In this fast-paced and forward-thinking episode of Your Business, Your Next Level, host Eunicia Peret sits down with Eric Berman, co-founder and CEO of Lil Snack—a web-first gaming company that’s redefining consumer engagement through daily, pop-culture-inspired games. Eric shares how he and his team built a product with half a million monthly users and partnerships with major media platforms, all with less than $8K in marketing spend. From harnessing feedback at scale to thinking differently about AI, distribution, and sustainability, Eric reveals the mindset and strategy behind scaling in 2025 and beyond.

Key Takeaways:

Move fast and stay visible: In today’s tech landscape, your biggest moat is speed and transparency—build in public and learn as you go.

Feedback is a gift: Lil Snack operates on one core value—listen, act, and celebrate feedback from users, partners, and the team.

Distribution is everything: Rather than build a new app, Lil Snack puts games inside apps where users already are—like Peacock, Reddit, and BuzzFeed.

Make money, not just noise: Forget unicorn dreams. Real businesses focus on revenue, sustainability, and customer relationships.

Build with ego-free transparency: The best decisions come from putting aside pride, listening deeply, and staying honest about what works.

AI is a tool, not a crutch: Use AI to accelerate creativity and execution, not to replace human connection or originality.

Work-life balance is real: When you build with intention, your business can enhance—not consume—your home life.

Write your own playbook: The best strategies are authentic, unorthodox, and tailored to your mission. There is no one-size-fits-all path.

Timeline Summary:

[00:00:00] Eric introduces Lil Snack and its rapid growth without traditional marketing

[00:01:30] Building in public and going live before incorporating—why speed wins

[00:03:00] From one texted game to half a million players per month

[00:04:30] Core company value: feedback is a gift

[00:06:00] Expanding to major platforms like Reddit and NBCU through partnerships

[00:07:30] Lessons from Hulu and the decline of native app dominance

[00:08:30] Web-first strategy enables agility, scalability, and speed

[00:10:00] The future of AI and how consumer behavior is already shifting

[00:12:00] High-fidelity, AI-supported games created in the browser

[00:14:00] Fundraising insights: control the business, play the long game

[00:15:30] Study small business fundamentals—revenue beats vanity metrics

[00:17:30] The value of staying alive and ready as AI and web tech evolve

[00:19:00] Why transparency and stewardship matter more than ever

[00:20:30] How Lil Snack uses humans + AI to create new opportunities for creatives

[00:23:00] Hiring remote talent with intention, contracts, and mutual respect

[00:26:00] Letting references interview the company to ensure cultural alignment

[00:29:00] Eric’s biggest regret: moments where work overtook family

[00:30:00] The sticker ritual with his daughter and the power of shared purpose

[00:32:00] When to fire clients and protect your mental health

[00:34:00] Why people—not just product—make or break the business

[00:35:00] Final advice: trust your gut, ignore the noise, and write your own playbook

Links & Resources:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lileric/