Founder Feature: Val Emanuel of Rif Care

The Startup CPG Podcast · 3 Jan 2025 · 34m · Episode 108

What this episode covers

Val Emanuel, co-founder of Rif Care, discusses building a sustainable feminine care brand using hemp fiber, detailing her journey from a talent agency career to securing manufacturing partners overseas. She explains how the company achieved early retail success with Erewhon through direct networking and highlights the critical importance of email capture workflows for DTC growth. Emanuel also shares candid experiences regarding bias in VC fundraising, advocating for grants and accelerators like Techstars and Jumpstart Foundry as viable alternatives for capital and support.

Mentioned

Companies
Erewhon, GOOP, Techstars, Jumpstart Foundry, Kickstarter, Unfi, Kimberly Clark, Procter and Gamble, TikTok, Amazon, Pinterest
Products
Rif Care, Midday Squares

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