Episode 460: Aaron Vaccaro of Liquor Lab - Nashville, TN. From Finance to Venture Capital to Beverages [AND FOOD]. Experiential Concepts Grow Profitable Biceps in GLOW UP Hospitality World. SHOWTIME.

From Finance Whiz to Food and Beverage Innovator – Aaron Vaccaro's Journey with Liquor Lab and More

Episode Highlights:

• Meet Aaron Vaccaro: Justin Bizzarro sits down with Sacramento-based Aaron Vaccaro, the dynamic CEO of Liquor Lab and Vice President at WestRiver Group. Delve into Aaron's fascinating transition from a background in finance to becoming a significant force in food and beverage entrepreneurship.
• A Portfolio of Success: Aaron provides an inside look at his impactful work with the West River Group and discusses his current ventures, including the innovative Toca Football, the famous JBJ' Nashville [Jon Bon Jovi's Honky Tonk Bar and Restaurant], the beloved Listening Room Cafe, and the experiential Liquor Lab.
• Venture Capital & Experiential Business: Discover how Aaron's distinct approach to venture capital and his focus on creating immersive experiential business models have paved the way for his considerable achievements. He’ll unpack Liquor Lab's unique strategy for teaching cocktail crafting, offering liquor brands a direct and engaging channel to connect with consumers.
• Growth in High-Opportunity Markets: Justin and Aaron explore the intricacies of business expansion in thriving markets like Nashville, highlighting the strategic use of equity investment and distinctive hospitality experiences to fuel success.
• Core Entrepreneurial Values: Throughout this insightful conversation, Aaron underscores the critical roles of mentorship, continuous learning, and adaptability in navigating the constantly evolving entrepreneurial landscape.
• Actionable Insights: Whether you're just starting your entrepreneurial journey or are a seasoned business owner, this episode is packed with valuable lessons on identifying and leveraging your strengths, and seizing opportunities within the vibrant hospitality and food industry.

A Deeper Dive into Aaron Vaccaro's Impact:

Aaron Vaccaro is a seasoned investor, entrepreneur, and leader. His career, spanning over a decade, has seen him serve as a board member, advisor, and executive for a diverse range of companies across the technology and entertainment sectors. He has a proven track record of partnering with entrepreneurs and their teams to transform ambitious visions into tangible realities.

Originally from the scenic foothills of Northern California, Aaron now calls Sacramento home. His academic journey includes a bachelor's degree in mathematical economics from Whitworth University, followed by a master's in finance from Claremont McKenna College. Aaron's professional path took a significant turn in 2015 when he joined the venture capital firm WestRiver Group (WRG).

During his initial tenure at WRG, the firm was the primary investor in the global experience brand Topgolf Entertainment Group. As Chief of Staff to Topgolf’s CEO, Aaron was instrumental in shaping strategy, finance, and operations. His contributions were key to Topgolf's explosive growth, rocketing from $90 million in revenue to an astounding $1.1 billion, ultimately leading to the company's $2 billion acquisition by Callaway Golf Company.

Beyond his pivotal role at Topgolf, Aaron's entrepreneurial acumen has influenced numerous companies within WRG’s portfolio. He currently holds the position of President at Singularity University, where he successfully guided the company to achieve profitability for the first time in its history. His advisory expertise has also benefited organizations such as Talespin Reality Labs, The Listening Room Cafe, ONEHOPE, and TOCA Football.

Aaron's connection with the experiential mixology concept, Liquor Lab, began in 2017. He initially joined as an investor and board member following the company's successful launch in New York. After seven years of providing strategic guidance on growth, Aaron assumed the role of CEO in 2025. In this position, he leads the company with a clear focus: empowering his team to craft extraordinary and immersive experiences for every customer.

The mission of Liquor Lab resonates deeply with Aaron’s personal philosophy—to make once-exclusive experiences, like mastering the art of exceptional cocktails, enjoyable, accessible, and inclusive for everyone. Drawing a parallel to how Topgolf revolutionized the game of golf by welcoming all, Liquor Lab aims to democratize mixology, transforming it into an engaging and approachable activity. At Liquor Lab, the experience transcends mere cocktail making; it’s about learning a craft, savoring the process, and creating lasting memories.

Aaron Vaccaro's exceptional talent for identifying potential, building high-performing teams, and scaling businesses has solidified his reputation as an effective leader and astute investor, marked by a consistent history of success across various industries. Central to Aaron's leadership philosophy is a profound commitment to fostering team collaboration and creativity, delivering unparalleled customer experiences, and cultivating a strong sense of community where everyone feels a genuine sense of belonging.

 

IG: @liquorlab

Location: 144 2nd Ave N, STE 10, Nashville, TN 37201

Location: 823 E Market Ste STE 103, Louisville, KY 40206

 

Entrepreneur interested in being on the show: https://calendly.com/justin-bizzarro/podcast

 

Hosted By: Justin Ryan Bizzarro (IG: @justinbizzarro and LinkedIn: FOLLOW ME )

 

Who is Justin Ryan Bizzarro? – Justin Bizzarro is a serial food, restaurant, technology, media and marketing entrepreneur, who helped build a 24-year-old group of food and restaurant related businesses, he created with his father and business partners out of his family’s basement, in 1998. He is a highly desired business management, personal and athlete growth, free market, food diversity, and entrepreneurial leadership speaker. Justin’s expertise are in human growth, motivation, leadership and management development, health foods and beverages, global lean manufacturing facilities, vertically integrating businesses, food marketing and advertising, supply chain creation and management, direct to consumer fulfillment, transportation and distribution, personal brand building, restaurant development and construction, and entrepreneur acceleration. Justin received his BA in International Business and Management from Dickinson College, in 2002, and his MBA from University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, in 2014. He is currently pursuing his Master of Divinity in Leadership from Denver Seminary. His leadership and entrepreneur podcasts have positively impacted millions of people across the globe.

 

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Free Podcast.  No Advertisements.  The stories of Food, Beverage, Farming, Hospitality, and Nutrition Entrepreneurs and how their failures led to the successes in their lives and in their business.  What does the future have in store for the food, beverage, and nutrition entrepreneur?

 

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