How do you go from a classroom idea to securing 100 pre-order agreements in just one summer? Meet Josh Dubler (Economics, ‘25), a student entrepreneur who’s turning big ideas into reality with support from the Center for Entrepreneurship (CFE). From product development to ambitious sales milestones, Josh’s journey with CDN Bars showcases grit, innovation, and the power of entrepreneurial resources at the University of Michigan.
Josh first learned about the CFE through a senior in his entrepreneurship fraternity, Sigma Eta Pi. That moment sparked the journey that would lead him to create CDN Bars.
“I actually learned about the CFE from a former senior that was making a presentation to my entrepreneurship fraternity… He was emphasizing the importance of utilizing the many resources at the University of Michigan, including the Zell Lurie Institute as well as Fuel. I ultimately applied to Fuel in March of 2024 and received funding later in the month,” said Josh.
Fuel funding gave Josh the opportunity to dive deep into research and development and work closely with stakeholders to refine his product.
From Idea to Gym Shelves
Josh’s most recent milestone reflects his drive and commitment to bringing his product to market.
“After conducting an extensive R&D process before bringing our recipe forward to a co-manufacturer, we were ultimately able to place our first purchase order. In anticipation of our commercial launch, we set an ambitious goal to approach 500 gyms and fitness-based businesses in-person over the course of the summer. We are proud to have accomplished this goal in late August, securing over 100 pre-order agreements in the process.”
The team launched their “Peanut Date Burst“ bar—a protein-packed snack with 320 calories, 20 grams of protein, and just six simple ingredients. Seeing the finished product has been a rewarding moment for Josh.
“Being able to see, feel, and taste this finalized product provides me with further conviction about the sheer magnitude of differentiation and innovation.”
Distribution is already exceeding expectations, with gyms ordering more than they initially planned.
“Many of the facilities that only agreed to start with two 8-packs of bars are buying 48 bars instead to start, now that the megapack is an option.”
Josh credits CFE’s Fuel program for enabling him to refine CDN Bars through trial, error, and valuable feedback.
“My involvement with the CFE has been critical in providing us with the funding to conduct meaningful R&D … Feedback is extremely important, so I’m grateful that we were able to purchase enough ingredients and be in a position to try repeatedly and make pivots.”
Words of Advice
Josh’s advice to future entrepreneurs? Stay resilient during the “behind-the-scenes” work.
“My advice pertains to the moments and days when things are not glamorous… Many entrepreneurs develop a variety of ideas that genuinely have merit and could make for profitable impactful businesses if they simply kept going… My point is that it’s easy to have limiting beliefs, but we’re likely a lot more capable than we give ourselves credit for when we have the confidence to not give up and keep progressing forward. From my perspective, it’s better to be consistently good than occasionally great.”
What’s Next for CDN Bars?
Josh’s focus now is on scaling operations, expanding distribution, and developing new flavors.
“Our next purchase order will be a larger purchase order of approximately 25,000 of our current ‘Peanut Date Burst’ flavored bars… Moving forward, we hope to develop a strong retail presence so that our bars can be in major grocery stores, as well as vitamin and supplement stores. By the end of winter break, our bars will be in gyms in four different states. We want to have a national presence in gyms within the next few years.”
With a clear plan and momentum on his side, Josh is well on his way to taking CDN Bars to the next level.
Josh’s story is a testament to what’s possible when entrepreneurial passion meets the right resources. Interested in programs like Fuel? Discover how the CFE can help you turn your ideas into reality!