How Insomnia Cookies Went From College Side Hustle To $200 Million Company

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  • Опубликовано: 4 апр 2024
  • Insomnia Cookies CEO Seth Berkowitz's sweet tooth inspired him to bake and deliver cookies around his college campus in 2002. Last year, it brought in over $200 million.
    Update: Krispy Kreme purchased a majority stake in 2018, paying roughly $139.5 million for 74.5% of the company, according to a 2021 SEC filing.
    Produced by: Lauren Shamo
    Senior Managing Producer: Eric M. Clark
    Sr. Production Manager: Kathryn Mavrikakis
    Camera: Sam Radutzky
    Editor: Amy Marino
    Animator: Elham Ataeiazar
    Reporter: Tom Huddleston
    Narrator: Nicolas Vega
    Additional Footage: Insomnia Cookies, Getty Images
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    How Insomnia Cookies Went From College Side Hustle To $200 Million Company

Комментарии • 202

  • @MultiMediaMouth
    @MultiMediaMouth Месяц назад +615

    Walter White of Cookies.

  • @shmuelb.1460
    @shmuelb.1460 Месяц назад +246

    It seems like his wife was a key factor to the success of the company. Kudos to her!

  • @akirebara
    @akirebara Месяц назад +327

    I always applaud people like this. While his classmates were probably partying/getting high, he was out there juggling school and baking cookies and delivering them. Kudos to his dedication and hard work.

    • @modernkings42
      @modernkings42 Месяц назад +50

      His business would've gone nowhere without those classmates, let's be real

    • @trayshana
      @trayshana Месяц назад +3

      AGREE

    • @nonefvnfvnjnjnjevjenjvonej3384
      @nonefvnfvnjnjnjevjenjvonej3384 Месяц назад +9

      but there are so many people who bake cookies man. i feel these documentaries, do not mention secret deals and privileges. How come this one becomes a 200 million company?

    • @go_jeff_go
      @go_jeff_go Месяц назад

      @@modernkings42 gotta thank all the classmates who had munchies!

    • @dankk_edibles
      @dankk_edibles Месяц назад

      ​@nonefvnfvnjnjnjevjenjvonej3384 but how many of the people who bake TAKE ACTION and start selling/promoting door to door. You missed it

  • @yawaokaidja2262
    @yawaokaidja2262 Месяц назад +204

    It's always fascinating what is birthed out of struggle.

    • @rjcubano
      @rjcubano Месяц назад +3

      “Struggle” or a “CRAVING”?

  • @damlurker
    @damlurker Месяц назад +121

    I was at Drexel in 2004. I remember these guys.. Before the smartphone, social media etc. we used to just call for delivery lol

    • @matthewchow4991
      @matthewchow4991 Месяц назад +7

      I was at temple and remember that too

    • @nhnova1452
      @nhnova1452 Месяц назад +5

      Second year at Drexel rn

  • @roycephillipsjr
    @roycephillipsjr Месяц назад +82

    I would order Insomnia Cookies at the end of every semester in college! It was my treat to myself after the semester was done!!

  • @EcomCarl
    @EcomCarl 25 дней назад +10

    Insomnia Cookies' journey from a dorm room idea to a multimillion-dollar business is a brilliant example of seeing an everyday need and transforming it into an opportunity. Seth's early hustle and creative marketing are key takeaways for any entrepreneur looking to make an impact with limited resources. 🍪

  • @madefromstardust2250
    @madefromstardust2250 Месяц назад +265

    You can thank marijuana for that

    • @ohneben
      @ohneben Месяц назад +7

      😅

    • @dwaynekeenum1916
      @dwaynekeenum1916 Месяц назад

      @@MaxPotter365no

    • @rustinpierce7269
      @rustinpierce7269 Месяц назад +12

      Yep college stoners probably make up 80% of his business.

