Gel-Oh Dolly!

Do you want a fun, easy-to-use way to consume your favorite craft cocktails and deserts? That’s where Gel-Oh Dolly! comes in. Gel-Ol Dolly! is a grown-up twist on an old favorite. They provide a gourmet Jell-O shot mix for you to create your own fancy shot.

For Dolly Fiedelman co-founder of Gel-Oh Dolly!, running her own company seemed natural coming from a family of entrepreneurs. The desire was always there – that’s why Fiedelman took a chance on her favorite summer go-to. Gel-Oh Dolly! was sparked at a tailgating party at Red Rocks. After bringing gourmet Jell-O shots, it soon became an expectation that she would be providing them at every gathering. “People kept telling me I should sell them, and here we are!” Fiedelman said.

Unlike your typical shot, these Jell-O shots use real food ingredients to create craft cocktail and gourmet dessert inspired mixes. You have the freedom to get crafty with glasses and garnishes, or keep it simple and just mix with your favorite spirit, chill and enjoy!

Fiedelman and her co-founder Terri Johanson joined LEADING EDGE for Entrepreneurs in spring 2017 to put a plan in place, and create a business from their idea: “The program allowed us to evaluate and understand our concept and decide if it was viable. It also pushed us to start thinking in the entrepreneur mindset.”

During LEADING EDGE, they created a plan for a brick and mortar, selling individual Jell-O shots and focusing on events. However, due to cost in the liquor licensing and perishability limiting scalability, they pivoted to the dry mix right before joining Trout Tank: Food Frenzy. They found themselves putting their pitch together in two weeks. Although they were the only company pitching at the event that was not selling at the time, Gel-Oh Dolly! received the People’s Choice award.

“Trout Tank led us to opportunities to do pop-up events and while we didn’t think we’d be ready to do so and sell in the timeframe given, it pushed us to take the leap,” Fiedelman said. With their pivot to dry mix, they now have a product that can be shipped world-wide.

Recently, they partnered with one of their favorite breweries, Intrepid Sojourner Beer Project for the Bacon and Beer Classic at Mile High Stadium. They experienced a great reception and collaboration, where they made an orange cream Jell-O shot that can be made with a light wheat beer. And, this is not the last time the two are partnering – they are in the works right now to plan future events together.

Back at their launch, Gel-Oh Dolly! served four year-round flavors. They have since launched six new flavors, including seasonal favorites like winter cosmo and spiced orange. “While we continue to grow our brand awareness, we pride ourselves on changing people’s perceptions of Jell-O shots,” Fiedelman said. As they continue to hone in on their operations, they plan to focus on large events, such as corporate events and weddings. This gives them the opportunity to work with the client one-on-one to not only create a custom label but flavor as well, to create a unique experience for each customer.

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