Myles Powell: From Engineer to Food Entrepreneur Building a Clean CPG Brand

Myles Powell began his career as a civil engineer after earning a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering with a business minor from the University of Delaware, but he quickly discovered his true passion for food entrepreneurship. After a brief stint with the Food Network, he launched 8 Myles and spent the next several years balancing full-time work, completing his MBA, and growing the business. In 2018, Myles strategically shifted the brand to fill a gap in the market for premium, clean frozen comfort food, a move that accelerated its growth. By 2021, he left engineering to focus fully on scaling 8 Myles, driven by a clear vision to build one of the few Black-owned CPG companies valued at over $200 million. In this episode, Dante and Myles discuss: What CPG (consumer packaged goods) really means and why it’s such a competitive industry Myles’ transition from civil engineering to food entrepreneurship Access to capital and the lack of representation for Black-owned CPG brands The Shark Tank experience and lessons learned from pitching at the highest level Why brand storytelling matters more than taste alone Key Takeaways: Entrepreneurship is rarely a straight line, and early missteps often provide the most valuable lessons. Taking time to build knowledge, momentum, and stability can make the difference between burnout and sustainable success. Building a CPG brand requires patience, focus, and discipline, especially in the early stages. Limiting products and perfecting a core lineup helps prevent unnecessary complexity. Frozen food doesn’t have to mean unhealthy or low quality. With the right ingredients and philosophy, convenience and real food can coexist. Access to capital remains one of the biggest barriers in CPG, particularly for underrepresented founders. Finding the right partners matters as much as finding funding. Strong brands solve real problems, not just taste preferences. When consumers understand how a product improves their lives, price becomes a secondary factor. “Success is being profitable. I think that provides a level of stability that I think will also lead to a lot of mental clarity.” - Myles Powell Connect with Myles Powell: Website: mylescomfortfoods.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/myles-powell-5b529025/ Email: myles@mylescomfortfoods.com Connect with Dante Royster: Website: https://www.danteroyster.com/ Epic Mortgage Website: Epic Mortgage, Inc. NMLS 1885086 Facebook: EpicMortgage1885086 Epic Mortgage Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/epicmortgage/ “The Ultimate Mortgage Guide” book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CKTRWLRP LinkedIn: Dante Royster | LinkedIn Twitter: https://twitter.com/DanteRoyster YouTube: Epic Spotlight Email: dante@epic.mortgage The 9 states that Epic Mortgage is licensed are: Illinois/Indiana/Michigan/Colorado/Maryland/Virginia/Florida/Georgia/Texas Show notes by Podcastologist: Francine Poblete Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.