Founder Spotlight: Matt Tullman (Complement)
Meet Matt Tullman:
Complement is a socially conscious brand committed to providing innovative, science-backed and transparent nutrition solutions to COMPLEMENT a plant based diet. By advocating and offering sustainable nutrition products, Complement strives to encourage healthier eating habits and reduce the environmental impact associated with traditional food production. Known for Complement Essential, an all-in-one, easy to take, plant based multivitamin that optimizes your foundational health with the 8 critical vitamins, minerals, and sustainably-sourced omega-3s proven hard-to-get through a plant-based diet alone. We’re also proud of our Plant Based Protein Powder, Daily Greens, Gut Nurture, Omega Complex, Vitamin B12, At Home Nutrition Diagnostics, Personalized Nutrition platform, and more!
Become a member today!
Join the world’s largest plant-based business community 🌱
Get access to: mentors, resources, events, opportunities, discounts, and more!
Location:
Vail, Colorado, USA
When did you launch the business?
2018
Startup Stage:
Happy to say that we’ve left the startup stage and settled into our teens!
What led you to where you are today?
My first business was in education technology, and I really enjoyed the social impact, so I knew that I wanted to focus equally on impact as much as the economic engine to drive that positive change in the world. But the true catalyst that put everything in motion was losing a loved one to heart disease. I spent 30 days in the hospital with him during “end of life” care. That was an eye opener and its why I’ve dedicated my career to spreading “lifestyle medicine”.
What do you wish you knew before embarking on your entrepreneurial journey?
Caring for my physical and mental health is a strategic priority. I used to laugh at that idea. But over time, I’ve realized that meditation, exercise, and great nutrition are the inputs that allow me to have much greater output.
What is the most difficult decision you've had to make regarding your business so far?
We launched Complement with a simple three-nutrient multi that contained vitamins B12 and D3, plus DHA/EPA omega-3 fatty acids because at the time, we believed it was the perfect complement to a plant-based diet. But as time went on, the science became abundantly clear that most plant-based eaters would benefit from adding a few additional nutrients as well. So we had to decide – do we hold strong with the story we’ve told our community or make a shift? It felt like a massive, difficult decision to expand our flagship multi to include eight nutrients instead of three, but in hindsight, the decision was actually a no-brainer. Every day I wake up thinking about how best to serve the Complement, No Meat Athlete, and broader plant-based communities. Creating a multi that reflects the leading science available is a clear choice – even if it means making a pivot for the business.
What can you help the VEGPRENEUR community with?
Great nutrition! If you’re vegan or vegetarian, check out this post about the nutrients you might want to consider more than others. We make the cleanest (best) supplements in the world. Here’s a discount code: VEGPRENEUR (15% off). But wherever you get your nutrients, just make sure you’re getting them daily! We always say that the health of the plant-based movement relies on the health of the individuals in it! We also have a multitude of different partnership opportunities. The No Meat Athlete Podcast receives hundreds of thousands of downloads every month, and we are always looking for guests. Complement hosts summits that are promoted to millions of plant based individuals, and we are always looking for headliners to include, affiliates to onboard, and ways to lift other businesses up alongside us.
How can the VEGPRENEUR community help you?
Come to us with your ideas! Let’s partner. Let’s Work Together. Let’s Connect. We are all on the same mission, and have similar goals. One person can’t change the world by themselves, but we can make a very large impact together.
Fun fact about you:
We’re raising our kids speaking Spanish, and I didn’t speak Spanish when my first son was born. It’s been the hardest thing in the world, but it’s giving them an incredible asset and it’s given me a whole new worldview.
Read More On Our Blog
