Nate learned now that he's a father. (33:48)

11. Recreation - Can Nate beat his brother at golf? (35:54)

12. How does Nate bring his “first life” of an athlete into the Gusto! story now that he has a platform? (39:00)

13. Why Atlanta and what has Atlanta done for Nate? (48:00)

Resources discussed in this episode:

Gusto!

How you can get involved:

Visit atlantaventures.com/studio if you’re interested in learning more about Atlanta Ventures and the Studio.

Where you can find us:

Website: www.atlstory.com

Twitter: @theatlantastory

Instagram: @theatlantastory

YouTube: Here

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