Founder Feature: Suzannah Raff of Cleo+Coco
Suzannah Raff, founder of Cleo+Coco, explains how her background in business strategy and frustration with ineffective natural deodorants led to a two-year R&D process focused on eliminating synthetic fragrances. She details the brand's 'super formula' using charcoal, magnesium, and probiotics to balance the skin microbiome, and describes the five-year journey from garage prototyping to a nationwide Whole Foods Market launch. Raff highlights the critical role of the Startup CPG community and Expo West in connecting with buyers, while noting operational challenges like the UNFI cyber attack that delayed the rollout.