    • @twvs5
      @twvs5 Месяц назад +2

      I thought of this during the video ahahah

    • @shotcallerdj8228
      @shotcallerdj8228 17 дней назад +2

      Facts prices are crazy but the cookies are delicious especially when high 😂

  • @biscaynesupercars
    @biscaynesupercars Месяц назад +62

    I’m glad There’s a whole late night food industry getting more mainstream

  • @rawan5804
    @rawan5804 Месяц назад +36

    He captured the feeling of warm sweet delights delivered late with me! remember going to insomnia for the first time as a college kid late at night because what else can you do at 12am beside driving for some cookies? Haha

    • @farzana6676
      @farzana6676 Месяц назад

      Bruh. You got a name like a Hamas member.

  • @25447carepear
    @25447carepear Месяц назад +12

    Yall, when I tell you I have never been into cookies until I found this place. I've tried Tiff treats and etc but only tried ot once. Never went back. These cookies are bomb! I found them when I worked at UNC Chapel Hill and someone brought them. ❤❤ Insomnia is 🎉.

  • @BASE5NYC
    @BASE5NYC Месяц назад +11

    Insomnia is awesome. We've been ordering from them for years. Thought they were just in NYC. There's one 3 blocks away on Pearl st. that delivers super fast. Get weed delivered and 20 mins later the cookies show up. Perfect.

    • @armenakbalasanov9074
      @armenakbalasanov9074 12 дней назад

      How did they manage to delivery the cookies warm? Do they have special containers or what?

  • @El_Diablo_12
    @El_Diablo_12 Месяц назад +11

    What an awesome guy. He really made the world a better place in a small but important way.

  • @n33n055
    @n33n055 Месяц назад +37

    I got deja vu from this story, but it looks like Seth was the OG. crumbl cookies and nite owl cookies copied your whole origin story!

    • @biscaynesupercars
      @biscaynesupercars Месяц назад +2

      Do you live in miami? Nite owl isn’t that great to me

    • @n33n055
      @n33n055 Месяц назад +1

      @biscaynesupercars yup. I like nite owl, the novelty at the very least. Never tried the other 2 to compare

    • @biscaynesupercars
      @biscaynesupercars Месяц назад

      @@n33n055 crumbl is way better in my opinion but nite owl being open extra late is a major plus though. There’s an insomnia on south beach but I’ve never tried it

  • @olivierauberger
    @olivierauberger 9 часов назад

    When Insomnia cookies recruited drivers and staff in Chicago, they chose to pay decent wage. It's something that I never forgot.

  • @mattypants
    @mattypants Месяц назад +6

    I love Insomnia Cookies. Had the first time a few years ago and was in love. Tried crumble because everyone was going on about them. They dont hold a stick to Insomnia. I moved, and now im just outside of delivery. It's very sad!!

  • @dankk_edibles
    @dankk_edibles Месяц назад +2

    I love how he used the businesses revenue to grow vs seeking investors immediately

  • @jp6846
    @jp6846 Месяц назад +15

    very inspiring!

  • @lilmeower
    @lilmeower Месяц назад +4

    Yess insomnia you guys are the OG love it

  • @genius179
    @genius179 Месяц назад +2

    These cookies are amazing, keep doing what you guys have been doing.

  • @oceanwonders
    @oceanwonders Месяц назад +5

    And yet I've never heard of them until now.

  • @designergenes9490
    @designergenes9490 Месяц назад

    Great story and really enjoyed ❤️

  • @adamfisher8119
    @adamfisher8119 Месяц назад +8

    crazy story

  • @champslim
    @champslim Месяц назад +1

    Love going to this place after the bar in college.

  • @iamhassanelsaddique
    @iamhassanelsaddique Месяц назад +3

    Love this!!!

  • @MrColeBeans
    @MrColeBeans Месяц назад +1

    Guy seems genuine and all the best to him for starting this successful business I enjoyed these in college 😊

  • @JRPGGUY
    @JRPGGUY Месяц назад +6

    Love their macadamia and snikerdoodle cookies

  • @jagsfan6988
    @jagsfan6988 Месяц назад +2

    HAHAH I LOVE HOW NOBODY COMMENTED ABOUT HOW HE TRIED TO SCREW THE CONFOUNDER INSANE NOT A STAND UP GUY!

