Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Charles Vercoustre, co-founder of OKANA, located in Claymont, DE, USA.

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

We are a coffee alternative. Coffee creates a pitfall, you drink it to get energy, but it stresses your body and crashes you down. Then you take another one. And repeat until exhaustion. But coffee is also a precious ritual in our day. So we went ahead and crafted the ultimate coffee alternative, leveraging the ancient power of adaptogens and superfood while making sure its "gourmand" taste will be an invitation to get out the bed. Our customers are people both ambitious and conscious. Ambitious to make every day count. Conscious about the importance of holistic health in the long run.

Tell us about yourself

I used to drink a lot of coffee. When COVID happened and working from home became the new norm, I stopped drinking it. It was an eye-opener. I felt so much better. Why should we burn ourselves down for short-term success? It's not OK to nourish your long-term anxiety and stress just to get today's job done. I believe in balance. The balance between ambition and holistic wellness. Creating an everyday beverage, a ritual, is fascinating. And now, seeing people adopting it is an unbelievable satisfaction that makes me keep going.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I felt particularly proud when I realized we shipped Okana to every state in the country.

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

It takes time. A lot of time. I quit my consulting job and comfort, and I still cannot tell when I'll get to my previous living conditions. Society gives you a big FOMO when you see your friends buying real estate and settling down, securing their wealth when yours is on the line every day. But the adventure is so much worth it. And if not now, when, right?

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

  1. Don't be a perfectionist, be impatient to hit the market. Only the market will tell you if your idea is worth something. Even if you believe that you have the idea of the century.
  2. Be prepared to fail. So many good people with good ideas have felt. Success is not something you can control. If you're not good with failing, you should probably not try and work on that first.
  3. Be patient. We live in a world of immediate satisfaction. We hear about people raising millions overnight on a PowerPoint business plan. But that's not the reality. I don't know any successful entrepreneur that succeeded overnight. It takes time. And if it looks like it, great chances that person worked a lot on previous projects that failed.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

Mental health is as much a hygiene routine as brushing your teeth. Especially when you start a new business, it sounds counterintuitive, but take time for yourself, replenish the energy, care about your loved ones.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://drinkokana.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drinkokana
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drinkokana/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/drinkokana
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/drinkokana/

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.