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Dr. Roshini Raj
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Colin Walsh
Hey everyone, welcome back to Founder Story. Today is a very important and special episode because we're going to talk through some topics that are very near and dear to my heart. Skin care, skin health, building a business and gut health. I mean those are like maybe three things. And that's why I'm excited to have the co founders of Yay day, both the CEO Colin Walsh and Dr. Roshini Raj. Thank you so much for joining us today. Let's just dive into first, how did the two of you team up to create this company and why, why is gut health even important to you?
A great question. I'll give a little bit and then of course I'll pass it over to the good doctor. So Roshani and I have our roots most recently together in beauty. And Roshni is the founder of Tula Skincare and I'll let her tell that story from probiotics and skincare and how that works. And I've been in the beauty business for the past 20 years and currently the CEO, especially beauty at Procter and Gamble. In inside that division is the brand I was leading, previously called Ouai, a haircare brand founder led and Tula. So quite literally at a dinner about a year and A half ago, Dr. Raj and I sat across from each other talking about the dream of Yay day and what it could be. So that's how we came together.
Dr. Roshini Raj
Yeah, I'll, I'll jump in there. So exactly as, as Colin said, I well, I don't know if you said it, but I'm a gastroenterologist. That's sort of my, my first, first love, first profession. But I ended up by a kind of strange and random route in the beauty World co founding Tula, which is a probiotic based game. And Caroline. And that came about really because I was just always passionate about the microbiome and this concept of good for you bacteria that was really new when I first learned about it almost 20 years ago and then started to think about the connections between probiotics and skin health. Met two of my now co founders of TULA who were very experienced in the beauty world. And we decided together that this would be a great idea, you know, applying probiotic extracts to the skin with all the benefits that that could have. So that's how TULA was born. It was my first entrepreneurial journey. This was over 10 years ago. And then had an amazing ride with Tula. Really learned so much about business and also just customers and, you know, marketing and packaging and colors and all these fun creative things that I didn't really get to do in my gastroenterology life. And then we sold Tula to P and G, which is where Colin came in. And. And then I found myself thinking about what's going to be my next entrepreneurial step. And, you know, I really wanted to go back to my roots as a gastroenterologist and go even deeper back into gut health. And I was thinking about what, what is that gonna look like? Is that a gut healthy beverage? Is, is it a food product? And then I met Colin and we started talking and he had already been thinking about and thinking about with his brother, actually developing a next generation prebiotic fiber product that really addressed not only gut health, but the gut mind connection. So incorporating magnesium as well. And once we started chatting, I think it just immediately made perfect sense to both of us that we should join forces. We were kind of, it was like the perfect marriage or maybe the threesome marriage with his brother as well, and really get in there because we're all so passionate about gut health. And this is answering the second part of your question. Why is gut health so important? You know, I have my book right here behind me called Gut Renovation, which I published a couple of years ago. But really the, the entire inspiration for the book is how we now know how your gut microbiome helps affects every aspect of your health from head to toe. And that could be mood, it could be immunity, it could be metabolism. And for that reason, it's so important to optimize the balance of your microbiome and keep it healthy. And, you know, thinking about what things people can do to make sure they're having a good balance fiber. And having an adequate fiber intake is probably the number one most simple thing you can do. And yet over 90% of Americans are not getting the adequate recommended amount of fiber. So we thought this was a great first step to address gut health, the microbiome, and also the gut mind connection by adding magnesium, which we know is amazing for sleep, for mood, for all the, for stress, all of those things as well.
Colin Walsh
Well, a lot of people don't know this about me, but when I was 22 years old, I had a colonoscopy and it was very odd. When you're done with the colonoscopy, you have to let the gas out.
Dr. Roshini Raj
Yeah.
Colin Walsh
And all these young nurses are around me and everyone else there was very old but me at that time. And I thought it was very embarrassing. But I've suffered from many gut health issues throughout my life, so I've had to learn about these things. I had to, you know, have Metamucil when I was a teenager. It was very embarrassing. But I, I am curious cuz I don't think a lot of people even understand, like what even is gut microbiome, like what actually is it? Uh, and then I would love to dive into pre, you know, probiotics and everything else, but can you just give a, a simple explanation about what even is this?
