Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food & beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Michelle Razavi, Founder & CEO of ELAVI, located in Los Angeles, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
ELAVI is a woman-owned wellness company reinventing nutrition for the busy, modern consumer. We've created a portfolio of products (collagen-boosted protein bars and colorful, plant-based nut butter) that help people integrate functional ingredients and superfoods without creating gut health issues. We exist to elevate on-the-go nutrition because food is medicine, and food is fuel - responsible for how you feel, how long you live, and how you perform.
Tell us about yourself
I became a business owner by accident, driven by passion and conviction to create a product that I personally needed to solve a problem that nobody else was solving. I had gut health issues, struggled with an eating disorder in my early twenties, and had no healthy way to fuel my body on the go with ingredients that nourished me without inflaming my gut health. With lightning speed and efficiency to scale, I launched the first collagen bar that outperforms competitors in taste and texture and uniquely delivers collagen alongside plant protein and immunity-boosting antioxidants. I then took this innovative formulation process and applied it to a line of innovative, colorful plant-based nut butter, ditching the inflammatory oils and integrating hempseed oil which supports regenerative agriculture and healthier skin.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
It's the messages we get from our customers telling us how they can't live without ELAVI. To create a product that people can't imagine not having that's huge and incredibly rewarding.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
The inability to shut off. There's always something to do, the constant pressure to perform, and all the ownership is on you, so it's difficult to set boundaries to unplug and take time off to reset.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Make sure it's something you're actually passionate about and not just starting a business to "be an entrepreneur" because that won't get you through the difficult times.
- Find a complementary co-founder to balance your skillset because it will help you scale faster and preserve your mental health to share the journey with someone.
- Make sure you have key routines in place to prioritize your physical and mental health, such as fitness, meditation, journaling, etc.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://elavi.co/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heyelavi
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heyelavi/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/heyelavi
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/elavi/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
Turn your craft into recurring revenue with Subkit. Start your subscription offering in minutes and supercharge it with growth levers. Get early access here.