Founder Spotlight: Erin Riley (Cabbage Hill Fertilizer)
Meet Erin Riley:
Cabbage Hill® Fertilizer Co provides organic vegan garden fertilizers that feed plants as well as enhance soil’s microbial vigor. We are the first veganically-certified fertilizer company in North America.
Location:
Los Angeles, California, USA
When did you launch the business?
Started in April 2021, but "launched" in November 2023
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Startup Stage?
Pre-Seed/Seed
What led you to where you are today?
I ran an edible landscaping company and taught organic gardening for over 10 years. Handling individual fertilizer inputs as part of my vegetable gardening business alerted me to the issues of safety and ethics regarding organic fertilizer and its links to animal agriculture and even the climate crisis. I set out to create a line of effective, sustainable plant- and mineral-based fertilizers for the home gardener.
What do you wish you knew before embarking on your entrepreneurial journey?
I didn't expect so many twists and turns and seriously underestimated the challenges...but if I had known that before I embarked, I may not have tried. So I think I would keep that to myself, but I would say to my younger self: listen to your gut more and stay in your power. Don't be afraid to pull on the brakes until you can get things on your terms. Ask questions but remember you're in charge. You have more intuition about this than you think.
What is the most difficult decision you've had to make regarding your business so far?
That's a hard one. I had to make a big decision about how we report our lab findings to regulators and my decision went against my advisors' advice. I turned it around and around but went with my gut and it turns out I was right. I also recently decided to stop pursuing licensing and go back out and raise money and that's another decision I've had to defend a lot. Knowing the most about your business or your book or your dream is gonna put you in a lonely position and you're gonna have to have the strength of your conviction.
What can you help the VEGPRENEUR community with?
Inspiration obviously ;) And I've had a lot of business experience running my own landscaping company. I feel like everything has happened to me. I've been sued. I've sued. I've had to get licensed and certified and bonded. I've hired and fired. I've fought every bad review to have one of the best reviewed Yelp sites. All kinds of stuff.
How can the VEGPRENEUR community help you?
Open my heart and mind to abundance.
Fun fact about you:
I love karaoke.
Anything else you would like to share?
I'm good at gardening and social media. I love compost and all things sustainable.
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