With over a decade of farming, Kendra decided to help disrupt the pain management game with elite athletes by providing a hemp-derived CBD line with co-founders. Mendi is revolutionary in changing the world choices of recovery and the status quo. They are based out of Portland, Oregon.

Can you tell our readers about your background?

Born in Seoul, Korea but grew up on the plains of Wyoming. I started farming for a heritage farmer in Humboldt County and decided to take my craft to southern Oregon where I started Oso Verde Farms, a large cannabis farm in the legal Oregon market. After 5 years of employing over 100 people and a buyout, I decided to help start Mendi, a sports CBD company.

What inspired you to start your business?

I have always thought it was silly that this plant is illegal. I saw the health, environmental, and regenerative assets of cannabis and thought how can the world think that this is the gateway drug? I have a passion for farming so I sunk myself into this career over a decade ago.  I knew that one day we would be having this very conversation around it.

Where is your business based?

Portland, Oregon

How did you start your business? What were the first steps you took?

Well, I can’t help but have grandiose ideas every day.  I am not joking.  I look at all the trends and also have that sense of what is going to work for people.  The first step is to have a plan, even if it’s not written out.  You just have to make that leap of faith and take that risk to fail. You have to eat, breathe, and live every moment of your business in the first 3 years, so if you have that kind of passion and obsession over it, you will start it. 

What has been the most effective way of raising awareness for your business?

Well, we are very grateful because the stars aligned for us as our first signed athlete Megan Rapinoe won just about every award in 2019 that any athlete can win! That brought us to the map but what has made our stay in the headlines are the teammates that I currently have.  You never know who is behind a company but our other co-founder Brett Schwager, Marketing Director Laura Arneson, and of course Rachael Rapinoe have worked so hard and have been so creative that it is hard not to see us. We have built a company that stands for so much more than CBD. Be bigger, be better.  I think when you put that in your imperatives and live by those words you will be heard.

What have been your biggest challenges and how did you overcome them?

When I answer this question, I am saying it in an analogy kind of way. I don’t really have anyone that looks like me or just have that familiarity right away.  This has always been an issue in my life, work, social settings, dating, etc. I don’t think about it too much because I think it can weigh down your thoughts and I am so thankful for the people that do not see me as familiar or they love that piece of me.

This sums up the biggest challenge in my life but what I have processed inside, I just know I have to be twice as good as everyone else. I think that fuel and strength have made me who I am and given me the drive that I have.

How do you stay focused?

Mendi CBD 25-50mg every morning.

How do you differentiate your business from the competition?

This is an easy question! We are not like any CBD company.  When we started this company the traditional ways of fundraising, starting, and even our core values are much different than any other CBD company.  We started by empowering people to choose a healthier solution for pain management. We also championed the underdog in every way possible. We left room on our cap table for women to have a seat at the table and be able to invest. Every person that wears the Mendi jersey has to have the same drive to be bigger and better than just a CBD company. 

What has been your most effective marketing strategy to grow your business?

We wanted to go in through the lens of the world champion athletes because they can speak to pain in every muscle, joint, and part of their body.  We think if our products work on them, it will work on us the common active person.

What's your best piece of advice for aspiring and new entrepreneurs?

START!  You just have to start and go! Do not be afraid to ask for help and talk to everyone.

What's your favorite app, blog, and book? Why?

App- embarrassing to say this but I love photos so I like IG.  I don’t read blogs much but I read the NY Times every day. Favorite book is hard to nail down just one-  The Kite Runner or Between The World and Me by Ta Nehisi Coates. 

Who is your business role model? Why?

Our investors The Oregon Sports Angels.  They are incredible advisors and have punched through so many barriers in their time.  They are the people who made Nike what it is today. They were the workhorses of the brand.

How do you balance work and life?

This is very difficult for me.  I tend to just work.  Now that I am married, Chelsea helps me remember to stop working!

What’s your favorite way to decompress?

Go to the ocean.  For some reason, I can relax and sleep.

What do you have planned for the next six months?

Mendi, Mendi, Mendi, and the outdoors!

How can our readers connect with you? 

Themendico.com