Dr. Roshini Raj
Yeah, a hundred percent. So your gut microbiome is this community of organisms that lives within your gut. And when I say your gut, we're talking about your digestive tract, but more so I'm talking about your large intestine or your colon. That's where most of our bacteria reside. And so we have, you know, trillions of organisms living within our bodies. Many of them are good for us and beneficial. Some of them are not so great. And so you want to make sure that within your microbiome you have more of the good ones, a healthy balance where the good bacteria outweigh the bad bacteria. So that is literally what your microbiome is, this community of organisms within your. Living inside of you. When we talk about what can throw it off balance, you know, one of the sort of more obvious ones is something like antibiotics, because that can really wipe out your good flora, your good bacteria, allow bad bacteria to grow, can really cause a disruption, what we call dysbiosis or an imbalance of your microbiome that can lead to not only digestive symptoms, things like bloating or bowel irregularity, but also more systemic issues like mood issues or immunity problems, all sorts of other things. So you really want to keep that balance strong and healthy. And that's where things like prevent probiotics and prebiotics come in. So a probiotic is a beneficial bacteria. It's a bacteria that offers some benefit to your health and you can get that through foods. So fermented foods contained through biotics, yogurt with live and active cultures, kimchi, miso, tempeh, sauerkraut. These are some common sources of probiotics. And then prebiotics, if you think about the good bacteria in your gut, is beautiful flowers in a garden. Prebiotics are like the fertilizer that you're sprinkling on those flowers to help them grow. So prebiotics, which are usually fiber based, those serve as fuel or food for your good bacteria. So that's why with Yayday, we created this prebiotic blend of psyllium husk as well as oat fiber, flaxseed, many different types of fiber that really foster the growth of healthy bacteria. That's what a prebiotic is. Now sometimes you might see a combination of a probiotic and a prebiotic in a supplement that's referred to as a symbiotic. And then lastly, one term you may have heard is called a postbiotic, which is when you have the live bacteria and it's killed, but the active metabolites within it are released and they can still serve positive, healthy functions. Those extracts are called postbiotics.
Colin Walsh
That is the most thorough explanation I've ever had. So I appreciate that because I don't think, you know, sometimes we use terms and we take things, but we have no idea what it even really is and we're too embarrassed to ask. So thank you for that. That doctor.
Dr. Roshini Raj
And I want to point out one thing you said that struck me because this is also part of our motivation for Colin and I with Yay Day because you talked about taking Metamucil as a fairly young, you know, teen or, or in your 20s and how it was kind of embarrassing. And that's partly what we really wanted to do with Yay Day is reinvent this entire category of fiber of gut health, of prebiotics, probiotics. Because really, you know, currently a lot of the available products do have this kind of older, sort of boring, not fun, not glamorous, you know, aura about them. And I have so many patients that I recommend fiber to and many times they don't follow my advice either because it tastes terrible, it causes a lot of bloating, or they just feel like, I'm not 90 years old. Why do I have to take Metamucil every night? You know, so we Wanted to make this something that seemed like fun, positive, you know, and just something more. More attractive overall as a. As an offering. And that was definitely part of our motivation.
Colin Walsh
It definitely looks way more attractive than Metamucil. You want, right? I do have to say you're branding.
Dr. Roshini Raj
The other brand, but thank you.
Colin Walsh
Your brand. Yeah. Your branding is on point. So I am curious, Colin, from your perspective. Um, I would. I personally would say the beauty industry is one of the most competitive industries because so many people are doing it. Every celebrity, like, everyone has a skincare brand or skin health, and then people are doing any. Something related to health, maybe a supplement. So somebody from your perspective, how do you look at the market knowing that the amount of competition is so fierce?
