When new mom and dietician, Carmen Bautista, saw the lack of healthy options for her toddlers, she recognized that this is a gap that she could help fill. Introducing Plant Baby - a dairy-free drink specially designed to provide the right amount of nutrients your child needs to complement their diet. Made with a unique combination of natural ingredients for the growing body and mind.
The Small Business Centre of Barrie, Simcoe County and Orillia is proud to have Carmen in this year’s Starter Company Plus cohort. Not only has she had success in this program, but she has been recognized across the business community. Most recently, Carmen pitched her Plant Baby to a round of judges through the Henry Bernick Entrepreneurship Centre’s Further Faster Grand Pitch competition, where she came second out of nine businesses.
Read on through the Q&A to learn more about how Plant Baby came to be.
What is your favourite part about being an entrepreneur?
My favourite thing as an entrepreneur is that all my work is to achieve my dreams and not others’.
What inspired you to start a business?
I was inspired by the possibility of being able to offer yummy and healthy food options to my little one.
What products or services do you offer?
The first product I'm launching is "Plant Baby," a plant-based drink tailored for toddlers.
Where is your favourite restaurant?
My favourite restaurant is in my hometown, Guadalajara, Mexico. Yes, it's a tacos restaurant.
How did you come up with your business name?
We came up with the name Green Parenting because it helps identify a company dedicated to parents looking to feed their children in a healthy, organic and sustainable way - this is what the colour green represents for me.
What is a cause that you deeply care about?
Accessibility to healthy food for all children around the world.
What is unique about your business?
My business is unique because it will only offer healthy plant-based products specially designed for the growing needs of children.
Where do you see your business going in the next 12-24 months?
In the next 12-24 months, my business will be available throughout Canada, and we will begin the expansion to the USA and Mexico.
We will offer a variety of delicious and nutritious plant-based drinks, food and snacks for children.
What crazy activities do you dream of trying someday?
Personal: Visit one of the Seven Wonders of the World every year until seeing them all.
Business-related: Create the first plant-based infant formula that is soy and allergen-free (for babies 0-12 Months).
What do you hope to achieve through the Starter Company Plus program?
I hope to learn more about running my company successfully and gain more confidence in myself as an entrepreneur.
As a newcomer, I hope to network and learn from other people's experiences and journeys.
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To place your pre-order for Carmen’s organic plant-based toddler beverage mix with probiotics, check out her various sites:
Website: www.myplantbaby.ca
Instagram: @plantbaby.ca
TikTok: plant_baby