Alejandro Velez, co-founder of Back to the Roots, discusses how a trademark lawsuit and cease-and-desist letter forced them to change the name of their aquaponics product.
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“We actually got sued for calling to the aqua farm, and we had to go and beg for forgiveness, and they said, okay, fine, we won't make you discard all your packaging inventory. Just sell it out, but you need to change your name to the water garden.”
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AssertionSupported
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AssertionPartly supported
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AssertionSupported
Back to the Roots raised $2M from angels and $10M from Acre Ventures
“We did like a two million dollar round from angels, from angel investors. And then after that, we did the, a ten million dollar round, and that one came from Acre Ventures.”
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AssertionPartly supported
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“By the time this airs, it'll be forty million.”
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AssertionNot checkable as stated
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