Open Call 2025
Big Dreams, Bold Ideas, and the Golden Ticket Glow
3 MIN READ
Every year, hundreds of entrepreneurs travel to Bentonville, Arkansas, fueled by passion, caffeine and a big dream to land their products on Walmart shelves. Open Call 2025 brought that dream to life once again, filling our new Home Office campus with energy, innovation and the unmistakable buzz of possibility.
This year’s event wasn’t just about pitches, it was about people. From the dad-and-son inspiration behind a men’s skincare line to the food innovator turning veggies into crave-worthy snacks, every story shared a common Spark... grit, creativity and the drive to make life a little better for customers across America.
Walmart’s commitment to supporting U.S. manufacturing and small business ownership continues to shine through Open Call. For many of this year’s attendees, it wasn’t just a business milestone it was a moment of validation, collaboration and celebration.
And what better way to experience it than through their own words? Below, you can watch four incredible Open Call conversations from our radio studio, capturing the heart, humor and hustle that define American innovation.
1. Crowned Skin: Fighting Ash with Confidence
Featuring: Darrell Spencer, Founder & CEO, Crowned Skin (Chicago, IL)
Darrell Spencer calls himself an “Ash Fighter,” but his mission runs deeper. Crowned Skin is redefining men’s self-care by merging fragrance and hydration into one luxurious experience. Inspired by his father’s grooming habits and his own entrepreneurial drive, Darrell created a body butter-meets-cologne hybrid designed to help men feel confident from head to toe. His advice for future founders? “Don’t let failure block your future blessings.”
2. Do The Right Thing Snacks: Fresh Veggies, Real Crunch
Featuring: Samy Kobrosly, Founder, Do The Right Thing Snacks (Baltimore, MD & Boca Raton, FL)
What do you get when a chef-turned-snack-lover sets out to make a better chip? A golden ticket and one very proud mom on WhatsApp. Samy’s “Veggie Crackle” chips are made with fresh vegetables, 70% of each bite in fact, and seasoned with real ingredients like buttermilk and avocado oil. His passion and humor made waves at Open Call, proving that honesty, heart and a hint of crunch can go a long way.
3. PrismBio: Painting the Future in Living Color
Featuring: Birgitte Cameron, CEO, PrismBio (California)
Color, meet innovation. PrismBio is transforming how we think about dyes by growing vibrant hues from biology instead of petroleum. Through fermentation, AI, and nature’s own chemistry, the company can produce an entire rainbow of sustainable colors from denim blue to bakery red. For Cameron, a former Patagonia Provisions co-founder, it’s more than science, it’s about creating change that’s beautiful, affordable and planet-friendly.
4. Turbo Trusser: From the Garage to the Thanksgiving Table
Featuring: Brian Halasinski & Kirk Hyust, Inventors, Turbo Trusser (Cleveland, OH)
Two friends, a frustrating chicken dinner, and a lot of trial and error led to one of the year’s most talked-about inventions: the Turbo Trusser. This simple metal device helps home cooks truss poultry in seconds for a juicier, more even roast. After a Shark Tank debut and a QVC appearance, Brian and Kirk say Walmart is their dream partnership and now, with a golden ticket in hand, that dream is roasting to perfection.
Wrapping Up the Win
Open Call 2025 showcased the incredible power of American entrepreneurship. Every golden ticket represents more than just a business deal, it’s a story of perseverance, innovation and partnership. As these creators take their next steps with Walmart, one thing’s clear: the future of “Made in the USA” is bright, bold and built on belief.