It's such a good question. I think a couple of things from my standpoint. One, first and foremost, we wanted to have a product that we knew from an ingredient standpoint was based on science and performed in very. And that's where the dream I have is partnering with Dr. Raj to have that expertise and understanding that we can formulate like that as a. Both a customer. The other thing I was very passionate about is that we could get a result. So many things in the wellness space promise maybe you'll live longer. Check in in 10 years and let me know if that's true. In so a lot of hyperbole, we wanted real, proven results, ingredients that could deliver real results. So with the promise of Yay day, quite immediately, people feel the benefit of magnesium on that first night with a deeper sleep with prebiotic fiber in the digestive enzymes, they have no bloating. They really help flourish that gut microbiome. And within a day or two, most people have a really incredible morning movement. And so I think from a customer standpoint, if you could optimize sleep and poop, you've really touched on some of the most magical, powerful things that I think can get lost in the chaos of the wellness industry. So wanting to have core benefits, and then to Dr. Garage's point, we wanted to approach the brand with levity, with joy, with empowerment. It's called Yay Day as this idea to help you live your best life every day. That's my selfish goal. It's our selfish goal as founders. We try to create that with our team. And that's what we want every customer to feel, is that you can feel your best. You have the opportunity, then, wow.
I mean, I want to go to bed at night knowing I'm going to have a great sleep, and I want to wake up knowing I'm going to have a great poop. Those are things that I personally really think about. So. And I think a lot of people do think about that. By the way, magnesium changed my life. It really changed my life. I didn't sleep for many months. So I can relate to the fact.
Daniel
Of how important it is.
Colin Walsh
Can you dive into what is it that like, why does magnesium have this impact on sleep? And then when I, when I took certain magnesium, I get the craziest, most vivid dreams. Sometimes I wake up, I'm not even sure if I was dreaming or if I was alive.
Dr. Roshini Raj
No, it's interesting. I mean, magnesium and you know, there are different forms of magnesium and some of them are better for things like constipation or other things, and some are specifically designed for sleep. And magnesium glycinate is what we use and that's the one that's best absorbed and most effective for a good night's sleep. It's not 100% clear what, why magnesium helps with sleep. And there's some theories about how it may affect melatonin production or, you know, in terms of influencing your sleep cycle. But it has been shown to help with sleep, both inducing sleep and helping you maintain a longer duration of sleep. And it also has been shown to have a calming effect in terms of sort of anxiety and stress and that kind of thing, which can also keep you awake if you're, if you're feeling that before bed. So it has that dual effect on both sleep and mood, which we thought was so important. And we know that there is a sleep gut connection. So if you are having insomnia or disrupted sleep, it definitely can negatively affect the balance of your microbiome. There are studies looking at medical students, for example, who were on a three week night shift. So they were working nights for three weeks. Of course, their sleep cycle was totally disrupted. And they did studies of their microbiome using stool samples before and after the three week period. And they saw a significant, you know, negative shift in terms of where their microbiome was going after that sleep disruption. So we know that sleep and your gut are very interconnected. And so we wanted to really optimize it from both ends with the, with yay days prebiotic fiber as well as the magnesium component.
Daniel
Literally both ends.
Colin Walsh
I really like, this is amazing. No, I love the fact that you're, you're combining multiple things because I feel like it used to be you had to get one thing for one thing, one thing, and then you have a, a whole drawer of like a million Supplements, it's just confusing. And then you're spending money on a lot of things that probably don't work. Like you said Colin, or we don't know if they ever work. We're seeing a lot of studies or health information coming out recently around, you know, how, like you said, how maybe sleep can cause an impact on stomach and then stomach can cause an impact or gut can cause impact on this. Why do you think we're seeing so many? I almost feel like it's like, like medical connections where it used to be. I don't, I don't remember hearing so much about people, you know, connecting things together.
Dr. Roshini Raj
Yeah, I think, I mean at least I might be a little biased but what I'm seeing, the connections being drawn are really around the gut and how it's connected to other parts of the body. And I think that's a result of just this explosion of research and information where I mean 20 years ago when I was training as a gastroenterologist, it was the first time I ever heard heard of the word microbiome. So this is a relatively recent field in medicine and it's not like in beauty or other industries. There's a hot ingredient one year and the next year something else. But this is an actual seismic shift in medicine. The fact that we're discovered that some people think of it as another organ, your microbiome, because it has so many far reaching effects throughout your body and there's just so much active research going on between how the microbiome can affect everything from potentially autism, Parkinson's, you know, heart disease, many types of cancer I think and it's just going to continue to explode. I think we're honestly just at the tip of the iceberg right now. We're going to continue to hear more and more about these connections that you're talking about and how they're real and how there's an opportunity for intervention, which is really exciting.
