Seoul Tonic: Bootstrapping a Wellness Revolution

Update: 2024-09-03

Description

In this episode of Give It A Nudge, Steve sits down with Sophie Hood, founder of Seoul Tonic, to explore her journey of creating a unique health tonic inspired by South Korean traditions.

Sophie shares her story from starting in consulting and finance to diving into the world of consumer health products. She discusses her fascination with Korean skincare, which led her to discover traditional ingredients that help with alcohol metabolism and liver detoxification.

Timestamps:
01:17 - Quick pitch on Seoul Tonic
01:43 - Sophie's inspiration from South Korea
03:12 - Transition from consulting to Moet Hennessy
04:52 - Experience at Moet Hennessy and Red Bull
06:29 - Starting Seoul Tonic and creating the product
09:59 - Finding the right manufacturer during COVID
13:10 - Distribution challenges and initial marketing
15:59 - Winning Gordon Ramsay’s Food Stars
21:04 - Expansion into international markets
25:35 - Bootstrapping the business and maintaining equity
30:26 - Future plans and new product launch

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