Back to the basics
“What’s your culinary background?”
“Why did you start a popsicle business?”
“Have you been making these desserts at home a long time?”
No. To all of the above.
When I started this business, I had a ‘why’ for starting it. But I thought that ‘why’ would stay personal and close to the chest, not pertinent or relevant to customers. Even though I have asked dozens (if not hundreds) of founders this very question working in entrepreneurship since 2019, I somehow took for granted how much others would ask the same of me.
My answer varies based on the audience. Usually, I feel compelled to confess that I’m ultimately a bike nerd that wanted to start a bike business without selling bikes.
But repeatedly fielding this question has forced me to reflect more deeply on my why.
Why a physical, food business instead of a digital, distributed business, where my experience lies?
Why a popsicle business and not something else bike related?
Why is the bike aspect important?
I have deep respect and appreciation for where technology has gotten us. In fact, it’s why I moved to Austin in the first place. I was inspired by companies like Bumble for changing the conversation about gender dynamics with a dating app. Companies like Everlywell changing the conversation about health access with at-home test kits. Outdoor Voices getting people Doing Things together, outside, and loving how they feel and look while doing them.
And yet with all this innovation and forward progress, with the proliferation of access to cheap tools to supposedly make our lives simpler, we’re lonelier than ever. The Surgeon General issued a report about loneliness in 2023, calling it an epidemic.
Yes, tech is exciting, and connecting with folks all over the world is truly special.
But I fear we’ve forgotten the things that have stood the test of time. That despite modern efforts to negate or make obsolete, have instead persisted, evolved, even thrived:
Bicycles - the freedom to get around with just your body
Books - words passed down generation to generation, repeatable and distributable
Breaking bread together - sharing meals to share connection
Friendship - bonding with love
Love - love love love.
These are the things we must ingratiate ourselves in. For the sake of our shared humanity, we need to hold strong, cherish, and maintain the love for our families. The protection of our siblings. The unstoppable quest for romantic love and companionship. The mutually strengthening quality of enduring, loving friendship. The connection, loyalty, and protection of community. Honoring the legacy and lessons of our ancestors' lives.
Will selling someone a popsicle suddenly inspire them to be more connected to their community? Probably not.
But for me, sharing something made by hand, with real love and care and passion for delighting people, if done right once, and repeated as many times as possible, will it add up to something meaningful?
I’m here to find out.
