In this episode, Bora chats with Lisa Curtis who shares her remarkable journey from discovering Moringa as a Peace Corps volunteer in Niger to transforming it into a mainstream superfood ingredient through her company Kuli Kuli. Here's what brand builders will learn:

Key Business Insights:

- The strategic path from farmers' markets to national retail presence

- Critical lessons in consumer testing and messaging evolution

- How to navigate the complex world of food distribution and retail partnerships

- Successful fundraising strategies that secured over $11.5 million in investment

Essential Brand Building Takeaways:

- Converting social impact into market opportunity

- Testing and refining product messaging through direct consumer interaction

- Building relationships with major retailers like Whole Foods

- Leveraging press and partnerships (including collaborations with Jose Andres and the Clinton Foundation)

- The reality of scaling from handmade products to national distribution

The episode offers invaluable insights into:

- Early-stage market validation strategies

- The transition from direct-to-consumer to retail distribution

- How to position an unknown ingredient in the American market

- Building valuable industry relationships and securing strategic partnerships

- Managing rapid growth and the associated challenges

Lisa also shares her current challenges and exciting plans for 2025, including major retail expansions into Kroger, Target, and Walmart, offering listeners a real-time look at scaling a CPG brand. Whether you're launching a food brand or building any consumer product company, this episode provides actionable insights from someone who built a successful brand from scratch.