In Founder Focus we introduce entrepreneurs and change-makers working on innovative startups, social enterprises and SME’s around Aotearoa New Zealand.
At a glance
Founder: Olivia Faid
Business: Balance Me
Founded: 2020
HQ: Otago
Can you tell us a bit about your business?
Balance Me is a plant focused food manufacturing and education company. We focus on meeting our customers where they are in their health journey and support them to build their inner health toolbox by increasing their diversity. Diversity in the health pillars: Nutrition, Community, Education, Movement, and Environment.
We do this by providing a weekly meal delivery, wholesale retail products, educational events, and by providing nourishing balanced meals to a retirement village.
We do this as there is a massive disconnect between how we live our lives and how this affects our health. So many people when dealing with a pain, niggle, or health struggle the first question that is asked is “what supplement should I get” When it should be “what foods have _ in it?” or “how can I get more __ naturally in my life”.
We are trying to reconnect people with their inner health toolbox, to understand what its missing from theirs and how to refill it themselves daily.
What’s the backstory for your business idea?
I honestly believe Balance Me started when I was a young girl, I wanted to be a chef or a teacher and I wanted to help people.
Our family were very connected with how food affected our health but other health pillars were forgotten. When my dad passed away at the age of eleven I started to question everything health related, however, my passion and curiosity for people and why our bodies do what they do never waivered.
As my experience with people developed I realised that behaviour (energy levels, confidence, clear thinking, problem solving) was impacted through food (nutrition), who was around them (community), and where they were (environment). This led me to study psychology with a background in nutrition. While studying I nannied and supported families to introduce more diverse foods and education into their life. This was in 2020 and our business has organically grown since.
What programmes, learning or mentoring, or resources have been of assistance so far?
I did a three month business planning intensive with Chris Lanigan from Think Nudge to create some structure and planning to grow and align Balance Me. Outside of that I enjoy listening to podcasts and reading.
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