Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Ben Thompson, Founder of Treble Health, located in Oakland, CA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Treble Health started in 2020 as an educational YouTube channel, which now has 30k subscribers. Today, we are a health-tech company providing audiology services and medical devices for individuals with hearing loss and tinnitus. We are a 100% remote company. We have a small, enthusiastic, and forward-thinking team. Our in-house team consists of 10 Doctors of Audiology, two patient care staff, and a marketing team. We strive to be the leading audiology telehealth company in the world.
Tell us about yourself
When I started my business, my mission was to have more freedom and control over my life. I completed a graduate program in San Francisco to become an Audiologist. During my San Francisco Bay Area studies, I was introduced to many entrepreneurs, world travelers, and tech workers. These new connections showed me the possibilities for creating a fulfilling career and life. A few years out of school, I was ready to start my own business. The path I chose to begin with, was to create an educational YouTube channel for individuals living with tinnitus (ringing in the ears). That was two years ago. Over that time, I developed a deep connection to the tinnitus community. I became so close to the customer, their needs, desires, and pain points. Each day, what motivates me are the success stories and positive health outcomes that we can achieve for our customers.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment as a business owner was investing in our company's growth. I could have kept the business small and simply a lifestyle business. Instead, my co-founder and I decided to invest in the growth and scale of our business. Working in healthcare, our company is a mission-driven project. Our ambition to grow the company will improve my life and the lives of thousands of individuals and their families who are struggling with tinnitus.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
In my experience, one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner is the anxiety and stress of maintaining confidence amidst the ups and downs of financial challenges that come with the early startup phase. We are self-funded, which makes us scrappy with how we manage our expenses and profitability.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
First, our success in the first two years has been a product of an aggressive content marketing strategy. I'll recommend that to any business, especially if you have individuals on your team who are willing to put their face and name out there to benefit your business. Second, don't be stuck in the small details. Being a perfectionist doesn't always lead to the destination you're trying to get to. Third, be thoughtful when choosing your team, hiring contractors, or outsourcing to agencies. There are many mediocre businesses out there eager to take your money. Sometimes it's hard to evaluate the performance of specialized technical work when you're not a web developer, SEO specialist, or web designer yourself. Try to have people in your network that you can lean on for independent analysis of the quality of work from different contractors you get along the way.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
After about one year of starting the business on my own, I decided to bring in a 50/50 partner as my co-founder. Our goals are aligned, and we have fun doing our job together. My advice is to surround yourself with an invested and energized team to do the hard and challenging work needed to go from zero to one.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://treblehealth.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/treblehealth/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/treblehealth
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/treblehealth/
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.
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