Founder Spotlight: Jenelle Manzi (Get Golden)
Meet Jenelle Manzi:
Get Golden is the modern snack brand on a mission to redefine what it means to feel good by creating pantry essentials for the everyday athlete, from nut & seed bars to nourishing nut spreads, that incorporate real, whole ingredients. All Get Golden products are USDA-certified and organic and feature thoughtfully sourced ingredients such as super seeds (like chia and sesame), nuts (like cashews and almonds), and spices (like turmeric) that make you feel nourished, energized, and like your best self.
Location:
New York, New York, USA
When did you launch the business?
August 2020
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Startup Stage?
Friends and family round/bootstrapped
What led you to where you are today?
Since early into my ballet career, I’ve juggled chronic injuries and after ankle surgery for a torn tendon, battled consistent inflammation throughout my body, which subsequently triggered a series of food allergies that made it even more difficult to properly fuel my body for long days at the studio. When I couldn’t find snacks to satisfy my hunger while meeting my dietary needs, I began making snacks using whole, trustworthy ingredients in my own Upper West Side kitchen – oftentimes late at night after rehearsals ended. Late nights in the kitchen led to me sharing my snacks with fellow ballerinas, which made me realize that so many people were facing the same issues. With Get Golden, I channel my passion for deliciously fueling foods with cultivating community and I am so excited to see where this journey will take me.
What do you wish you knew before embarking on your entrepreneurial journey?
Similar to other major milestones in life, I don’t think it’s fully possible to understand how hard the journey will be until you do it. I wish I would have known about the rollercoaster, but I suppose that’s part of the adventure.
What is the most difficult decision you've had to make regarding your business so far?
Each day brings new challenges –– starting your own business is grueling yet incredibly rewarding. There have been many moments where I’ve had to slow down to evaluate the best next move. A great example is when I officially launched Get Golden last summer. I had been in beta getting feedback on the product, and during that time had to meticulously weigh all elements of the business. I ended up shifting many aspects of the brand – like manufacturing and branding – to make sure it was best suited to scale into different categories. It was difficult to have that “slow down” period of strategizing and analyzing, but so incredibly important for the success of any business.
What can you help the VEGPRENEUR community with?
I hope to inspire the VEGPRENEUR community by prioritizing self-care physically, mentally, and emotionally. It’s a huge necessity of mine in order to stay grounded throughout my rigorous schedule of ballet and running Get Golden. This not only looks like eating nourishing foods (and things I love like butter!) but is also mirrored through morning and nighttime routines that help me destress like soaking my feet in Epsom salts from my couch.
How can the VEGPRENEUR community help you?
I’m hopeful to connect with like-minded folks in the industry!
Fun fact about you:
I’m a professional ballerina with New York City Ballet, the company where I began my professional ballet career at age 16. I graduated from Fordham University, where I studied during my early years as a professional ballerina. Through my time in the company, I traveled the world annually and it was visiting (and eating in!) cities like Paris, Tokyo, and Copenhagen that shaped my deep-seated appreciation and passion for high-quality, whole ingredients.
Anything else you would like to share?
We launched SunriseSpread, a nourishing solution to nut butter using only stone-ground nuts and a sprinkle of salt. As Get Golden’s first-ever versatile daily ingredient, it speaks to my mission of providing pantry essentials to the everyday athlete (read: anyone who lives actively, whether it's a morning walk, picking up kids from school, or a rigorous dance schedule). My favorite way to use the spread is to make filled chocolate cups topped with Maldon salt for a nourishing, sweet treat, but the possibilities are truly endless. We’ll be releasing another new & exciting product in 2024 that expands our mission of pantry essentials for the everyday athlete.
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