Colin Walsh
Sorry, I was going to say Daniel, what is amazing from my seat is I get to be a co founder but I'm also a customer and I'm a customer that's traveled through this category in this space for years. It sounds like you have looking for solutions both on the sleep and the digestive front in both being complicated, ineffective and not cohesive in any way. Whether it was melatonin, which I always found I was too groggy from, all from Ambien, which felt effective in short spurts but would be that was a real deep sleep first and then I would come throwing out of it or Nyquils or those type of things. In finding magnesium, especially dicinate, that is so bioavailable and really calmly enables a great night's sleep. And then on the digestive front, that's been a battle just as a consumer, I think a lack of information, a lack of understanding of what fuels it, what your habits are from eating, drinking, time of day, to have something at the end of day that helps in this longest digestive window of your. Of your day, which is overnight. And that's where most people, like myself, if you're taking fiber alone, often there's gas, there's bloating, and that's where the third element of the digestive enzymes to help reduce that created a product. And so that formulation. And I credit Dr. Raj in the most immense way of how we came together on the three ingredients and how they work. I get to take it every night and that. So if there's no other joy. The thing that propels me is I know that I just. I'm a stark raving fan. And yes, I may be biased, but I promise you, I just love the result, the way I feel and why I would take it every night and have for almost a year and a half since we started formulating.
I'm curious, because you both seem to be very healthy. What does your daily nutrition look like?
Dr. Roshini Raj
I can go first because I'm really boring. So it's an easy question to ask because I pretty much have the same thing every day with some exceptions if I'm traveling or going out or something. But I start with my Greek yogurt with probiotics, mixed berries, and I put some flax seed, chia seeds in there. I take my tulip probiotic gummy, and that's my breakfast. I then for lunch just generally have grilled salmon or tuna with a bunch of cooked vegetables. So spinach and eggplant mushrooms, some cannellini beans or some kind of beans and red peppers. And then for dinner, it could be, you know, chicken or fish again, maybe some chickpea pasta or some cauliflower rice. That's kind of my routine that my kids tease me about because it very rarely changes. And then, of course, yay, day at night. And that's generally my. Yeah, every day.
Daniel
And I'm.
Colin Walsh
I'm maybe not as good the gas bill, so. But I, Yeah, I am protein and vegetable focused. I love eggs, so I start most days with eggs and. Or some yogurt. I'll find greens throughout the day. I try to get a salad in There in the middle. I love food. I love restaurants. So sometimes at night, it could range from sushi to pizza. I tend to not go wildly, you know, way off course, but I certainly indulge. And that's almost the spirit of Yay Day. We want it as well that I think sometimes wellness feels a lot like work. And the idea of it feeling fun was really what we want. We want people to live a great life. And living a disciplined life or a restrictive life is really challenging for a lot of people. Being aware, being educated, doing your best, and then having some help when you need it. That's as simply as I could put our dream or our mission around. Yay day. So, yeah, I. And then I end every day with Yay day, which kind of clarifies a few sins and mistakes throughout the day.
Yay day. Don't worry. Yay day. Hey, we're. It's all good. So we always like to have guests share some tangible tips or strategies around business. And I think something that could be very interesting here is because this is such a competitive space and you both, you know, Dr. Raj, you. You grew a skincare company for 10 years, and Colin, you've been in the industry for decades too, and you've worked with many different organizations. I think it could be interesting to look at the marketing side because I think, you know, people can create a product, they have a vision. You know, you got, you all have created an amazing brand. Like, the brand looks amazing and then the website looks great. But I don't know if everyone understands then how to market it. And I'm, you know, just from speaking to many people, I think a lot of people fall short. They put a lot of money in the first few aspects, and they don't put enough money or thought and strategy into the marketing side. And we know if you can't market a product, doesn't matter how great it is, it'll go nowhere. So what are some tips, strategies, thoughts around not just, you know, what you're working on now, but maybe even things that worked in the past?
