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✨ Welcome to the Wilder Possibilities Podcast with Shelton Wilder! 🌟 Each episode we dive into the transformative moments that ignite entrepreneurial journeys—the moments when everything suddenly clicks. We call it “the click.” Today, I’m beyond excited to share a dynamic conversation with Katie Wilson, founder and CEO of Belly Welly, an innovative gut health brand revolutionizing the food space. 🎙️
Meet Katie Wilson: Matchmaker Turned CEO 💥
In this episode, Katie and I reminisced about our history. Fun fact: she was my third real estate client when I was just starting out, and I was carting my 2-year-old to house showings! Katie’s story is one of pure hustle, beginning with a 12-year-old’s dream of becoming a professional matchmaker (seriously, who dreams of that?!) and her early summers interning for matchmakers in LA. 🌴
Katie was already a “connector” back in the day, matching high school teachers and random people. Her career began at Hulu during its startup phase, where she was inspired by the hustle and grind of the tech industry. But matchmaking kept tugging at her heartstrings.
After a wild ride that even saw her matching celebrities (yep, that happened!), Katie shifted gears, eventually finding herself creating something that would truly change lives: Belly Welly. 🍫💡
Katie’s ‘Click’ Moment: From Gut Issues to Gut Solutions 🥴➡️💡
Katie didn’t come up with Belly Welly on a whim. Like many life-changing businesses, it was born from a personal struggle. After getting food poisoning in Cabo, her gut health spiraled, leading to long-term IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome). Katie and her husband, Nick, decided to find a solution—enter food scientists, a dietician, and endless batches of what would eventually become the Belly Welly bar. 🍪
“I just wanted a chocolate chip cookie I could actually eat,” Katie remembers. The search for that perfect gluten-free, dairy-free, and gut-friendly cookie turned into a full-fledged business! Nick wasn’t just along for the ride—he hired professionals to help craft the perfect recipe, all while Katie built a 500,000-member strong online community of people suffering from similar gut issues. 💬👥
Building a Community—One Facebook Group at a Time 💻
Katie’s entrepreneurial spirit truly shone when she decided to join and then buy Facebook groups dedicated to gut health. 🛒 “I was up at 2 AM thinking, why don’t I just buy these groups?” Katie jokes, but it wasn’t a joke! She sent letters to the admins and offered to take over as a community leader. Before long, she had a massive, engaged audience who trusted her advice.
A Cookie Leads to Belly Welly—and 10,000 Orders Overnight! 😱
Once the Belly Welly bars hit the market, the response was overwhelming. The community had been waiting for a product that met their dietary needs. Katie and Nick woke up to 10,000 orders overnight. Can you imagine that? 🚀 But with great success comes great responsibility, and the couple found themselves working 24/7, often with the help of family, to keep up with demand.
Katie is a testament to the power of community. By tapping into her Facebook group audience and listening to their needs, she found product-market fit in the most authentic way possible. 💬💡
Taking the Leap: Raising Venture Capital and Scaling Up 📈
Katie’s business savvy didn’t stop with bars. When she realized the potential of Belly Welly, she began the daunting process of raising venture capital—something she’d never done before. With guidance from an unlikely LinkedIn connection (yep, matchmaking skills came in handy again!), she secured her first $250,000 in investment and never looked back. 💼💸
Launch of Belly Welly’s Fiber Powder in Walmart 💪
Katie didn’t stop at bars. Belly Welly expanded into fiber powders that launched in Walmart—and sold out in just 48 hours. The product was a hit! 🎯 With TikTok videos going viral and community engagement skyrocketing, Belly Welly’s growth was undeniable. Katie and her team didn’t just rely on traditional marketing; they got creative and got out into the stores to interact with real customers.
The Power of Showing Up 💪
Katie’s entrepreneurial journey is a masterclass in the power of showing up. “You do get points for showing up,” she says. Whether it was knocking on matchmakers’ doors as a college student or showing up in Walmart aisles, Katie’s consistent effort has paid off in ways she couldn’t have imagined.
Key Takeaways for Aspiring Entrepreneurs 🎓
- Get Out of Your Comfort Zone: Whether it’s showing up in Walmart or buying Facebook groups, Katie proves that stepping outside of the norm can lead to unexpected success. 🚶♀️
- Tap Into Community: If you’re building a brand, engage with your audience. The more you listen to their needs, the better your product-market fit. 👂📲
- Consistency is Key: Relentless effort, like Katie’s 21-day Walmart spree, is what transforms an idea into a thriving business. 💯
Stay tuned as Belly Welly continues to grow—because trust me, we’re just getting started! 🎉 You won’t want to miss the next big thing Katie has up her sleeve!
Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more incredible entrepreneurial stories! 💬👇 #GutHealth #BellyWelly #Entrepreneurship #WilderPossibilities #StartUpSuccess
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