Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Kaeli Bauman, co-founder of FLIGHTFUD, located in Vancouver, Canada.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
FLIGHTFUD is all about creating an elevated travel experience, helping travelers feel better so that they can hit the ground running at their destination. Our core product is called Flight Elixir, and it's a drink mix that supports your body in the air - it supports hydration, immunity, jet lag, bloating, exposure to cosmic radiation, and circulation (it's basically a drinkable multivitamin designed for flying). Our customers include pilots, flight attendants, business travelers, athletes, artists, and leisure travelers - basically, anyone who wants to maximize their time when they land.
Tell us about yourself
The idea for FLIGHTFUD originated when I was working as a Flight Attendant and wanted a product like Flight Elixir for myself, and it didn't exist. I got curious about what was happening to my body when I was flying and wanted a nutritional product to help me feel better when flying. I looked at health food stores in Toronto and New York, and every place would give me 5-7 different products to use to address the health concerns of flying. Since I basically lived out of a suitcase, I needed something all-in-one, and that's when I started to play around with recipes for Flight Elixir.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Bringing on two other awesome co-founders who saw the vision and wanted to build with me! Couldn't do it without them.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
One of the hardest things is cultivating patience and putting in the work for (potential) long-term rewards. I think it would be difficult to do this if I wasn't so passionate about the problems we're solving and the value we're creating.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Make sure it's a business idea that you're really excited about. You're going to need to draw on this when things get tough, and it will help you get through.
- Prioritize your physical and mental health. You have to put on your own oxygen mask before you put anyone else's on (pun intended). Growing a business is going to demand a lot of you, and taking care of yourself is like health insurance for the business.
- People are everything. Become obsessed with your customers (not your product or service); this will allow you to iterate and stay relevant. Build a team of great people who are smarter and better than you in the areas where you have gaps; don't be scared of this.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
Find a niche. Go deep, then go wide.
Where can people find you and your business?
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.
Feel inspired to start, run or grow your own subscription business? Check out subkit.com and learn how you can turn "one day" into day one.