Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Christie La, founder, and CEO of Rebellyous Foods, located in Seattle, WA, USA.

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

Rebellyous Foods is an early-stage, plant-based food start-up. Our mission is to provide superior quality and cost-competitive plant-based chicken that can compete with animal-based meat by radically altering the plant-based meat production landscape. While there are currently delicious alternatives in the marketplace, most plant-based meats are two to five times the cost of meat, making them inaccessible to many...until now. Ultimately, I hope that we will be able to replace the $40 billion of processed chicken products sold annually with our delicious and nutritious nuggets, tenders, and patties.

Our customers are people like you who want to eat delicious plant-based chicken products while making a choice that is not only healthier but also gentler on the planet.

Our nuggets, tenders, and patties are available in retailers throughout the US. You can purchase our products online at GTFOitsvegan.com. We are on the shelves of independent retailers throughout the West Coast and Midwest, as well as Safeway and Metropolitan Market in the Northwest and JewelOsco in the Midwest. Our website has a store locator that lists all the places you can find our delicious nuggets, tenders, and patties near you. We are also in more than 30 school districts along the West Coast and have numerous Foodservice partners as well.

Tell us about yourself

I started Rebellyous Foods after realizing that the plant-based meat industry, and its potential impact as a solution for climate change and other social harms, was being held back. No one was addressing the price and production constraints of the industry, which has been following the status quo of using traditional meat processes. As a mechanical engineer, I saw an opportunity to take a fresh approach through the design and implementation of novel food production equipment. I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to make a measurable impact on climate change and social causes close to my heart.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

When the pandemic hit in 2020, our business which was built on sales in foodservice and schools, was drastically impacted like many in the space. The Rebellyous team rallied and quickly launched a consumer product which I am proud to report reached over 500 retail locations in under a year. The success and support we received during this pivot were proof points that we are heading in the right direction and doing something that resonates with consumers. Furthermore, our strategy at Rebellyous to design equipment that dramatically lowers the cost of making plant-based products is now being deployed to make an impact. This is a huge step forward.

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

One of the hardest things about being a business owner is overcoming the assumption that I wasn’t qualified to do the work of a CEO running a technology company developing hard-tech equipment because I am a female founder. Despite my 20 years of experience in mechanical engineering, engineering management, design, testing, and deployment, the most frequent concern I’ve heard from potential investors is whether I was “qualified” to run a technology company. It would be nice to think my credentials speak for themselves, but like many women, you have to prove your qualifications continually.

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

My biggest tip would be: Make the leap! The best way to learn what you need to know is just to get started. I also cannot stress enough the importance of surrounding yourself with a highly skilled and passionate team.

Where can people find you and your business?

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

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.

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