  • @stacycastro7356
    @stacycastro7356 Месяц назад +31

    Well explained.Thank you for bringing up this video. Financial education is indeed required for more than 70% of the society in the country as very few are literate on the subject..Thanks to Kristy Loreca, the lady you recommended to.....

    • @AlizabethDaniel
      @AlizabethDaniel Месяц назад

      My main concern now is how can we generate more revenue?I can't afford to see my people savings crumble to dust.

    • @MelissaBulawin
      @MelissaBulawin Месяц назад +1

      Investment has been the easiest means to save and multiple money because money left for saving ends up used without returns.

    • @VictoriaBenson-vg3lo
      @VictoriaBenson-vg3lo Месяц назад

      That is true everyone needs more than their salary to be financially stable. Investing it with a reliable source is the best.

    • @RechardAnord
      @RechardAnord Месяц назад

      No doubt!! Kristy Loreca are highly responsive and always follow up to make sure my needs and questions are met.we were saving for a deposit to allow us to move to a new house, & true her guidance it was successful,

    • @SmithNorman
      @SmithNorman Месяц назад

      Please how can i get to Kristy Loreca?????????

  • @user-sr5kj6ej9z
    @user-sr5kj6ej9z 28 дней назад

    I love the fun, late night college-style branding. Watching this video I actually want to visit one of the stores. Looks so cute lol

  • @maulikharia5032
    @maulikharia5032 Месяц назад +1

    Godfather of cookies. So glad to have insomnia cookies 10 mins away from me at UMass Amherst

  • @RolandJoeC
    @RolandJoeC 17 дней назад

    Love these cookies I’m glad the business is expanding! 🎉

  • @liem6399
    @liem6399 Месяц назад +36

    Co founder is probably kicking himself for giving up all that equity even if he did get $3M

    • @jhaeros
      @jhaeros Месяц назад +30

      100%, but if someone can’t set themselves up for life with $3 million cash then they’re doing something gravely wrong.

    • @damlurker
      @damlurker Месяц назад +1

      He probably went and started his own venture.

    • @tatummacbride-deaver3081
      @tatummacbride-deaver3081 Месяц назад +5

      If cofounder had 50% stake then he would have "only" received $2,500,000. He ended up getting $3,500,000 after the lawsuit and didn't have to spend those years working for the business.

    • @mrartdeco
      @mrartdeco Месяц назад

      @@tatummacbride-deaver3081Isn’t 5% of 500 million is 25 million or am I missing something

    • @TLBxFinds
      @TLBxFinds Месяц назад +2

      I wonder why they didn't give him what was owed from the start why did he have to sue his friend ....

  • @trayshana
    @trayshana Месяц назад

    VERY inspiring

  • @Savvynlady
    @Savvynlady 25 дней назад +1

    I ❤ Insomnia Cookies. And the Insomnia in Mobile is right across the street from our University. U OF South Alabama

  • @joaqueen
    @joaqueen Месяц назад +13

    those cookies looks delicious and so is the guy who's in the thumbnail lol

  • @armenakbalasanov9074
    @armenakbalasanov9074 12 дней назад

    How did they manage to delivery the cookies warm? Do they have special containers or what?

  • @StorytimewithSai
    @StorytimewithSai Месяц назад

    Amazing! 🥰

  • @barbarawillis5187
    @barbarawillis5187 25 дней назад

    Delivering warm cookies at night was a great idea. Cookies make a most people happy.

  • @peteregbujie
    @peteregbujie Месяц назад +17

    The sugar industry has won.

    • @emem2863
      @emem2863 Месяц назад +8

      Sometimes, you just want a cookie that a person made - not that mass manufactured stuff at the grocery store.

  • @Christian_Luczejko
    @Christian_Luczejko Месяц назад +2

    How do you make this profile-piece without talking about theirsecret back room milkshake speakeasys, hidden behind a fake bookshelf, that you need a password to get into.
    It’s literally the most noteworthy feature about the business.

  • @scombproductions
    @scombproductions 28 дней назад +1

    you focused on drexels medical campus in center city instead of the main campus, directly next to and overlapping with upenn.

