Founder Spotlight: Maria Cebrian (Terraseed)
Meet Maria Cebrian:
Terraseed
Terraseed is a Boulder-based supplement company founded in 2020 by Maria Cebrian, offering vegan-certified, scientist-formulated, sustainably-sourced multivitamins that address common nutritional gaps. Known for its sustainable practices and 100% biodegradable packaging, Terraseed has received recognition, including the NEXTY Award, and was the first vegan brand accepted into the Techstars accelerator program.
Location:
Boulder, Colorado, USA
When did you launch the business?
September 2020
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Startup Stage?
Seed
What led you to where you are today?
I am a third-time entrepreneur and a Forbes 1000 honoree. I have 16 years of experience in the digital and wellness industries, and my second company was acquired by Gaia, the world’s biggest conscious media platform. Now, I am set out to build companies that are good for the health of the people, the animals, and the planet.
What do you wish you knew before embarking on your entrepreneurial journey?
Coming from a digital background, I underestimated just how complex and resource-intensive building a CPG company would be. Unlike tech, where you can iterate quickly and scale virtually, CPG involves navigating manufacturing, supply chains, physical distribution, and packaging—all while trying to build a brand that emotionally resonates with consumers in a crowded space. I wish I had known how much patience, resilience, and capital it would require to bring a truly sustainable and ethical product to life.
What is the most difficult decision you've had to make regarding your business so far?
One of the most difficult decisions we’ve faced was whether to keep pushing for growth without secured funding or to focus on reaching breakeven with limited resources. Raising capital as a mission-driven, vegan CPG brand has been incredibly challenging, especially in a space where many investors still prioritize short-term returns over long-term impact. We were fortunate to hit breakeven in January 2024, which was a huge milestone, but growing the business beyond that point without additional financial support has forced us to make tough trade-offs and scale more slowly than we’d like.
What can you help the VEGPRENEUR community with?
I can support the VEGPRENEUR community by sharing my experience in building impactful, values-driven companies and leading purpose-driven teams through the early stages of growth. I'm especially passionate about leadership, cultivating a strong mission-aligned culture, and navigating the unique challenges of sustainable product development—including my experience pioneering fully biodegradable, plastic-free packaging in the supplement space.
How can the VEGPRENEUR community help you?
I’d love support from the VEGPRENEUR community in navigating the fundraising landscape—especially connecting with mission-aligned investors who understand the long-term value of sustainability. I’m also looking to learn more about the retail space, from go-to-market strategies to building strong retail partnerships, as we work to expand Terraseed’s reach and impact.
Fun fact about you:
Before becoming an entrepreneur, I was a social worker—I worked with street children in Bolivia, supported kids in Ghana, and even worked in a psychiatric hospital in Edinburgh, Scotland. That chapter of my life deeply shaped my commitment to building a business rooted in compassion and impact.
Anything else you would like to share?
I'm always looking to connect with like-minded founders who are building with purpose. I find so much value in honest conversations about the challenges we face and how we can lift each other up.
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