Kara Goldin founded Hint, Inc. in 2005, inspired by her own health journey and the market's shift towards healthier beverages. After experiencing health issues post-pregnancy and a heavy diet soda habit, she discovered the benefits of drinking plain water. However, finding it bland, she began infusing water with fruit flavors at home. Her homemade fruit-infused water, free from sugar and artificial sweeteners, not only improved her health but also became popular among friends and family. Realizing the potential for a new product, Goldin pursued the idea of commercializing her fruit-infused water. Despite initial challenges, such as production issues and industry skepticism, she persisted. Goldin's entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to a healthier alternative to sugary drinks led to the creation of Hint Water, which has since become a successful brand distributed nationwide.
In 2005, Kara Goldin, alongside her husband Theo, founded Hint, Inc. during a period when consumer preferences were shifting away from artificially sweetened and sugary beverages towards healthier options like bottled water. This shift saw several companies attempting to capitalize on the trend by incorporating "water" into their product names, though many were essentially repackaging similar products under different guises. Kara's journey into entrepreneurship was sparked by personal health challenges. After three pregnancies in as many years and a successful career at America Online, Time, Inc., and CNN, she found herself 50 pounds overweight, with deteriorating skin health and severe adult acne. Despite seeking medical advice, the solutions offered to her focused on medication without considering her lifestyle, particularly her diet and exercise habits. This oversight led Kara to question the link between her diet, specifically her consumption of 8-10 cans of diet soda daily, and her health issues. Deciding against medication, Kara embarked on a self-imposed challenge to eliminate diet soda from her diet and increase her water intake to eight glasses a day. However, the blandness of plain water soon became a hurdle. Inspiration struck when she experimented with infusing water with slices of fruit, making it more palatable and easier to consume the recommended daily amount. This simple innovation not only helped her lose weight but also improved her overall health and energy levels. Recognizing the potential of her fruit-infused water, Kara began sharing it with friends and family, receiving positive feedback. Motivated by the lack of similar products in the market, she saw an opportunity to create a new product that could offer a healthier alternative to sugary and artificially sweetened beverages. Kara's entrepreneurial journey was not without its challenges. She had to navigate the complexities of the beverage industry, from experimenting with fruit essences that didn't meet her standards to exploring the possibility of scaling production through co-packers. Her experience at AOL, where questioning and learning were encouraged, contrasted sharply with the traditional beverage industry's resistance to innovation. Yet, Kara's belief in her product and her story of personal transformation fueled her determination. Hint's success in Silicon Valley can be attributed to Kara's authentic and relatable founder story, which resonated with consumers looking for genuine, health-conscious products. Kara emphasizes that entrepreneurship is not about being fearless but about facing and overcoming fears, a philosophy that has guided her journey with Hint, Inc. This approach has not only helped her confront personal and professional challenges but has also inspired others to embrace their fears and pursue their goals undaunted.
book.moreChapters
