Founderology Development Summit
The Founderology Development Summit session, “Past the Tank: What Showing on Shark Tank Taught Me About Enterprise, Branding & Daring Strikes,” options Danielle Mahon, Founding father of Topsail Steamer.
Photograph: LinkedIn
December 5, 2025 by Judy Mottl — Editor, RetailCustomerExperience.com & DigitalSignageToday.com
Founding a restaurant is not any straightforward endeavor and oftentimes founders haven’t got an any alternative to speak to different Founders and get invaluable suggestions and recommendation that might assist keep away from time consuming and costly classes.
However that chance is obtainable on the upcoming Founderology Development Summit, going down in Austin, Texas on Feb. 2-4, 2026.
It is a high-impact, Founder-exclusive occasion created by Founders, for Founders.
In the event you’re a multi-unit restaurant Founder navigating development, scale, and sustainability — the summit is a time to recharge your imaginative and prescient and reimagine what’s attainable.
Success within the Shark Tank
One of many informative periods can be lead by a feminine Founder who will share her experiences of showing on the favored Shark Tank present.
The session, “Past the Tank: What Showing on Shark Tank Taught Me About Enterprise, Branding & Daring Strikes,” options Danielle Mahon, Founding father of Topsail Steamer.
Mahon will share the most important advantages, surprising challenges and actual development classes that adopted her expertise on Shark Tank.
Topsail Steamer was based on North Carolina’s Topsail Island in 2017 after Mahon jumped the company America ship and began her family-owned firm to share the enjoyment of steamed seafood feasts. The primary Topsail Steamer location was anchored in Surf Metropolis.
On the time of the launch Mahon remembers having “loads of drive and imaginative and prescient,” however not all of the solutions.
“One of the beneficial classes I’ve discovered is to seek out mentors and folks with expertise, and do not be afraid to be continually asking questions. There is a tendency if you’re beginning one thing new to really feel like you need to determine all of it out by yourself, however you actually do not,” Mahon stated in an electronic mail interview.
“There are individuals who have already been via the identical challenges you are dealing with and are sometimes blissful to share their insights. Listening, studying and leaning on others’ expertise can prevent time, cash and some sleepless nights. You do not have to reinvent the wheel if you do not have to and generally the best dialog can change all the pieces.”
Navigating ups and downs
She advises new Founders to “keep grounded via the highs and lows,” and stated founding and working a enterprise is tougher than most anticipate.
“As a Founder, you carry the burden of each resolution, each fear, each success, and each setback. Early on, I needed to study to not get too excessive through the highs or too low through the lows,” she stated.
Each enterprise has seasons with moments of momentum and occasions when issues really feel caught or unsure.
“The secret’s to keep up perspective. Rejoice what is going on proper, not simply what is going on improper. Permit your self to really feel assured in your imaginative and prescient and your means to adapt. Resilience is not about by no means feeling doubt, it is about believing in your self sufficient to maintain shifting ahead via it,” Mahon stated.
When beginning out one vital side is to construct a enterprise that displays your values, stated Mahon.
It is a lesson she’s discovered as Topsail Steamer has grown.
“I’ve discovered how essential it’s to remain true to the values that impressed me to begin it within the first place, household, neighborhood, and connection. There’s at all times stress to develop quicker or change route, however essentially the most sustainable success comes from constructing one thing that feels genuine,” she stated.
Founding her firm has simply by no means been about promoting seafood.
“It is about creating experiences that carry folks collectively. While you construct out of your values, each resolution turns into just a little clearer, and your model stays rooted in one thing actual,” Mahon stated.
Recommendation for the brand new Founder
For these embarking on founding an organization Mahon has one particular bit of recommendation – strive to have a look at issues with out boundaries.
“Do not be afraid to assume massive and see what’s attainable, even when it feels out of attain out of attain and even unattainable,” she stated, including that her preliminary concentrate on creating one thing significant in a single small seaside city.
“I could not have imagined it might develop right into a model that reaches throughout the nation. That development occurred as a result of I allowed myself and my workforce to think about what may very well be, not simply what was in entrance of us,” she stated.
Her recommendation additionally consists of dreaming massive, asking questions, staying curious and surrounding your self with those that encourage your imaginative and prescient. “There’ll at all times be challenges, however when you keep true to your goal and preserve an open thoughts, you will be amazed by what you’ll be able to construct.”
To attend the Founderology Development Summit click on right here.