  • @MsStarryNights
    @MsStarryNights Месяц назад +1

    Love me an insomnia cookie on the late night!!!

  • @tatummacbride-deaver3081
    @tatummacbride-deaver3081 Месяц назад +3

    Should have just paid $175,000 (5%) and been honest.

  • @user-gu8uj5qi2g
    @user-gu8uj5qi2g 9 дней назад

    Who did have an idea for a warm cookie delivery when stoned with friends late at night? But this guy went and did it 👍🏻🤣

  • @kavsiva1604
    @kavsiva1604 Месяц назад +4

    Bit disappointed we didn't hear how much he raised in his first round of funding but cool story

    • @agilitypoodle99
      @agilitypoodle99 Месяц назад +1

      They said he invested the $10K profit from the first semester, into the business

  • @nickmo58
    @nickmo58 Месяц назад +1

    I'm starting a cookie business opening after 2am

  • @sadgearmy4892
    @sadgearmy4892 11 дней назад

    $5 cookies are insane

  • @mrlozmoore
    @mrlozmoore Месяц назад +2

    ive never understood. "the plan is to just keep going" ... at $200m how much does one person need?!

  • @mackintosh4784
    @mackintosh4784 17 дней назад +1

    I am not in danger, i am the danger

  • @unskeptable
    @unskeptable Месяц назад +2

    What do you do for a living?
    I sell cookies.
    Oh, and how did you get the ferrari?
    I sell cookies!

  • @mackintosh4784
    @mackintosh4784 17 дней назад +1

    Jesse lets bake

  • @the.magic.catbus9459
    @the.magic.catbus9459 28 дней назад

    They had a food truck in my college campus!

  • @ceoshuvo
    @ceoshuvo 19 дней назад

    GREAT

  • @MrColeBeans
    @MrColeBeans Месяц назад

    Do they have gluten free cookies at insomnia?

  • @ricodash5330
    @ricodash5330 Месяц назад

    Didn’t the thumbnail say $500mil earlier today?

  • @bosslady6198
    @bosslady6198 Месяц назад

    Very smart idea just delivering is much though but now door dash can be able to pitch in

  • @Keprion
    @Keprion Месяц назад +9

    18$ for a chocolate chip cookie and a scoop of vanilla ice cream. No wonder it did well

    • @andrewgalvan5852
      @andrewgalvan5852 Месяц назад +1

      excellent margins

    • @GGTanguera
      @GGTanguera Месяц назад +2

      Not if you use real ingredients (real butter not margarine or lard, coco sugar not dextrose, nuts, dark chocolate not “chocolate chips) 😅

    • @jishani1
      @jishani1 Месяц назад +2

      @@GGTanguera you have no idea the actual cost of baked goods. they are the cheapest food to produce in scale in terms of raw ingredients. out of a batch of dough (and they make hundred pound batches) they have less than $1 in raw ingredients in a single cookie. even using high quality butter and chocolate. because the amount required to make a single cookie is so low and businesses buy in bulk at wholesale prices, not what you would pay retail in a store. add in a scoop of high quality vanilla ice cream and their price is still under $2 per unit on that one. ANY food you buy from a bakery, deli, or restaurant will have at minimum a 33% mark up over their costs on it. baked goods generally have a much higher mark up than that because the cost per unit is tiny. $0.18 in a doughnut, no ones going to object to paying $2 for it. that's a lot higher of a margin than the 33% you'd expect on a burger.

  • @irshviralvideo
    @irshviralvideo 3 дня назад

    i dotn get why this is popular in the time of Uber Eats ? doesn the delivery element destroy the main differentiation factor ? what else makes this so unique ?

  • @amochswohntet4434
    @amochswohntet4434 Месяц назад +1

    I’ve never had this brand before, but I know that once you’ve had the best you inevitably become a snob, and I am a little bit of a cookie snob.

  • @douglassmith9445
    @douglassmith9445 Месяц назад +4

    I’ve been wondering this whole time why insomnia cookies was so popular when crumbl cookies are the superior cookie company out of any currently. Never thought about a niche late night delivery service for a cookie. It all makes sense now!

