Founder Friday: Vanessa Dawson, Founder & CEO of Arber 🪴
Issue #18
Founder Friday is a content series from SuperAngel.Fund highlighting companies in our portfolio and the inspiring founders behind them.
In our 18th edition, we are featuring Vanessa Dawson, Founder & CEO of Arber, the world’s first Plant Wellness company designed to nourish green spaces and empower home gardeners.
As a serial entrepreneur and startup advisor, it was rather clear that Vanessa had a passion for sustainable growth…but who knew she was going to take it so literally! Shifting her focus from nurturing early stage companies to supporting and caring for plants, Vanessa is helping to revolutionize the way we care for our gardens. Arber’s products not only help take care of plants, but the earth as well, with a suite of organic (non-chemical) solutions.
While the global pandemic raged and she became pregnant with her first child, Vanessa turned to gardening to deal with the mounting stress of impending parenthood and a world under constant strain. She realized how difficult it was to find plant-care products that were simultaneously effective and nontoxic. To bring a product to market, Vanessa teamed up with Dr. Pam Marrone, a renowned entomologist with 30 years of experience as a biological scientist, and one of only 22 women to take a company public.
Arber launched on April 22, 2021, quite appropriately on Earth Day, and instantly captured the attention of consumers, press, industry veterans and big box retailers like Walmart, where they are already selling in more than 2,500 stores across the US and online.
The company’s mission is to “garden like the world depends on it” and with that mindset, we know that Arber’s rapid growth is assured right alongside all of those beautiful home gardens.
Describe your company in 5 words or less.
Vanessa: Plant wellness for all gardeners.
What was your primary motivation for starting your business?
Vanessa: The home-gardening and plant care market has not changed in over 30 years. It's dominated by synthetic chemicals and green-washed products that are harmful for people, pets, pollinators and the planet. We are bringing the most efficacious, safe and easy to use products to gardeners across the US. By focusing on preventative care, we are reinventing the notion that you need to kill everything to control plant problems.
What piece of advice would you give an entrepreneur starting a business today?
Vanessa: Your first company or idea will not be your last so don't sweat the failures. Focus on trial and error and always keep learning.
What do you love to do in your free time?
Vanessa: Free time? I like to spend as much time in nature as possible. Away from my phone, computer and technology.
What is the most interesting place you’ve visited recently and why?
Vanessa: We spent a lot of time in Hawaii during COVID and got the opportunity to visit a number of amazing family run farms. The hydroponic and aquaponic agriculture scene was fascinating. Many of these facilities are using 90% less water than traditional farms and powering their greenhouses with solar energy.
What is your favorite app or tool in your work life and in your personal life?
Vanessa: Google Drive & Slack.
What do you believe is the most important skill or attribute of a successful founder?
Vanessa: Ability to surround yourself with people smarter than you and not being afraid to ask for advice.
SuperAngel.Fund is an early stage fund that invests in Consumer, PropTech & Future of Work. You can learn more at SuperAngel.Fund.
