90 on the Clock: Rawxies’ vegan treats
September 23, 2015 | Bobby Burch
90 on the Clock: Rawxies’ vegan treats
By John McGrath, KCPT, and Bobby Burch, Startland News
Ed’s Note: Flatland and Startland News have partnered to highlight Kansas City’s innovators and entrepreneurs, all in 90 seconds. This is the second episode in the five-part series.
Rawxies founder Callie England may best be defined by her tenacity.
England, who serves as CEO of the Kansas City-based vegan snack company, worked tirelessly in recent months to raise local funds — to the tune of $512,000 — that will accelerate her business. She moved her company from Petaluma, Calif. to Kansas City in 2013 and promised herself to build Rawxies with local support.
The company’s recent funding will boost manufacturing of its snacks by roughly 400 percent.
A Jefferson City native, England said when she was 20-years-old she grew tired of taking a cocktail of medications for her health. Even with the medications, she still felt ill and eventually sought out the help of a naturopathic doctor who put her on a plant-based, vegan diet. After noticing an improvement in her health, England’s dietary change eventually gave rise to Rawxies.
Rawxies now offers a variety of different flavors of vegan, soy- and gluten-free snacks that ship around the nation. Shaped as hearts, the low-sugar food bars are not heated above 105 degrees, preserving the ingredients’ natural enzymes to ease digestion.
Here are a few more nuggets from her conversation with Startland News and FlatlandKC.
On the challenges that led her to start Rawxies …
I was on about nine prescription pills when I was 20-years-old. I was fed up living a life based on my medication schedule so I sought out the help of a naturopath (doctor) and she put me on a vegan diet. Within two months I was off every single prescription medication.
On raising capital in Kansas City …
Raising capital in Kansas City is more about connections than it is your brand. It’s still your brand and it’s still your company, but it’s really about building a connection with somebody and the relationship that goes along with that.
On what the funding will go toward …
The funds that we’ve raised are going to be used towards building the back end of business. In order to meet the demands and the growth, we’re really investing in machinery that increases our output.
2015 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
If their shop smells like Travis Kelce at Christmas, these candle chemists called the right play
When the owners of Decori home and gift shop at the Village at Briarcliff suited up to create a Travis Kelce candle scent, they turned to their virtual assistant to help make the call. Alexa suggested a play on the “audacious, confident and powerful” scents of Creed Aventus. Three formulations later, partners Ralph Liebetrau and…
Downtown food hall hits closing time; Strang’s chef-driven concept leaving lightwell
Strang Chef Collective is serving its final customers within the food hall’s downtown space, said CEO Shawn Craft, announcing the lightwell location would close Tuesday “despite the company’s best efforts over the past year to keep it open.” The chef-driven concept — through which diners experience a mix of global and elevated comfort flavors —…
KC Daiquiri Shop closing Dec. 1; iconic duo behind the party vibes plans to ‘regroup, reflect, and rebuild’
The good times roll through the weekend at KC Daiquiri Shop as the well-known Mardi Gras-themed getaway on Grand Boulevard shuts down its years-long revelry. “This decision has not come lightly,” Kinley Strickland and Calvin Vick, owners of KC Daiquiri Shop, said Monday in a social media post announcing the business’ plans to close Dec.…
Side hustle to help autistic adults belong in the workplace earns young founder Student Entrepreneur of the Year honor
Grace Kertz is redefining what workplace inclusivity can look like with Sensory Sync, an AI-powered platform designed to support neurodivergent employees. Her work on the innovative venture on Thursday earned her the title of UMKC Student Entrepreneur of the Year. “Sensory sync is an enterprise grade DEI and wellness platform sold to companies. It utilizes…