Seven finalists have been selected to compete for $22,500 in awards in the Fall 2020 Skandalaris Venture Competition. In anticipation of the SVC finals, on December 8, 2020, we are publishing a Q&A series with the finalists. Today's featured team is Gaia. 

About

Gaia aims to build a proprietary e-commerce platform paired with controlled environment distribution centers to localize the supply chain and handle the post-harvest B2C – marketing, sales, distribution - process. We plan to collaborate with local farmers and industry experts to build a comprehensive network of tools to optimize B2C flow and offer more detailed business insights. 

Industries: Ag-tech, e-commerce

Number of Employees: 2

Total Funding (as of November 2020): $0

What problem are you solving?

Food travels an average of 1500 miles from farm to table in the United States. The effects this has on the carbon footprint of food are tremendous. Despite over 2 million farms in the US, 80% of farms make less than $100,000 in sales/year as wholesalers and industrial farms have consolidated the industry. Many farmers do not have the capacity to handle the B2C side of their business and struggle to market directly to consumers. 

About the Founding Team:

• Dave Kanoff – A nomad at heart, I have made a career taking risks and seizing opportunities as a problem solver. Earning an undergraduate degree from Wash U in 2012, I have spent the last 8 years living in Israel and the Philippines before returning to Olin for my MBA (Class of 2022).  My previous work experience in tech-startups, where I gained expertise in launching new products/markets, building 0-1 teams/platforms/operations, and working as a problem solver for a private investment group in Asia, has fuelled my enthusiasm for entrepreneurship. I have returned to Wash U for my MBA in hopes of pursuing my entrepreneurial dreams.

• Rodrigo Rodriguez – A Problem-solver with an interest in strategy, innovation, and social impact. Before pursuing my MBA at Olin, I was the founder of a digital marketing agency that focused on providing services to international start-ups and amplifying social impact initiatives in Venezuela.  My entrepreneurial journey has also seen me focus on growing and scaling start-ups in Mexico and Venezuela. I'm passionate about discovering new ways to achieve growth, innovate, and generate a positive impact on every organization and community I work with.

What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned since starting your venture?

Starting your own business seems daunting. However, there are so many opportunities and resources that can help you build your venture. I never knew how much support there was. If you are willing to hustle and network, there are many resources available for budding entrepreneurs.  It’s been amazing how accepting and how many resources are available within the entrepreneurial community. Don’t be afraid to network!

What do you love about being an entrepreneur?

I love the feeling of creating something and solving problems. Being an entrepreneur enables you the freedom to work as a team to solve problems in areas you are passionate about. The journey to building out a product or business is always rewarding, irrespective of whether you fail or succeed. Each venture is an opportunity to learn and grow.

What words of advice do you have for those interested in starting a business?

Just go for it! Don’t get discouraged trying to come up with the perfect idea. The ideas you have on day one will continue to change as your business evolves. Too many people get stuck until they believe they have a perfect idea flushed out. If you are passionate about a business and have researched the addressable market, don’t get stuck making your concept perfect. Speak to as many people as you can to flush out your idea and get started. You’d be surprised how many resources there are in the entrepreneurial community that can help give honest feedback.  

2^nd essential piece of advice once you’ve started your business - feedback is critical when working on your own business. Do not take the feedback personally and get discouraged – especially when it’s negative. Use it to gain valuable insight into your business and propel you towards a better end product.