Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Greg Gibson, COO, and co-founder of The 2050 Company, located in Seattle, WA, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

The 2050 Company makes food for the future. Our first product, The 2050 Smoothie, is an instant smoothie mix made with rescued produce that you simply blend with ice and water to make a fresh frozen smoothie in under 30 seconds. Because we remove all water from the fruits/vegetables during our drying process, The 2050 Smoothie has a shelf life of over a year and does not require any refrigeration. Our product is perfect for anybody who loves smoothies, from health-conscious parents looking for a clean-label snack or busy millennials and college students seeking a convenient, nutritious way to get their daily intake of fruits and veggies!

Tell us about yourself

My co-founder Austin launched The 2050 Company after discovering that over half of fruits and vegetables go uneaten in the US every year. An avid smoothie drinker, Austin wanted to create a convenient way to make smoothies that also addressed this food waste issue. Accordingly, he created the first 2050 Smoothie. He pitched his idea for our rescued fruit smoothie mix at the Fowler Global Social Innovation Challenge in 2019. After winning numerous awards at other pitch competitions and completing a successful Kickstarter campaign, The 2050 Company began sending smoothies to happy customers all over the country. I had been following 2050's initial success. I joined the company about a year ago after working in software M&A. As founders; we are committed to creating an impactful business focused on three core issues: reducing food waste, reducing plastic waste, and reducing hunger. These three pillars guide us in our daily actions as we develop new products and partner with other sustainable-minded businesses.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Creating a sustainable business that impacts all stakeholders, not just shareholders, is something I am very proud of. We are fortunate to work with supply chain partners who share our sustainability-centric values. We know that our rescued fruit smoothies make our customers' lives more convenient and environmentally friendly.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

There is not a single, standardized blueprint for creating a successful startup. One has to be agile, innovative, and intellectually curious to be able to adapt to the ever-changing market landscape. You always have to be willing to try new initiatives, some that may ultimately fail, in order to optimize your startup.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Identify a problem (preferably one that affects a lot of people) that is worth your time/investment to address. For us, this was food waste, and we knew we could efficiently create a product that helped solve this issue.
  2. Figure out what you're uniquely good at. Like Polonius said, "To thine own self be true." Pick a business idea/product that you are uniquely capable of solving, and hire individuals with complementary skill sets to fill in gaps where you may be lacking.
  3. Always question your assumptions. You have to be nimble as an entrepreneur because market trends aren't static. Some change rapidly, and you have always to be ready to adapt accordingly.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

We're excited to announce that we are launching a new version of The 2050 Smoothie, which you can check out on our newly designed website - 2050co.com. We have three delicious flavors available: Rainier Berry, Evergreen, and Mystic Mango. Visit our website to get yours now!

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://2050co.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/the2050co/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the2050co/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/the2050co
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-2050-company/

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.