I was walking on campus after a work out at the gym and I came across a poster: “BIG IDEAS CHALLENGE: win money to launch your big idea” it read.
THIS. This was just what Myles and I needed to take our business idea to the next level.
The idea for Coconut Whisk came to me only a week or so before that moment. The idea for a vegan baking mix company was still a baby at that point. I needed a sign or signal from the universe to keep pursuing this and I got exactly what I needed. It was validation. It was a sign.
One thing led to another and we found ourselves chosen as one of the six finalist teams. There were 30 deserving applicants and we were just happy to make it to the final round. From there on out, we were just fired up about the chance to compete.
On April 17th, we went home as the winner of the Food/Ag/Beverage Division and the winner for the Youth Entrepreneurship Fair. It was by far one of the best days for Coconut Whisk. We have a plan of action for our winnings and can’t wait to reinvest it into our company.
Today, I’ll be sharing what I took away from these past 3 months as we prepared for the Big Ideas Challenge. At the end, I’ll also be giving recognition to those who’ve helped us along the way.
Before you read ahead, check out this full video that we shared at the challenge!
Things I’ve learned from the Big Ideas Challenge
- Having a set due date for our business plan helped us stay accountable and working everyday. We didn’t think we could get our products ready and plan finished but that short time line kicked our butts into high gear so it was actually super helpful.
- The community is full of knowledge and insightful people. You have to make the effort to go connect with them. During our time prepping for the event, we met the most encouraging individuals and like-minded business owners.
- Writing out a map for when things are due on a big sheet and posting it on the kitchen wall is the best way to keep things organized. Seeing the big picture broken down into little steps kept us in check and purposeful.
- Money is a good motivator to start (sure), but the experience and connections made is priceless. Myles and I would do it all over again if it were solely for experience. We learned a lot about where we want to take our company, who we’re serving and what we’re about.
- At the beginning, Myles and I went back and forth and talked about if we should enter in this year or the next. But my piece of advice is to stop thinking and start doing. The voice in your head will always have a tint of fear (which is completely okay) but have a little faith and trust in the unknown. Life is a little more fun with some risk taking.
Before I wrap up this post, I want to give special thanks to a few people who’ve guided and encouraged us throughout this process. These are the ones who’ve given extra time and went above & beyond for Coconut Whisk and we wanted to simply acknowledge them for their efforts.
Yvonne Cariveau
Hannah Bretz
Heidi Wyn
Kelsy Willison
Channing Pick
Jackson Jones
Lisa Phillips
Amy Oberle
Liz Goodwyn
Maddie Fox
Kallie Kleinschmidt
Steven Kopelke
Kylie Feltes
Priscilla Yang
Kaia Forde
Kinsey Marie
Long Lam
Christine Olson
Brandon Poliszuk
Cha Her
And the list goes on!
Luck is when opportunity meets preparation. So be sure to be aware of those “aha” moments. Be mindful of that poster in the hallway, the idea that makes you feel electric, the expansive feeling when you’re creating something. The universe is softly speaking to you to take it and run. Take risks and trust that everything will work out. Win or lose, there’s always something to gain.
Thanks for reading this and following me on this journey.
xo
Bella
