Founder Spotlight: Melissa L’Heureux-Haché (VEGAIN)
Meet Melissa L’Heureux-Haché:
VEGAIN is revolutionizing sports nutrition with plant-based supplements that don’t just compete with standard animal-based products, but outperform them at every level.
Location:
Nanaimo, BC, Canada
When did you launch the business?
January 2023
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Startup Stage?
Growth. Bootstrapped. 100% Independent.
What led you to where you are today?
8 years ago, when I was 22 years old, my partner Edan and I started a vegan skincare company in the kitchen of the apartment we shared with 3 other roommates. 18 months later, we successfully exited through the sale of the brand to a public company. This initial foray into business was a profound learning experience that taught us the value of self-belief and hard work. Seeing our ideas transform into products that people loved and supported was incredibly empowering. It instilled in me a deep confidence that, with the right blend of passion and persistence, we could achieve great things. This first venture also led us to cultivate an invaluable network of mentors, peers, and collaborators. Each relationship built opened new doors and offered fresh perspectives, enriching our journey and underscoring the importance of community in personal and professional growth.
What do you wish you knew before embarking on your entrepreneurial journey?
That starting a business isn’t just about passion, creativity, and building something you love. It also involves doing things you really don’t want to do, and learning skills you may have little to no interest in. In the beginning, maybe for years, you have to be comfortable wearing all the hats; director, designer, content creator, accountant, sales team, IT department, mover, supply chain specialist, customer service representative - the list goes on and on. You have to find a way to cultivate an interest and a joy in learning all these things, and taking pride in doing them well.
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 regarding VEGAIN has been choosing to remain self-funded. Funding is attractive, and comes with benefits like security and rapid expansion - but opting to bootstrap it allows us to ensure that every aspect of our brand meets our high standards, without compromise. We have a vision for VEGAIN, and believe in our ability to make it a reality. Not giving up equity allows us to be agile, make big decisions quickly, and seize opportunities while they’re hot. I attribute a great deal of our rapid success to this decision.
What can you help the VEGPRENEUR community with?
Beyond brand development, marketing, and sustainable business practices, I think the biggest way anyone can help is through kind, curious, and candid conversation. Networking and community building are essential for nurturing growth and fostering collaborations within the industry. By sharing my knowledge and experiences, I aim to empower other plant-based entrepreneurs to innovate responsibly and achieve success while staying true to their values.
How can the VEGPRENEUR community help you?
A community that shares core values is so important when it comes to collaborative opportunities, market insights, and strategies. I am always open to help from a network that shares resources, opinions, and best practices, and apply these insights to improving our operational efficiencies and marketing approaches. Engaging with this community allows me to learn from the successes and challenges of my peers, and foster a supportive environment that benefits us all.
Fun fact about you:
I make a baked New York-style cultured vegan cheesecake that will blow your socks off. It takes 3 days to make and fools even the biggest skeptics.
Anything else you would like to share?
Joy is the secret to most things, including building a successful business. If you are a joy to be around, I want to talk to you - and maybe we’ll end up building something big together.
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