Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Alysha Malik, Founder of Rythm, located in New York City, NY, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Rythm is a clean sexual wellness marketplace that syncs sex, cycle, and vaginal health. Rythm is on a mission to strengthen vaginal health and deepen intimate relationships by making it easier to shop clean and play dirty. We have a clinical board of advisors that vets all of our products. Our customers are women and men who want to connect better with their partners and with their bodies while using products that are safe for them.
Tell us about yourself
I previously worked in the sexual wellness industry in product development and, after testing many of the biggest brands, often found myself with numerous vaginal irritations and infections. This was when I discovered that ~98% of vaginal care products have a toxic ingredient. I was also shocked to learn that most OBGYNs get less than 10 hours of sex ed during their training. It’s a space that really needs to be shaken up. I decided to quit my corporate job and start Rythm to create a clean sexual wellness revolution. Knowing that my work will help women better connect with their bodies and their partners is what gets me up in the morning!
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
I invested a lot of time in building an amazing network. Before starting Rythm, I founded Radiche, a DTC Consumer publication that featured over 150+ companies across health, wellness, fashion, beauty, and beverages. It was through the community that I ended up working in VC and investing in startups with no prior experience.
Today many of these founders are my mentors and investors. Building a strong support network that is guiding me and cheering me on is an accomplishment I celebrate every single day.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Knowing which advice to take and which negative feedback to brush off. From sharing your idea with friends and family to pitching to potential investors - you ask for and get a lot of advice. You need to have a firm belief in yourself and your vision to not get discouraged by tough feedback while at the same time incorporating the advice that can help you build a more viable business.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Read & learn - Become obsessed with learning and reading. Build it into your daily routine to become an expert in the field you are building your business. This will serve you in more ways than you can imagine.
- Speak to your customers early - Try to get unbiased feedback from potential customers (not friends, family, or investors). Test your idea over and over again by talking to customers who would spend money on your product or service.
- Re-evaluate priorities constantly - In the early days, you try a lot of different things to grow your business. The saying “Test Fast, Fail Fast,” we hear in the tech world, is a very important reminder. Ask yourself if you are working on something that is moving the needle. Give it your best effort, and evaluate the results as quickly as possible. If it’s not leading to results, pivot as soon as you can. Make it a weekly practice to note and evaluate what you spent time on and if it moved the needle.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: http://www.itsrythm.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rythmwellness/
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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