From Humble Beginnings to the Future of Food with Denise Woodard of Partake Foods

Any person with a food allergy knows what it feels like to miss out on sweets. But when starting a business to fill that void, how do you get investors to believe in your mission? And how do you gain the trust of your intended audience? This week’s guest is Denise Woodard, founder of Partake, an allergen-free sweets company that Denise started because of her daughter’s many food allergies. In this episode, Denise discusses how her background helped her start her company, how she got investors to back her passion, and so much more. She also shares some amazing tidbits of information for all the Entreprenistas listening. “I wanted to create an inclusive brand that invited people with and without food allergies to enjoy. And I didn't feel like I was seeing that reflected. And so the name Partake came from this idea of me wanting people with and without dietary restrictions to be able to enjoy.” - Denise Woodard If you’re looking to take your business to the next level, join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey! This week’s takeaways from Entreprenista: Denise’s childhood introduction to entrepreneurship (3:38)Denise shares when and why she started Partake (4:36)Denise talks about the importance of branding (6:11)Denise shares where the name Partake comes from (8:37)How Denise marketed Partake in the beginning as a “team of one” (14:05)How much money Denise put into her business at the beginning (15:01)Denise shares in-depth about her fundraising process (24:53)What keeps Denise going on the hard days (29:31)What’s in store for Partake in the future (35:37)Rapid fire questions (37:50)How to overcome imposter syndrome (43:50)What being an Entreprenista means to Denise (45:35) Resources Mentioned: Google SuiteGoogle SheetsGoogle DocsGmail Our Favorite Quotes: “One of the things that I always tell entrepreneurs is that you have to have a really strong reason for why you're doing what you're doing, not to get famous or not to get rich.” - Denise Woodard“It's really important to know your business inside out, I think oftentimes, as women, we have to be twice as good. And so, know the business, know the numbers, know the vision.” - Denise Woodard“Work hard and be kind.” - Denise Woodard“I have the worst imposter syndrome. And as I talk to other women that I perceive as so successful, and so have it all together, and then realize that they're trying to figure out the work-life integration thing, and that they doubt themselves, I get a little solace in that.” - Denise Woodard Connect with Denise Woodard: Partake’s WebsitePartake’s InstagramPartake’s LinkedInDenise’s Instagram Denise’s LinkedIn If you’re looking to take your business to the next level: Join our Entreprenista League community of women founders! You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded Entreprenistas who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website and social channels, and MORE! Whether you’re looking to scale your existing business and want to make the right connections, or you’re thinking about finally taking the leap to launch your business, we’re here to give you access to a community of women who will celebrate your every step, and with whom you can share the candid reality of building a business from scratch. Join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you,