What is See Farms?
See Farms sells high-end custom cuts of meat products that are pesticide, antibiotic and hormone-free, sold directly to health-conscious consumers and delivered straight to the customer’s door. Their goal is to find small farmers who still exist within Ontario and who are producing healthy food, then bringing that food directly to the consumer. Furthermore, they want to educate the consumer with respect to what is in their food and how their products compare to what is already out there in the marketplace.
Why did you start up your business?
Adrian Menzi, founder and CEO, grew up on a dairy farm. He has witnessed first hand how the industry has changed over time and how many small-time farmers have disappeared. On top of this, a lot of farmers continue to use unhealthy pesticides, hormones, fertilizers, etc.
See Farms is trying to create an online marketplace to promote farmers who are utilizing healthy methods in food production. “We really want to help promote the small time farmers, educate consumers that healthy options do exist and provide a healthier alternative to the current foods on the market.”
How did you get involved with EPICentre?
I was enrolled in Dr. Francine Schlosser’s Lean Startup course, where I was given an opportunity to start working on this business idea as a class project. The Lean Startup course took place at the EPICentre and I later found out about the RBC EPIC Founders Program. The program gives students and alumni an opportunity to get paid while they work on their business idea.
This gave me the opportunity to make some additional funds while working on my startup and I was able to turn my business idea into a viable business opportunity.
What does the future hold for See Farms?
Adrian envisions having a platform where multiple farmers can access See Farms via the web to promote their products. See Farms would perform due diligence on these farms to ensure that all requirements are met regarding the production of meat and vegetables. The platform will also allow for consumers to purchase food products online and products are then shipped directly to the consumer.
What advice would you like to share with local entrepreneurs?
If you have a business idea, you should definitely consider pursuing it. Organization and planning are of fundamental importance. You have to know your market and know your consumer. While you might think you know your target market, this can change once market research has been conducted, so you need to be ready to change gears in order to be successful.
There is a myth out there that suggests you need to take out thousands of dollars in loans to be successful. While it is true that every startup requires some kind of funding, there are many available options and resources that can help. Don’t be afraid to contact friends and family for help–you’d be surprised how many people will be more than willing to offer their assistance and support.
For more information about See Farms, visit their website or follow them on Facebook:
Website: http://www.seefarms.ca/
Facebook: http://facebook.com/SEEFarms