  • @kjkrop88
    @kjkrop88 Месяц назад +1

    Jesse, we need to cook

  • @Paint2004
    @Paint2004 Месяц назад +2

    And yet they still have issues keeping competitive wages and liveable hours for employees. All while still opening new stores.

    • @jishani1
      @jishani1 Месяц назад +1

      dunno if you're aware of how things work in the real world, but fast food jobs aren't known for having stellar pay. ANY of them. you think people working at subway are pulling "competitive wages?" they also bake cookies as part of their duties.

    • @AGreyAlien
      @AGreyAlien Месяц назад

      @@jishani1exactly. Democrats really live in a fantasy world.

  • @tyronecharizard363
    @tyronecharizard363 10 дней назад

    I love insomnia

  • @Soyou-rq1xm
    @Soyou-rq1xm 29 дней назад

    okkkkkk Kent State!!! 7:47

  • @taylorembach8559
    @taylorembach8559 24 дня назад

    Went to the website. They don't list the price until u check out. I don't like that 😢

  • @LegendoftheGalacticHero
    @LegendoftheGalacticHero 8 дней назад

    Their vegan gluten free chocolate chip made me feel as if I was eating a traditional cookie. Only time I had that made me feel that

  • @colbycronin8722
    @colbycronin8722 24 дня назад

    I’ve been addicted to sleepy cookie since I was a wee lad

  • @poggster6047
    @poggster6047 21 день назад +2

    I like him, unlike the Crumbl guys… they lack passion and seem to be only in it for the money. Tech guys who couldn’t make it on tech so they looked elsewhere

  • @itstonycia
    @itstonycia 27 дней назад

    LET ME START SELLING COOKIES FROM MY DORM

  • @stevenmichaeleich9856
    @stevenmichaeleich9856 Месяц назад +1

    So much better than Crumbl

  • @dancarr111
    @dancarr111 Месяц назад

    Taylor Otwell of cookies

  • @RodoMallard
    @RodoMallard Месяц назад +2

    LOL that is not where Drexel is haha

  • @singlefathersurrogacy
    @singlefathersurrogacy Месяц назад +9

    Wearing wool socks to bed=best sleep you've had🧦.

  • @JamoSimcity47
    @JamoSimcity47 Месяц назад +1

    This man has had a choke hold on STL's WASH U students for years now lol

  • @rillyjo5810
    @rillyjo5810 Месяц назад

    22 stores and no profit. Yikes. Glad it worked out tho

  • @huffbj
    @huffbj Месяц назад

    He looked cool in school

  • @lf2334
    @lf2334 19 дней назад

    They're doing really well for an incredibly stupid idea. This should show anyone that you can make a lot of money if you try harder.

  • @tb11212
    @tb11212 Месяц назад

    Why did he only have to pay the co-founder $3.5 million? 5% would've been $25 million...and a bunch of the lawsuit stuff is behind a paywall on Google.

  • @Crazy_stunt_ridez
    @Crazy_stunt_ridez 25 дней назад

    Can you guys & CRUMBLE COOKIE collab please n also make a vid outta it by uploading it to YT? THX

  • @bombaybeach208
    @bombaybeach208 19 дней назад

    It's amazing how you can make the same product hundreds of companies are making and be successful. Anyone can make cookies like this. I don't get it.

  • @mrartdeco
    @mrartdeco Месяц назад +2

    Genius idea for USA market who loves to get fat in any ways possible 🤣🤣🤣
    Seriously… Genius

    • @jishani1
      @jishani1 Месяц назад

      Mexico has a higher obesity rate. England and Scotland are comparable. but sure, "America bad! haha am i cool guys?" 🤡🤡🤡

  • @OrganicMachoCapitalist
    @OrganicMachoCapitalist 27 дней назад +1

    Louis CooKie

  • @davidmirandajr
    @davidmirandajr 19 дней назад

    It might be that his cookies taste very well because everything else is generic af

  • @xensan76
    @xensan76 5 дней назад

    This is how weed stimulates the economy

  • @keithakola
    @keithakola Месяц назад

    I don’t understand how students today can afford these these?

