_edited.png)
How did you come up with the idea for your business?
I’ve always been really interested in Blue Zones. The whole idea of it is fascinating to me – the way that the people in these communities live, eat, and interact with one another is something that I’ve been inspired by. When the Netflix docuseries “Live to 100” was released, I was eager to learn more about centenarians and how they went about their daily life. One of the main lifestyle factors that contributed to their longevity was, of course, diet. We’ve learned that centenarians are more likely to eat fresh produce and cook at home. I wanted to translate the eating habits of these long-living people into places where I knew were deficient in fresh foods – a place that I am very familiar with – college towns. From there, I came up with a way to diminish the scarcity of healthy foods and hopefully turn these college towns and their surrounding areas into certified Blue Zones.
What does the average day look like for you now as an entrepreneur (especially compared to past jobs/days)?
As I am still a student, studying is still considered my top priority, but now that I have started a business, I am constantly researching about Blue Zones and thinking of ways to allow this business to come to life. When I see or hear about something that may contribute to Farm-to-Truck in any way, I have an urge to stop what I’m doing in that second and continue researching. Farm-to-Truck has become something that I have caught myself spending hours of time on in one sitting – creating pitch decks, creating a logo, building out a business model, etc. This next semester, I hope to spend more time on learning from mentors and connecting with peers.
What are some of the top things you have learned so far?
Failure is only a form of redirection
Spend a majority of your time understanding the problem, rather than jumping straight to trying to fix the problem
Know when and how to use your strengths, especially when working in a team
Who or what inspired you to become an entrepreneur?
Coming from an immigrant family, I grew up watching my parents run a business from our home every single day. I watched my parents hustle, stay up trying to acquire huge business deals, and work hours on end – but they loved it. They enjoyed the process because they knew that the outcomes are rewarding. My parents don’t know it, but they are the reason why I have an entrepreneurial spirit and mindset.
What have been 1-2 of your proudest moments in creating your business?
I was in the Women in Entrepreneurship class with Jan Ryan and Kendra Scott this past fall. While my business idea didn’t make it to one of the six final rocket pitches, I still wanted to pursue this idea because I was very passionate about the mission. During this time, the application deadline for the Spring 2024 FoundHER Cohort was coming up. I thought, “What’s the harm in trying?” So I scrambled trying to make my application perfect – recreated the whole pitch deck, conducted a couple customer discovery interviews, contacted a potential co-founder, and met with my professor asking for some advice on the Farm-to-Truck approach. All within less than a week’s time and while still studying for my classes! I was proud of myself for taking the leap in submitting the application for the FoundHER SP24 Cohort because in the end I got what I had hoped for, which is why I’m here!
What’s the best advice you have received along your journey?
Everybody’s journey is different. It’s easy to compare your journey with others who are more successful than you, but stay on your path.
What’s a fun fact about you?
I used to be a figure skater!
About The Author:
Founder of Farm-to-Truck
Comments