Orgain: Andrew Abraham

Andrew Abraham's personal experience with a life-threatening illness and his admiration for his father's selfless medical practice led him to launch Orgain, a successful brand of nutritional drinks and powders. originally intended to be an alternative for people recovering from surgery or cancer, Orgain unexpectedly became a popular lifestyle drink for people on the go. Andrew's determination to help others and his passion for emulating his father's work ethic led him to choose a career in medicine, but his success with Orgain ultimately led him to shift his focus to business. This conversation highlights the importance of personal experiences, inspiration, and adaptation in building successful ventures.

Life can take unexpected turns, even during seemingly positive and successful moments. Andrew Abraham's high school experience was filled with achievements and dreams for college, but it all changed when he discovered a lump in his abdomen. His diagnosis of rhabdomyosarcoma, a rapidly aggressive cancer, turned his world upside down. Despite initially optimistic prognoses, Andrew had to undergo intense chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery for a year. This challenging journey didn't just impact him, but also his family, especially his father who was diagnosed with kidney cancer on the first day of Andrew's chemotherapy. The conversation highlights the unpredictable nature of life and the importance of resilience in facing adversity.

Andrew Abraham faced an incredibly difficult year, undergoing chemo treatment while his father battled kidney cancer. Andrew's health deteriorated, resulting in significant weight loss. His doctor prescribed liquid nutrition shakes to help him gain weight. However, despite maintaining his weight with the shakes, Andrew felt terrible. Seeking hope and control over his health, he started reading books on nutrition and integrative medicine. This empowered him and gave him a renewed sense of control. He delved into 150 books that year, seeking as much knowledge and hope as possible. The main message he found was the importance of whole foods, fresh vegetables, and leafy greens in his diet.

Andrew Abraham's personal experience with nutrition during his battle with cancer made him realize the importance of being mindful of the ingredients we consume. Despite coming from a family of healthcare providers, Andrew and his family were not initially aware of the harmful ingredients present in conventional shakes. This highlights the general lack of emphasis on nutrition in medicine. Andrew's journey led him to explore a liquid diet consisting of organic fruits, veggies, and protein sources, which helped him feel better and gain energy. His experience inspired him to pursue a career in medicine and prioritize nutrition for his patients. This conversation underscores the significance of understanding the impact of our dietary choices on our overall health.

Nutrition and wellness were not given enough emphasis in medical school, according to Andrew Abraham. He realized this during his first year of residency and saw a need for a convenient and nutritious option for his patients. Existing options like Ensure did not meet his standards, so he began recommending homemade shakes made with a long list of ingredients. However, he quickly realized that this was not a feasible solution for most patients. This inspired him and his wife to develop a ready-to-drink shake called Orgain, which would provide organic protein, complex carbs, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Initially, starting the company was seen as a side business, while Andrew still planned to continue practicing medicine.

Starting a new business or venturing into uncharted territory requires persistence and a willingness to learn. Andrew Abraham's journey to create a ready-to-drink shake was not easy. He contacted numerous food scientists, faced rejections, and received outrageous cost estimates. However, he didn't give up and found a food scientist who became a valuable collaborator. Together, they conducted trials, experimented with different options, and overcame initial failures to create a delicious formula. This conversation highlights the importance of perseverance and taking risks in entrepreneurship. It also emphasizes the value of finding the right people to collaborate with, even if it means reaching out to random experts. Andrew's story teaches us that success often requires trial and error, but it can be achieved with dedication and the right support system.

Andrew Abraham faced numerous challenges in bringing his product to market but persevered through determination and resourcefulness. Initially targeting a specific demographic of individuals with GI issues or recovering from dental procedures, he realized the need to create a product that wouldn't spoil or go bad, and also had to navigate the complexities of packaging and marketing. Andrew relied on his own creativity to come up with the name "Orgain" by combining the words "organic" and "gain," highlighting the health benefits his product offered. Despite having only a formula and blank packaging, he took a risk by investing in a booth at a major trade show, Expo West. Andrew's commitment to showcasing his product paid off even though his booth was small compared to others, as people did stop and take notice, leading to the growth of Orgain.