  • @marufawal
    @marufawal Месяц назад

    they should have asked me for money they would have had me at late night cookie

  • @mfimabefig9822
    @mfimabefig9822 13 дней назад +1

    *Once I heard KK is involved it’s 👎*

  • @JoanaCosta-mg1ox
    @JoanaCosta-mg1ox 12 дней назад

    I thought the batter had something special that would make you fall sleep 😅 I don’t understand how this name can work..since if you are suffering from insomnia, eating things like sugar and chocolate would make it worse. Make it make sense please…

  • @midnightsxtc
    @midnightsxtc Месяц назад +1

    7:15

  • @turkeyman631
    @turkeyman631 Месяц назад

    When I was in high school, we had a guy named Walter who was in charge of our cafeteria and he put as much love as you could put into high school lunch. Luckily, it was right before Michelle Obama would essentially ban things like this, but he would make cookies everyday for the 'canteena' or what ever you want to call it. Needless to say, I wouldn't be able to resist the temptation of a warm, homemade cookie. I can see how Seth succeeded, especially with his outlook on everything. Never a 'it's impossible' state of mind.

  • @ObakhePahlane-ov1qh
    @ObakhePahlane-ov1qh 10 дней назад

    I expected more people mad at Jerry🤮😡the guy ditched his partner to work alone and cane back when the rainbow rose

  • @virtuouschu5745
    @virtuouschu5745 Месяц назад

    The time I had it was stale. I prefer Crumbl.

  • @ms_cartographer
    @ms_cartographer Месяц назад

    Insomnia Cookies > Crumbl cookies.

  • @enigma4649
    @enigma4649 Месяц назад +9

    Hmmmm, how about something warm and savory like soup in the winter? Much more healthier.

    • @samjacobson4844
      @samjacobson4844 Месяц назад +11

      how many grandkids you got

    • @whatwhat9004
      @whatwhat9004 Месяц назад +1

      Soup 🤮🤮

    • @enigma4649
      @enigma4649 Месяц назад

      @@whatwhat9004 Big Pharma loves people like you.

    • @enigma4649
      @enigma4649 Месяц назад

      @@samjacobson4844 I'm on a mission to put Big Pharma out of business even it means giving up my sugar addiction.

    • @StreetGeekz
      @StreetGeekz Месяц назад +2

      @@samjacobson4844😂😂😂😂

  • @Kingcommaalex
    @Kingcommaalex Месяц назад

    He looks like he’s eaten a few too many of the cookies

  • @mihai8595
    @mihai8595 Месяц назад +1

    How the munches brought the dough

  • @wbae1340
    @wbae1340 Месяц назад +1

    Weird. This popped up in my college city randomly before I graduated. We always made fun of it because it popped up after a local established cookie company (same concept) and crumble (main headquarters region) - so we always laughed about it and made fun of whoever went there. Curious if it even exists anymore
    Edit: LOL, nope it’s permanently closed. I was right. What idiots

  • @MoneyMan28
    @MoneyMan28 Месяц назад +11

    I buy cookies at Walmart

    • @douglassmith9445
      @douglassmith9445 Месяц назад +1

      You do realize this is like commenting on a pizza restaurant yt video and saying i buy pizza at walmart?

    • @GarryFPV
      @GarryFPV 27 дней назад

      @@douglassmith9445I buy pizza at Walmart

    • @douglassmith9445
      @douglassmith9445 27 дней назад

      @@GarryFPV only at walmart?

    • @GarryFPV
      @GarryFPV 27 дней назад

      @@douglassmith9445 I buy pizza at Walmart

    • @douglassmith9445
      @douglassmith9445 27 дней назад

      @@GarryFPV if you want your comment to have the same meaning as the original post, you are implying you do not buy and have pizza delivered from places that only sell pizza and just buy your pizza from walmart.

  • @mackintosh4784
    @mackintosh4784 17 дней назад

    Say my name