16. Kathryn Shah: Exploring a world of sweet beyond sugar with Spring & Mulberry

Kathryn Shah is the co-founder and CEO of Spring & Mulberry, a new food meets wellness brand comprised of date-sweetened chocolate bars that are topped with beauty & fantastic for you ingredients, from mango Urfa chili to lavender bee pollen, all with 0g added sugar.

The inspiration for the brand is a really personal one. A trip to Dubai on the way to meet her husband's family in India opened Kathryn's eyes to the beauty & pleasure of dates and dried fruits, no longer relegated to the bulk bins of American grocery. Fast forward a few years later and a cancer diagnosis in her early thirties caused Kathryn to quit refined sugar and explore the healing power of food. With nothing to satisfy her sweet tooth, she started experimenting with the dates, nuts, and cacaos that are now foundational to the product line.

On today's episode, Kathryn talks about the path that led her to test-cooking recipes in her kitchen, how to woo emotionally and sell rationally, the importance of finding a co-founder that compliments your skill set, along with a plethora of helpful tips she's learned along her journey to bringing Spring & Mulberry into the world. This is my first founder episode, and I am so happy to share it with you today. Enjoy!