Perseverance and a unique product offering can lead to unexpected opportunities. Despite feeling out of place and inexperienced at a trade show, Andrew Abraham continued to share his product's story with anyone who would listen. This eventually caught the attention of the global buyer for Whole Foods, who was intrigued by the innovative concept of a "better for you" nutritional drink. Andrew's readiness to share his product and passion led to an invitation to present to Whole Foods. This demonstrates the importance of believing in one's product, even if it doesn't fit the traditional market, and seizing opportunities that arise, no matter how unexpected they may be.

Andrew Abraham, despite facing challenges and lacking resources, believed in his product and its potential to transform the market. He demonstrated honesty and passion during his presentation, even without an elaborate PowerPoint or a fancy team. Despite receiving minimal feedback, he received a surprise call from Whole Foods, offering a national launch. This unexpected success led Andrew to scramble and find a manufacturer who could produce and package his nutritional shakes according to his specifications. Despite his lack of experience, he took bold actions, placing orders for tens of thousands of cases to meet Whole Foods' demands. This conversation highlights the importance of belief in oneself, perseverance, and the ability to seize opportunities when they arise.

Andrew Abraham faced numerous challenges in managing the production and logistics of his business. He struggled with longer lead times and had to merge different ingredients with varying delivery schedules. Additionally, he found himself navigating freight management platforms to arrange trucks for transportation. Despite these obstacles, he successfully secured financing for his venture through a unique side hustle involving custom car design and exhibition. This unexpected source of funding, along with a loan from his father, allowed him to finance the initial production run, which cost over a hundred thousand dollars. Andrew's resourcefulness and diverse skill set played a crucial role in overcoming challenges and propelling his business forward.

Andrew Abraham took a big risk by investing over a hundred thousand dollars to produce thousands of cases of Orain, a product he planned to ship to Whole Foods. Despite not knowing how much money would come back, he forged ahead. Andrew was simultaneously working as a resident doctor, with long and exhausting hours, including 30-hour shifts. When Whole Foods gave him a 90-day timeline to deliver the product for a national rollout, Andrew dedicated every waking hour to make it happen. He had no experience in the food business, but he relied on sheer willpower. Andrew managed to navigate the bureaucracy and logistics of working with Whole Foods by creatively filling out forms with his relatives' names and his own number.

Andrew Abraham faced numerous challenges and made significant sacrifices to launch his product, Orgain, and get it into Whole Foods. Despite being a one-man show and managing his residency as a doctor at the same time, Andrew dedicated every waking minute to his venture. His colleagues at the hospital thought he was crazy, as he was juggling multiple responsibilities, but Andrew was driven by a strong conviction to make Orgain succeed. With limited resources and no marketing expertise, Orgain was launched in Whole Foods and started selling successfully. The product exceeded Andrew's expectations and gained popularity beyond its initial target audience of sick patients and cancer patients.

Andrew Abraham's journey in launching Orgain was filled with challenges and uncertainty. Despite having a clear label indicating the benefits of the product, Andrew relied on Whole Foods customers to read the ingredients and understand its value. Launching Orgain while still completing his residency proved to be a demanding time, but Andrew remained committed to serving as a chief resident and continuing his medical practice. However, once Whole Foods placed a second purchase order, Andrew realized the potential of his product. With minimal expenses and working from home or coffee shops, Orgain quickly became profitable within the first 12 months. Andrew faced hurdles along the way, such as clumpy products, highlighting the learning curves and unpredictability he encountered in this entrepreneurial journey.

