204. Shizu Okusa, Founder & CEO of Apothékary

Today I’m joined by Shizu Okusa, founder and CEO of Apothékary, a
supplements company rooted in East-meets-West wisdom. 


After exiting her first business in 2019, Shizu set out to
disrupt synthetic supplements by launching a platform that makes
plant-medicine fun and accessible. Combining ancient ritual and
modern science, Apothékary’s adaptogenic blends trade chemical
ingredients for clean herbal alternatives.  


In this episode, we discuss Apothékary’s East-meets-West ethos.
Plus, we talk about bootstrapping growth, expanding into offline
experiences, and developing science-backed supplements.


In this episode, you’ll learn:


• What Shizu’s learned being a repeat wellness entrepreneur
• How Apothékary grew to $25M ARR sans venture funding
• Apothékary’s philosophy and process for product development


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Apothékary’s website: https://www.apothekary.co/
Apothékary’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/apothekaryco/
Shizu’s email: shizu@apothekary.co


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exclusive PR partner. More than just PR, they’re creative
storytellers and brand builders who actually understand the
health and wellness industry. Learn more and get in touch at
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Chapters:
(01:34) Shizu’s Background
(04:20) Learnings as a 2nd time founder
(07:37) Differentiation in a competitive industry
(11:08) Apothékary’s growth and capital strategy 
(15:46) Journey from $0 to $25MM ARR
(18:49) Current product offerings
(20:50) Apothékary’s retail business 
(24:12) How consumers discover wellness products
(26:40) Realizations from Shizu’s 7 day Vipassana Meditation
Retreat
(30:04) Expanding into offline wellness experiences 
(34:14) Working with investors that trust your vision
(36:56) Product development and clinical trials
(40:38) Conclusion