Benefit Corporation Blog Series – A Happy Life
Ojala Naeem • March 19, 2014
Next in our series of Social Enterprise Stories we feature Vishal Patel. Vishal is the Founder and CEO of A Happy Life, a Wallingford, Connecticut based coffee roasting company that promotes happiness at home and throughout the world by profits to help farmers in developing countries live sustainable, happy livelihoods, coming up with ways to help customers bring more happiness into their lives, or finding the most environmentally sound way to deliver our products.
Why are you operating in Connecticut?
Having been born and raised in Wallingford, CT I wanted to start my company close to home.
Why did you decide to start a Social Enterprise?
After visiting Tanzania and other parts of Africa I realized there was a need to connect our wealthy market with their starving one. I wanted to create an entity that was going to help bring balance to the economic inequity between our society and undeserved ones such as Tanzania. Additionally, I wanted to create a brand that was going to help individuals realize happiness in their own lives regardless of where they came from.
What is the community you’re trying to have an impact in?
The main community we are trying to have impact in is in coffee growing communities in underserved countries around the world. We hope to help impoverished farmers create innovative solutions to the problems they face with the ultimate goal of creating a holistic and permanent end to poverty.
How do you/will you achieve that impact?
Using our profits from selling roasted coffee packaged in compostable 12oz bags we will help develop innovative solutions to improve healthcare, education, and entrepreneurship systems within each growing community. Additionally using, social media, creative packaging, and local events we want to create social movement designed around creating happiness in people’s lives today.
How do you balance purpose and profit?
We’ve decided to use 100% of our profits from selling coffee to help farmers in underserved countries because it was important to me that my company dedicate 100% of its resources towards accomplishing its mission and not be hindered by having to diverge additional profits to people that do not need it as bad.
What have been your biggest challenges thus far?
Our biggest challenge has been creating brand awareness. In a saturated market such as coffee it is difficult to differentiate and we have been working hard to create a brand that stands out.
What is the most rewarding thing to you about operating a social enterprise?
The most rewarding aspect of running a social enterprise is the freedom to innovate and create solutions to problems I see in the world. Being able to dedicate 100% of my energy towards solving these problems is a freedom I could not have in any other traditional job. I hope that my company, A Happy Life, will create this sort of environment for others as well.
Why do you want to incorporate as a benefit corporation?
Incorporating as a benefit corporation will allow us to create a corporation that will be able to effectively create change, inform the public of the change we are creating and preserve our mission in the DNA of our business.
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Transform Your Business This Fall: Applications Open for reSET's Retail Incubator and Digital Marketing Mastermind Programs Hartford, CT – July 17, 2024 – reSET, the Hartford-based entrepreneur support organization committed to nurturing businesses with a social mission, is excited to announce that applications are now open for two separate programs designed to help entrepreneurs grow with impact: the Retail Incubator and the Digital Marketing Mastermind. Both programs are set to run this fall, providing invaluable resources and mentorship to early-stage and established entrepreneurs alike. Applications close at midnight on July 21, with classes set to start mid-August and run through October. “Both of these programs were developed because of demand from our alumni and local entrepreneurs,” said Sarah Bodley, Executive Director of reSET. “The Retail Incubator has been popular with Hartford-area founders preparing for fall and holiday markets, or opening their own storefronts. We developed the Digital Marketing Mastermind to help local entrepreneurs build an online business presence and stand out in the online world.” Retail Incubator The Floor-Plan Retail Business Incubator is a partnership between reSET and Hartford-based Breakfast Lunch & Dinner, a community venture-building studio. Now in its fourth year, the program is designed to support product-based businesses in their stages of entrepreneurship. Participants will learn to understand customer needs, define pricing strategies, address key legal and financial topics, all to prepare their businesses for fall and winter markets. Entrepreneurs will gain insights from industry experts, access a supportive community, and receive practical tools to enhance their business acumen. For more information and to apply, please visit https://www.resetco.org/retail-incubator . Digital Marketing Mastermind The Digital Marketing Mastermind is tailored for entrepreneurs who already have a business and are looking to elevate their digital marketing efforts. This program will provide advanced strategies to boost online presence, engage with target audiences, and convert engagement into sales. Participants will learn from seasoned marketing professionals and peers, gaining the knowledge and skills necessary to thrive in the digital marketplace. Entrepreneurs interested in more information on the program and application should visit https://www.resetco.org/digital-marketing-mastermind About reSET reSET is a nonprofit organization in Hartford, CT, whose mission is advancing the social enterprise sector. reSET specializes in social enterprise ― impact-driven business with a double or triple bottom line. In addition to providing coworking space, accelerator, and mentoring programs, reSET aims to inspire innovation and community collaboration and to support entrepreneurs in creating market-based solutions to community challenges. reSET’s goal is to meet entrepreneurs wherever they are in their trajectory and to help them take their businesses to the next level. Visit reSET | Where Great Companies Grow (resetco.org). # # #
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