Himanshu Shah is the Co-Founder of Saucee, a “brand new line of 100% organic sauces crafted to inspire people to eat more creatively. These flavorful, colorful sauces are locally made in the San Francisco Bay Area.” I found Himanshu through a mutual friend literally right as his Kickstarter campaign for Saucee was wrapping up, here’s a screenshot from today (3/14/13) showing their success!
I know you’re just getting started, but what has been your favorite aspect of being an entrepreneur so far?
The journey hands down. I am learning way too much and I still don’t know shit. It’s so much fun and it feels right. I have no idea what will happen beyond Kickstarter, but we’re just focused on doing it right and embracing where we are today.
What advice would you give college students who want to become entrepreneurs?
- Love college – explore and experience whatever inspires you
- Work hard – academics, friends, partners, professional development, organizations
- Stay creative – whatever that might mean to you
How did you decide on the location for your business?
Environment definitely matters to us. Find the place where you feel energized and motivated or explore ways to re-create it. For me, I just need to be in a city I love with my Macbook Air, Philz coffee and music. Our office is in San Francisco and we also draw lots of inspiration from Berkeley and the greater Bay Area.
What do you do when you’re not thinking about sauces?
Music keeps me energized and in a groove. I can listen to and appreciate any music that has a story behind it. It’s an experience and it inspires me to open up and channel myself into the things that I do. Right now, I am deep into YelaWolf’s music – truly a unique artist with raw talent and deep purpose.
Can you offer some tips for getting your project funded on Kickstarter?
- Open up your story and why this matters to you – be thoughtful about your campaign and don’t worry about your fears – if you truly believe, your network will too. And feel free to take your time to polish it. It’s such an incredible experience and a very emotional step – love it!
- Plan your outreach and distribution ahead of time – as soon you launch, hit it hard and don’t stop
- Stress test your numbers – think about every potential cost, hurdle or issue ahead of time, build it in to the numbers and be open with your backers about it – the community is there to support and they know how hard work these projects are to complete. Design a model that achieves your goals and remember Kickstarter is about more than just funds.
Pathik: Thanks for sharing those tips, Himanshu! I think one of the strongest features of the Saucee Kickstarter campaign was your video. Your and Mohit’s enthusiasm for this business was very apparent. Congrats again on getting funded and good luck!
If you want to get a hold of Himanshu, follow him on Twitter: @himanshu_shah
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