Stop Overthinking, Start Doing: How This Founder Left Her 9–5 & Launched a Viral Wellness Brand with Katie Wilson, co-founder of BelliWelli

Katie Wilson is the co-founder of BelliWelli, a wellness brand
transforming the digestive health space with delicious bars and
easy-to-take fiber supplements.​


Katie didn’t set out to start a wellness brand—especially not
from her kitchen. But after years of struggling with gut issues
and finding zero snack options that were both effective and
actually enjoyable to eat, she decided to take matters into her
own hands. At the time, Katie had built a successful career as
the Chief Dating Expert at Match, helping people find love for a
living. But in 2020, she and her husband Nick started
experimenting with fiber-packed recipes in their own home, driven
by Katie’s personal journey and frustration with the lack of
gut-friendly foods on the market. What started as a scrappy
kitchen project turned into BelliWell. Today, their products are
available in over 6,300 stores nationwide, including major
retailers like Target and Walmart.


In this week’s episode, Katie opens up about her very unexpected
journey from professional matchmaker to becoming the founder of a
gut-friendly snack company. Katie talks about the shamelessness,
self-belief, and resilience that is needed to succeed, and how
her corporate experience equipped her with the skills she needed
to take eventually take the leap. Katie opens up about the early
scrappy days—from acquiring Facebook groups to grow a community,
to launching her first product and fundraising during a
pandemic—all while managing life as a new mom. She also
dives into the power of co-founders with complementary skills,
the lessons learned from manufacturing challenges, why constant
product improvement and staying close to the customer are key to
building a lasting brand, and so much more. 


In this episode, we’ll talk to Katie about:


* Katie's early passion for matchmaking. [03:07]


* Shamelessness is a key trait for entrepreneurs. [07:13]


* Developing confidence during the early stage of her career.
[08:41]


* Moving to Dallas and working in Match. [14:31]


* Corporate experience can provide valuable skills for startups.
[17:05]


* Katie's gut health issues sparked her entrepreneurial journey.
[17:42]


* Building a community and acquiring Facebook groups. [20:34]


* Having co-founders with complementary skills is essential.
[25:58]


* The inspiration behind BelliWelli’s first product. [27:32]


* The early days of entrepreneurship. [30:42]


* Believing in the possibility of success. [31:44]


* Managing motherhood and business. [34:09]


* Katie’s first steps in fundraising. [35:36]


* Product launch and manufacturing challenges. [39:24]


* Continuous improvement should be a core business goal. [46:18]


* Insights from engaging with customers. [48:19]


This episode is brought to you by beeya: 


* Learn more about beeya's seed cycling bundle at
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Follow Katie: 


* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katiebostonwilson/


* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/belliwellihealth/


* Website: https://belliwelli.com/


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