On this episode of the VWS Pathfinders Podcast, Jenny talks to Aki Kaltenbach, a Canadian founder whose company Save Da Sea is making big waves with their carrot smoked salmon. Aki discusses the origins of Save Da Sea and how she swapped the small-town restaurant life of Whistler, British Colombia, for the jet-setting life of a London advertiser, only to ultimately wind up back home.

As a mother to a two-year-old, Aki talks about how providing a better world for her son fuels her work. She shares her views on customer service, why mothers make the best founders, and explains why she doesn't have a co-founder. She shares her plans for Save Da Sea and how she looks to break into the American market and snag a partnership with the big kahuna of the plant-based world Whole Foods.

This Cast Covers:

[0:38] Intro

[2:11] Background story and growing up

[6:00] Influence of Yelp

[6:53] Getting away from the kitchen

[9:00] Life in London and living a glamorous life

[11:17] Returning home

[12:29] A day at the Winter Olympics

[16:15] Plant-based industry in British Colombia

[17:58] How you got started

[20:13] Solo founder pros and cons

[23:00] Advice for mom founders

[25:30] Are women better investors?

[26:25] First pitch

[28:07] The 'I am a founder' moment

[29:19] Delivering product and babies

[30:45] Leaving a legacy and inspiring children

[32:28] Biggest mistake

[34:13] Conservative founders, being bold and taking credit

[35:51] Different investors in different markets

[40:35] What is next for Save da Sea?

[42:30] Why Save da Sea?

Follow Save Da Sea: 

Website: https://www.savedasea.com/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/savedasea/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/savedasea/

Follow VWS on: 

VWS Newsletter: veganwomensummit.com/newsletter 

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/vegan-women-summit/ 

Instagram: www.instagram.com/veganwomensummit/ 

Facebook: www.facebook.com/veganwomensummit 

Twitter: twitter.com/vegwomensummit

Aki's photo with President Joe Biden

Quotes

"Every customer, whether it is a Whole Foods or whether it's your local bodega down the street, they're equally important." - Aki Kaltenbach

"I was so downplaying everything we were going to do. My growth was really conservative ... my vision was super conservative, ... if wanted to raise, a decent amount, or any money, ... I needed to inspire my audience and be much bigger than I was projecting myself to be." - Aki Kaltenbach

"Part of it is this imposter syndrome that we all feel sometimes ... when I've been talking to fellow female entrepreneurs, they do tend to be much more conservative" - Aki Kaltenbach.