Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Dan Kurzrock, CEO and co-founder of ReGrained, located in Berkeley, CA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
ReGrained is the leading food upcycling technology and ingredient platform. ReGrained deploys patented technology and culinary science to rescue healthy food and craft delicious, versatile, better-for-you ingredients and products. Our flagship ingredient, ReGrained SuperGrain+®, elevates the tens of billions of pounds of de-sugared, sprouted ancient grains created annually by the brewing industry.
ReGrained SuperGrain+® is a versatile, economical, and environmentally friendly grain powder rich in plant protein, dietary fiber, and prebiotics. Food companies around the world partner with ReGrained’s Upcycled Food Lab to power their next generation of product innovations.
ReGrained is a proudly certified Public Benefit Corporation and 1% For The Planet member and co-founder of the Upcycled Food Association. To learn more about the company, the Upcycled Food Lab, and products, go to UpcycledFoods.com.
Tell us about yourself
In college, I learned how to make beer underage. Loved this hobby but detested the waste it created. Every 6-pack we brewed left us with 1 pound of grain! We were hauling this grain, which after brewing was like a giant batch of porridge, out to the dumpster until inspiration struck. I tasted it—this was not waste; it was food.
The research confirmed its latent nutritional value, and I began to see some humble potential. Initially, I started saving the grains to bake into bread, and my vision was to then sell enough loaves to be able to brew for free. With each batch, the vision got bigger. It felt like I had struck gold with the ultimate opportunity to create a business that profitably contributes to building a more sustainable world.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
When I co-founded ReGrained, no one talked or wrote about upcycled food, so I evangelized it to anyone who would listen — friends, family, peers, farmers market customers, etc. And then, the media and conference organizers noticed, inviting me to comment and speak. Today, upcycled foods are considered by ReFED to be the best solution to reduce food waste, and in 2021, Whole Foods named it a top 10 trend.
To be clear, there have been many voices raising awareness, including my own. I am both proud and humbled by the rapid rise of this movement.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
As an entrepreneur, it's finding the time to focus on turning an idea into a scalable business, work to pay the bills, and have some balance to keep one's sanity. There are discouragements and setbacks, but you have to find the lessons learned and move forward. I guess one of the hardest things is learning to trust your instincts.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Don’t let perfect be the enemy of good.
- Articulate your mission and define your purpose as a business.
- Build a community around you to share your success and support you through your challenges.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
Other than what I have already shared, one of the most important things I can stress is the importance of not letting yourself burn out. Your passion is an emotional currency that you must be able to sustainably “fund” your concept through the ups and downs. Figure out how to invest in your energy and recharge.
Your life outside of work will make you better at your job. When building a business, you can’t always take a vacation or a big trip, so build in moments of “micro” perspective into your week. Maybe that means going on a long bike ride, meditating, or cooking an elaborate meal. You’ll have your best ideas and feel most inspired when you give yourself this space.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.regrained.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ReGrained/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/regrained/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/regrained
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielkurzrock/
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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