Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Marcos Rojas, founder of Dishquo, located in New York, NY, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

I'm Marcos Rojas, the founder of DishQuo, a new meal planning, and nutrition app. Our mission is to pair science and technology, making it easier for people to achieve long-term health and vitality. We do this through our unique nutrition program and by removing the heavy lifting with customized meal planning, grocery delivery, and recipes.

DishQuo meets the needs of busy people who want to eat nutritionally balanced meals that stabilize their blood sugar levels. We're a great fit not only for those with type 2 diabetes who want to manage their weight and want to stabilize their energy throughout the day but for people who won't want to build a healthy lifestyle.

Tell us about yourself

I'm inspired every day to be able to provide a solution that impacts people's quality of life long term. Nutrition and health have been a passion of mine for many years. In 2020, I was in the midst of launching a different business — a gym for beginners. As soon as I found the space to open, COVID hit.

During quarantine, I shifted my energy into researching the right nutrition plan and away from the building. What approach to nutrition was most effective? What would our approach be? I read How Not to Diet by Dr. Michael Greger and learned about the insulin index. That's where the vision for the business began to change dramatically.

I thought: how is no one talking about this? It's crucial but complicated to implement. The insulin index only includes single foods, not the combinations we actually eat in most meals. I began to experiment with my own health, and the changes amazed me. Once I started incorporating the basic principles of how food affects insulin, my energy went up. The daily energy crash after eating disappeared. My productivity skyrocketed. With my fitness and weight goals, I reduced my body fat percentage as well. Seeing the transformation in my own health motivated me to share it through the creation of DishQuo.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

The biggest and most rewarding accomplishment, I would say, is the growth and impact that has come from DishQuo on our customers' daily life. It's inspiring and rewarding to hear stories of people being able to change their life and health trajectories.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

Prioritization. Starting a new business requires wearing multiple hats and tackling new and existing challenges daily. Knowing the right time for each project is key and being able to put things aside that can wait. Learning to decipher what needs focus now is a process and takes time to develop.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Launch a business that's rewarding to you and impacts the lives of others. Seeing the positive influence on customers' lives keeps you moving forward when you face challenges.
  2. Constantly be learning and growing. Business is moving quicker than ever, and in order for your business to evolve, you must be evolving as a leader as well. Seek to know what you don't know. Someone likely has mastered the skills to overcome your current challenges. Don't be afraid to seek them out and learn from them.
  3. Hone in on what's most important in each season of growth. From there, create scalable solutions for your business based on your current goals.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: http://www.dishquo.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dishquoapp/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dishquo/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcos-rojas-dishquo/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

Feel inspired to start, run or grow your own subscription business? Check out subkit.com and learn how you can turn "one day" into day one.