Here is an Ad for my startup:

Kaia Care

I wanted to blog about what I did and everything I learned along the way creating my consumer facing e-commerce store. It was a REAL hustle and I can’t imagine not sharing the incredible learnings and the skills I gained along the way.

First of…naming your startup can be VERY stressful. But don’t you worry, I’ve got you covered. I wrote this Medium article on how to register your business name.

Data Analysis and Iteration: After gathering a substantial amount of data through online surveys and in-person interviews, we employed a meticulous data analysis process. By categorizing and organizing responses, we identified common themes, pain points, and desires within our target market. This analysis became the foundation for iterative improvements to our product concept, ensuring that it aligns closely with the needs and preferences of our users.

More cute pop-up chats! Clearly not afraid of doing my job

Product Development and Execution:

• Discovery doesn't end when you pick a formula or finalize a product. In fact, that's when the real iteration begins. Every new version of Kaia generated fresh feedback, which fed directly back into the next round of decisions. We treated each launch or test as a learning opportunity, not a final verdict. The goal was never perfection, it was momentum toward something better. I set up regular feedback touchpoints so we weren't going months without hearing from users. This rhythm of build → release → listen → improve is what separates products that grow from products that stall.

Build the team around your gaps

One of the most important things I learned as a founder is that self-awareness is a competitive advantage. I knew early on what I was good at: vision, customer discovery, brand, and equally important, I knew what I wasn't. Formulation, operations, supply chain, those needed people who actually lived in those worlds. Building a team isn't about finding people who think like you. It's about finding people who can do what you can't, and trust them to do it. The team we built around Kaia made the product infinitely better than anything I could have created alone. Surround yourself with people who complement your blind spots.

Grow through community, not just ads

The hustle was real, and I mean that in the most literal sense. In the early days of Kaia, growth didn't come from a sophisticated ad funnel, it came from showing up. Pop-up events. In-person conversations. Word of mouth from people who genuinely loved what we were building. Consumer brands, especially in the wellness space, are built on trust before they're built on traffic. Reaching 2 million customers didn't start with a viral campaign it started with making one person feel genuinely seen and served, and then doing that again and again. Build your community before you scale your spend.

Document everything, then share it

The reason you're reading this is because I made a decision to write it down. The late nights, the failed formulations, the breakthrough interviews, the moments of doubt and the moments of clarity, all of it is worth more shared than stored. I wanted to blog about everything I did and everything I learned along the way because I can't imagine a version of this journey where I keep it to myself. If you're a founder in the early stages, or someone thinking about starting something, I hope these steps feel less like a framework and more like a hand reaching back. Your journey is someone else's roadmap. Start documenting.