Taking risks is often necessary for success in entrepreneurship. Andrew Abraham faced a major setback when his certified organic product solidified on the shelf, leading to a costly voluntary withdrawal. Despite the financial impact, Andrew made the tough decision to proceed and adjust the product with the help of a food scientist. This required putting faith in the solution, as there was no guarantee of success. Thankfully, the adjustments worked, and the product was successfully relaunched. This experience highlights the importance of taking calculated risks in business, even when the outcome is uncertain. Andrew's willingness to take risks ultimately allowed him to overcome challenges and continue growing his business, Orgain.

Andrew Abraham's initial hesitation to hire someone and treat his business as a side venture limited its potential growth. Despite achieving a million dollars in revenue, Andrew believed he couldn't afford to hire help and thought he could manage it alongside his medical work. However, this approach became unsustainable as the business grew rapidly. Eventually, Andrew had to make a tough decision and prioritize his entrepreneurial journey over medicine. He faced resistance from his father, who couldn't comprehend why Andrew would choose selling milkshakes over being a doctor. Despite this, Andrew believed that he could help more people through his business and decided to take a leap of faith.

Andrew Abraham made the decision to focus full-time on Orgain because he saw the potential to reach and impact hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of people. Despite his father's initial lack of understanding, Andrew shared with him the letters and stories of cancer patients who relied on Orgain for nutrition, which eventually turned his father into the company's number one fan. Andrew's father saw the impact Orgain was making in people's lives and relied on the product himself during his last 18 months. When advised to expand the product line, Andrew trusted his gut and focused on perfecting chocolate and vanilla flavors before branching out. The conversation also mentions Andrew's first hires, starting with Todd, who helped with day-to-day operations and spreading the word about Orgain.

Andrew Abraham's decision to get an office after seven years of working remotely and achieving a revenue of at least 50 million dollars showcased the significant growth of his business. Despite having just three employees, including himself, in 2013, his company made the list of the 500 fastest-growing companies. The primary source of revenue for his business was Whole Foods, and Andrew identified a gap in the market for plant-based protein powder that tasted delicious. Although initially faced with resistance from Costco, he convinced them to try his innovative product, which led to its success and expansion into all Costco stores. Andrew's experience highlights the importance of perseverance, taking calculated risks, and providing unique solutions to capture new audiences. One decision he doesn't regret is going against the suggestions of others to not approach Costco.

Andrew Abraham's battle with cancer gave him an unfair advantage in life. He gained a unique perspective on the value of time and the importance of taking risks. This mindset influenced his decision to go after his business goals with determination and not settle for the safe option. Andrew's experience with cancer shaped his belief that life is short and that he has already won the game in his mind. This mindset led him to create Orgain, a company focused on providing organic protein options for everyday people. While there may be conflicting views on using powders as a healthy meal, Andrew emphasizes the importance of consuming clean and organic ingredients to achieve optimal health. After bootstrapping his company for 10 years, Andrew eventually sold a majority stake to a private equity firm. This allowed him to secure some financial stability after years of hard work.

Andrew Abraham, the CEO of Orain, sought a partner that would allow him to continue with what was most important to him while growing his business. Butterfly Equity proved to be wonderful partners in honoring his non-negotiables and supporting the company's growth. The majority stake acquisition by Nestle presents an opportunity for Orain to go global and expand their product line. However, Andrew made it clear that the quality and integrity of their products should never be compromised. He emphasized the importance of mutual respect and ensuring that their products remain accessible to those in need, offering free shipments to cancer patients who cannot afford their products. Despite the acquisition, Andrew remains passionate about leading the company and is committed to realizing its full potential. This conversation highlights the significance of finding the right partner and staying true to one's values and mission amidst growth and external changes.

Andrew Abraham attributes the existence and success of his company, Orgain, to his personal experience with cancer. He acknowledges that without going through that difficult journey, he wouldn't have become the person he is today or had the motivation to help others dealing with cancer. Andrew emphasizes that while hard work played a significant role in his journey, luck also played a part. He launched Orgain during the recession without knowing the challenges he would face. Despite working tirelessly and making sacrifices, he acknowledges the fortunate opportunities that came his way. Andrew believes that seizing those opportunities with purpose and gratitude contributed to his success.