We were lucky to catch up with Raina Gardiner recently and have shared our conversation below.
Raina, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.
After experiencing several family health crises in early 2021, I felt compelled to find a way to incorporate healthy, healing foods into our daily meals. Drawing from my upbringing with Ayurveda, where spices were often the first line of defense against illness, I realized the power of using food as medicine. This realization was reinforced when I became a parent in 2013 and returned to the tradition of creating plant-based remedies at home.
Despite a successful career in various industries, I always felt drawn to functional medicine. As I delved deeper into studying plant medicine, I uncovered the profound impact of nutrition on our overall health. I discovered that many Americans suffer from nutrient deficiencies due to depleted soil and less nutritious food. This realization led me to understand the flaws in our food and health systems.
Recognizing the link between nutrient deficiency and chronic illness, I became determined to address this issue on a larger scale. Starting with creating nutrient-dense salt and pepper blends infused with ancient Ayurvedic formulations, I aimed to provide essential vitamins and minerals in a way that aligns with our daily cooking and seasoning habits.
However, I knew I couldn’t tackle this challenge alone. I believe in the power of community and collaboration. I’ve assembled a dedicated team and passionate advisors to support our mission of revolutionizing how we approach food and health.
Together, with the support of our customers and partners, we’re driving forward a movement towards healthier eating habits.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Raina is the founder of Spicewell, a food as medicine startup. She is also an advisor to Google X, a partner at The Fund LA, an early stage venture fund where she leads healthcare and consumer deals, and CEO of Juggernaut, a digital and organizational transformation bureau. She worked in the Obama administration and served on the Biden transition team. She holds her Series 63 and 82 Licenses for private placement where she helps Climate funds. She served on the Biden-Harris transition team overseeing US Global Media’s tech strategy (Voice of America, Radio Free Europe, Radio Free Asia etc). She is a Member of the Ad Council’s Issue Advisory Board and a mentor at Tech Stars LA. In the past she has led strategy and investments for the Technology Ethics portfolio at Omidyar Network and co-founded Mavin, an app engagement platform. She served in The Obama Administration as Co-Director of Innovation at the BBG, and with the U.S. Department of State. Prior to that, Raina led Digital at Wieden+Kennedy New York and spent over a decade in advertising at BBH and R/GA. Raina holds degrees from Boston University, NYU’s ITP and the Harvard Graduate School of Design.She is one of Fast Company’s Most Creative People in Business and creativity is her through line. She serves on the board of Data & Society and Eat Real.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
I’ve spent my whole career pivoting. I love a good pivot – sometimes its because you can sense a great opportunity and that possibly staying where you are would be limiting. Other times you have to just take the leap into a new role, a new industry and a new thing.
Can you open up about how you funded your business?
Fundraising in good, bad and ok environments still requires the same two things: a good network and thick skin. With both of those things, you will be able to raise for anything anytime.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.spicewell.com
- Instagram: @spicewell
- Facebook: Spicewell
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/spicewell/
- Twitter: @spicewell
- Youtube: @spicewell
- Other: Tiktok @spicewell