Founder Spotlight: Lauren Joyner (LOCA)

Meet Lauren Joyner

Company:
LOCA

Business Description:
Made from potatoes, LOCA is the first plant-based nacho sauce that’s both devilishly delicious and shockingly healthy. Our shelf-stable potato queso makes for a more nutritious and environmentally friendly alternative to highly processed dairy cheese sauces.

When did you launch the business?
2018

Startup Stage:
Seed

Locations:
San Francisco, CA, USA

What led you to where you are today?

Growing up in the South, I was raised on a meat-and-dairy heavy diet. I considered macaroni and cheese to basically be a vegetable and cheese dip to be an essential part of my daily diet. After making the switch to a plant-based diet as an adult, to my surprise, my friends and family back home became more interested in adding more plants into their own diets. They made it very clear though that cheese dip was something they could never give up (and I couldn't blame them!). As I looked for dairy alternatives for the cheese dip I knew and loved growing up, I found very limited options, most of which were expensive, nut-based, or both. That’s when I decided to pivot my career to focus on the mission of making healthy, plant-based foods accessible to all by reimagining classic dairy comfort foods with nutritious, whole foods ingredients that everyone can enjoy.

What do you wish you knew before embarking on your entrepreneurial journey?

Everything is going to take a lot longer, move more slowly and cost more money than you'd expect.

What is the most difficult decision you've had to make regarding your business so far?

Whether or not to take outside funding or continue bootstrapping.

What can you help the VEGPRENEUR community with?

Making connections and sharing learnings! Would love to help in any way I can.

How can the VEGPRENEUR community help you?

Same as above. :)

Fun fact about you:

I studied studio art and music in undergrad.

Connect With Lauren

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