Founder Spotlight: Jill Weissman (Beyond the Bib)
Meet Beyond the Bib
Beyond the Bib offers ready-to-eat sauces for toddlers and kids—packed with veggies, free from added sugar, salt, and artificial ingredients, and designed for easy, nutritious meals.
Location:
Plainview, New York, USA
When did you launch the business?
February 2023
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Startup Stage?
Bootstrapped
What led you to where you are today?
I started Beyond the Bib after noticing how many sauces and condiments I was using in my kid's meals were filled with unpronounceable ingredients, additives, and way too much sugar. As a mom of two young kids, I wanted something better for them—healthy, clean, flavorful, and veggie-packed. That’s how I created Beyond the Bib, with the mission to make mealtime easier and more enjoyable for families.
What do you wish you knew before embarking on your entrepreneurial journey?
I wish I had known how much patience and flexibility it takes to grow a business, especially when balancing family life. There’s no perfect roadmap and the challenges can feel overwhelming at times, but it’s all part of the process. I’ve learned to embrace the bumps along the way and they’ve made me stronger as an entrepreneur and as a mom.
What is the most difficult decision you've had to make regarding your business so far?
The most difficult decision I’ve had to make was launching Beyond the Bib without organic certification right away. Finding a co-packer who would work with a low MOQ was challenging and without the funds to pursue certification immediately, I had to prioritize getting the product out there first. Organic certification is a critical part of our mission and brand but I knew we’d have to take baby steps to get there—it's all about moving forward, even if it’s not perfect yet.
What can you help the VEGPRENEUR community with?
As a former organic ingredient buyer for a large CPG food company and currently the VP of Product Development for a hair care company, I can help the VEGPRENEUR community with sourcing, co-packing, and product development-related questions. My background in supply chain management and experience across both food and personal care industries gives me a well-rounded perspective on navigating sourcing challenges and scaling efficiently. Whether you’re looking for the right supplier or figuring out how to develop and bring a product to market, I’m here to share my expertise!
How can the VEGPRENEUR community help you?
The VEGPRENEUR community can help me by sharing insights on navigating the growing plant-based and clean food market, especially when it comes to networking with retailers and decision-makers. Building those connections and understanding the best ways to pitch and position our products in front of the right people would be invaluable as we look to expand our reach. I'm eager to learn from others who have been down that path!
Fun fact about you:
A fun fact about me is that I’ve always been an entrepreneur but I used to say I’d never start a food business or a kids' business. But here I am, 2 years into founding a kids' food brand. When you have an idea that you just can't shake, you gotta go for it!
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