Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Peter Arian, CEO of Juna, located in Los Angeles, CA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Juna offers telehealth medicine visits and at-home test kits for sexual health with your insurance provider. Gen Zers can't afford out-of-pocket care in the current DTC healthcare model, and this is something we are solving by providing cost-effective solutions to getting tested proactively. STI rates have reached an all-time high on college campuses. The reasons for the lack of STI testing aren't hard to understand. It's expensive, inconvenient, and awkward. After all, who wants to be spotted in the STI clinic waiting room on campus? The whole process has been stigmatized and equated with extreme illness versus being a normal step in sexual health.
Tell us about yourself
Juna was a solution that was solved through my own experience in getting tested. I couldn't afford the out-of-pocket costs in the current consumer health space. The existing approaches do not target the Gen Z population and inclusivity. The vast majority of STIs are asymptomatic, and I knew providing testing alone was not enough. Communicating effectively to a generation that is open to discussing this but has not seen a platform to do so requires an understanding of effective marketing. Our approach has been unfiltered in a way that legacy brands just can't do while working alongside insurance providers to make the process affordable and relevant to campuses.
Getting tested proactively was a painstaking and awkward process. I looked at my options and realized the last place I wanted to go was the local clinic, where I might bump into friends living across the facility. So, like so many students in this situation, I drove miles out of his way and got tested across town. It was awkward, long, and uncomfortable. That ordeal opened my eyes up to the broader struggle faced by young people who don't have access to convenient and culturally relevant sexual health services.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
The trust and allyship we have built amongst our community.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Finding product-market fit. It's something most businesses struggle with and requires every founder to spend time with individual customers even before fundraising.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Start with the problem before finding the solution.
- The best problems are personal.
- Define the customer persona down to what apps they use.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
I am always looking to connect with those that want to support the Juna movement. Reach me anytime at peter@heyjuna.com
At Juna, we like to say it is better to be safe than horny. Use WELCOME15 to receive 15% off your initial order.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.heyjuna.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/junahealth/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PeterArian4
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/junahealth/
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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