Founder Friday: Aishwarya Iyer, Founder & CEO of Brightland ☀️
Founder Friday is a content series from SuperAngel.Fund highlighting companies in our portfolio and the inspiring founders behind them.
In our 14th edition, we are featuring Aishwarya Iyer, Founder & CEO of Brightland, making consciously crafted, organic pantry staples sourced directly from family-owned farms in California.
In the ever growing world of emerging direct-to-consumer brands, the pantry is a $35B per year industry that has seen next to zero innovation. Brightland, however, is bringing new energy to the category, building the modern-day William Sonoma by developing healthy, clean, and transparent products for the next generation. The company’s lineup includes a series of California olive oils, fruit-forward vinegars, and raw and unfiltered honeys sourced from family-owned apiaries in California and Kauai, with plans to expand into even more products you’ll be hearing about soon.
Not only are the products healthy and delicious, but the brand is beautiful as well — shining through on the packaging, website, social channels, and online content, all of which has contributed to critical acclaim, including from The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, The Today Show, Food & Wine, and many more.
In addition to a robust DTC sales strategy, the products have made their way onto the shelves of retail and wholesale partners like Goop, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Anthropologie, Bloomingdales, and Bristol Farms. If you’re looking for THE perfect gift, these collections are a perfect place to start!
Describe your company in 5 words or less.
Aishwarya: Clean, conscious pantry staples.
What was your primary motivation for starting your business?
Aishwarya: To champion small, organic farms making amazing olive oil, vinegar, honey, and other pantry staples, create products that elevate the everyday, and inspire joy in the simple moments within people’s kitchens.
What piece of advice would you give an entrepreneur starting a business today?
Aishwarya: Don’t spend time looking at what other brands or people are doing - dig deep within yourself, because the magic will come only from you.
What do you love to do in your free time?
Aishwarya: Play with my dogs, COOK, read, and write.
What is the most interesting place you’ve visited recently and why?
Aishwarya: In Tamil Nadu, India - SVATMA, a historical heritage resort that is incredibly special to me, as it’s located in my ancestral home.
What is your favorite app or tool in your work life and in your personal life?
Aishwarya: Superhuman! It allows me to jam through my inbox in a way that I was never able to before I got it.
What do you believe is the most important skill or attribute of a successful founder?
Aishwarya: The ability to trust your instincts, time and again.
SuperAngel.Fund is an early stage fund that invests in Consumer, PropTech & Future of Work. The fund is led by Ben Zises who was the first investor and founding advisor to quip, Caraway & Arber. You can learn more at SuperAngel.Fund.
