Three years ago, Ricard Puigdemont ’s passion for food and a vegan lifestyle inspired him to start GrinGrin Foods with a mission to challenge the myth that vegan food is boring. As a vegan himself, he found that meat-free culinary was not given the attention it deserved. Based in Barcelona, he and his team were determined to create high-quality, flavourful vegan products that would leave a lasting impression on their customers.

As a solo founder, he invested his life savings and obtained a bank loan to start the business – only enough to cover the costs for a year, he had to turn to venture capitalists to seek additional funding. On February ’22, Ricard embarked on the daunting task of raising capital, a process that took 10 months to complete. Unfortunately, the war in Ukraine made things a bit more difficult, and he faced many rejections before finally receiving a positive response from one of the VCs. The investor agreed to provide 50% of the necessary funding, but the remaining amount had to be raised through a crowdfunding campaign – which they did, with GrinGrin exceeding its target in just 48 hours.

Ricard recognizes that even though it is not always possible to wait around for the perfect investor, choosing one that shares your vision, who understands your category and holds the necessary network to help you propel to the next level makes all the difference. We all know business is made of people, so looking at your investor as an extension of your brand is key.

He admits that the pressure of raising capital within a limited time frame was quite stressful, and having to juggle investment seeking with running a business was the hardest part. His advice to fellow entrepreneurs is to start the process as early as possible to avoid being burned out – and it’s crucial to remain focused on your vision, be persistent, and stay true to your values.

GrinGrin’s success is a testament to the power of determination, perseverance, and finding the right partner. Ricard’s passion for food and veganism, combined with his entrepreneurial spirit, has led to the creation of a thriving business that is challenging the status quo and making vegan food accessible and delicious.