We recently connected with Rajiv Harry and have shared our conversation below.

Rajiv, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

Plant Bomb’s Mission is to be a bridge builder to connecting people to eating more quality Plant-Based Foods and inspiring them to live a healthier lifestyle.

Rajiv, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m a native of Portland, Oregon, and my journey into the culinary world started with a suggestion from my father. While I was struggling to find focus in college, he encouraged me to get a job to support my education and myself. My father, originally from Trinidad and Tobago, was passionate about food, flavor, and culture, and I grew up watching him bring Caribbean cuisine to life, both in our kitchen and at the local farmers market. His connections in the food industry helped me land my first job at a catering company. I was inexperienced and had few skills, but I embraced the challenge. That job marked the beginning of my culinary journey and sparked my passion for food. Over the next decade, I worked my way up to become a sous chef for one of the Northwest’s top catering companies.

Near the end of my tenure, I underwent a personal health transformation by investing in my health and fitness, a change that set me on a whole new life path. My dedication to fitness led me to incredible experiences, including meeting my wife. At a pivotal point in my journey, I made the decision to shift careers to help others experience the transformative effects of health and wellness, founding my fitness business, Embrace Change. Embrace Change is a Portland-based brand focused on fitness, nutrition, and mindfulness, promoting a holistic approach to health.

With a combined 20 years in the food and fitness industries, my passion for these areas inspired me to create Plant Bomb as a bridge for people to connect with whole plant foods and live healthier lives. Plant Bomb is a fully plant-based line of versatile sauces designed to make meals easier, healthier, and, most importantly, more flavorful. Plant Bomb meets at the intersection of Health and convenience. Our sauces aren’t just known for bold, unique flavors but also for what’s not in the bottle—no preservatives, fillers, refined sugars, or seed oils. I’m incredibly proud that, despite the societal barriers as a Black founder and the challenges of a global pandemic, I was able to bring Plant Bomb to life, create products that serve our customers well, and elevate the condiment industry.”

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

During the early stages of developing Plant Bomb, I had a co-founder who planned to provide the startup capital to cover the business’s initial expenses. However, before we even reached the marketplace, it became clear that the partnership wouldn’t work long-term, so we amicably parted ways. With my co-founder’s departure, I also lost the critical startup funds needed to develop the product. At the same time, the United States declared a global pandemic, effectively shutting down the country.

Suddenly, I found myself a solo founder with only an idea, a vision, and no funding to bring it to life—amid a nationwide shutdown. I knew I couldn’t let the idea of Plant Bomb fade. My passion and purpose were greater than the obstacles in front of me. Determined and resourceful, I started piecing everything together. I raised the capital needed to get the business off the ground, conducted research and development via Zoom, and worked in kitchens at a distance, masked up, doing whatever it took to make progress. With my other fitness work on hold, I used the extra time to fully commit to building Plant Bomb.

A year and a half later, despite all the challenges and the global circumstances, I was able to launch the brand publicly.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

When I became passionate about health and fitness, it prompted me to ask myself, ‘What is the most impactful next move I can make?’ I had been cooking for over a decade, and while stepping away from the culinary industry was a tough decision, I realized that if I hadn’t made that move, Plant Bomb wouldn’t exist today. My journey in fitness helped me clarify my mission: to make healthy food more fun, flavorful, and accessible.

Although I was no longer cooking in a restaurant, creating food that helps people live and feel better became a new source of joy and fulfillment. Every challenge and season in life has a purpose, and sometimes we have to lean into the unknown and take a leap, trusting that we’re on the right path. For me, that leap was both a turning point and a confirmation that I was following my true calling.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.plantbomb.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/plant.bomb/