Yeah, it's. For me, the brand came to life. We were inspired by this incredible image of Elle McPherson. It's this very famous, and I apologize, I don't remember the photographer. A black and white photo of her naked on a toilet reading a newspaper in high heels. And it's this awesome shot. And it was really the spirit and style that we saw of like, oh, my gosh. That's our inspiration of how do you redefine gut health and wellness and have A conversation about digestive health in a fun, provocative, modern way and certainly influenced by our beauty background. So that's the birth of this brand. We had billboards last year in New York in the summer with our shot of a very similarly inspired image with the pulala tagline of really elevating and. But one of the things that I would tell you is both true and humbling. I think the brand is really unbiased. I think it's beautiful and disruptive and really remarkable in its own right. And in the wellness space where you're asking someone to digest something, there's credibility that certainly from Dr. Raj's expertise, but there's trial. We just celebrated our first year anniversary, so there's time where people need to see you over and over. You need to have reviews grow. You need to have customer reviews grow. You have to be able to publish results of perception studies and results people have had. So all of those things, I think you have to be able, it's wonderful to create a beautiful brand. And I certainly come from that space, and my brother is the third co founder who lives in the design and marketing world. But it also has to critically, critically work, deliver results. And that's the trust capital you've got to build. And I think there's no fast way to do that in the wellness space. You have to be patient, sincere, and deliver a product that actually can go get those results for you. So that would be my thoughts.
Dr. Roshini Raj
Yeah, I mean, my first answer would be partner with someone like Colin or with someone like my previous co founders who were great at marketing as well. But one thing that I learned through Chula and now through Yada, it's just. It's funny when you first start a brand, you know, you tell your friends you're starting this company, you're kind of trying to, like, get them to try the product. But then very quickly, once they try it and they like it, then they're asking you for the product. You know, the roles reverse, where they're actually begging for it. Whereas before you were begging them to try it. And that was my experience with Tula, where once you got into enough hands, people just love the product or they wanted more. And it's been amazing to see the same thing with Yay Day, where, you know, you'd have a few friends try it, they're almost doing you a favor. And then they're like, wait, I love this product. How can I get more? And so I think, to me, one of the keys is just getting your product in as many hands as possible when it does have a tangible, tangible result, which thankfully we do in a short period of time. So we have travel packs or trial kits which are seven days of the product as opposed to our full 30 day canister. So that's a great way to One.
Daniel
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Dr. Roshini Raj
Know, have, have people, as many people as possible try it. That's, you know, the challenge and the opportunity that I think we're, we're exploring right now.
Colin Walsh
Yay. This is amazing. It's all really fun to say. My, my last question is around the exit. I think this is very interesting. Most entrepreneurs I talk to in the U.S. they're looking to exit at some point outside the U.S. interestingly enough, we see a lot of times it's like legacy brands, but in the US at least it's the exit. And that's like most entrepreneurs I talked to. That's their dream. They want to exit at some point. So what, what do you see in terms of when a company wants to acquire a company? What are they looking for? And then when you are the one exiting from the company, what do you have to do to get into the.
Daniel
Space to successfully exit?
Colin Walsh
A great question and certainly Dr. Raj and I can speak to it individually. I've been very, very lucky to have been through two exits previously with Diva Curl and then most recently with Wei. And those exits, I would tell you they're every one is completely unique in terms of what a buyer is looking for, how it fits in their portfolio, or their strategy they're ultimately looking for Run growth and Runway. Do they think there's something remarkable that can be much bigger? The whole idea of a exit is that they think they can make it much bigger than you have, so it has the seed of greatness and just isn't fully expanded. That's why they pay multiples and why they think they can make it great. And my experience has been they are absolutely buying a leadership team. Very often it people that have been able to make that brand grow dynamically and show that it has a place in the market and it's earned the interest of someone willing to spend multiples and buy it. So they're very, very often a buyer is also interested in that leadership team being able to continue to add capabilities and scale in that. So those brands, team and ability to expand is the things that I've seen be most important when considering an acquisition.
Dr. Roshini Raj
Yeah. And I think from the. From the founder and Colin is sort of has seen both sides of it now, which is really interesting perspective for me. From the founder perspective, I think just like you said, every situation is unique. There are some founders who are ready to sell and completely wash their hands to the company and never look back. And there are many others, like myself, who've stayed involved. I've stayed involved with Tula. I'm still, you know, the face of the brand and very involved with it and which, which makes me so happy because it's like my baby. I don't want to just give it away completely. And then there's some founders who are even more involved and are still running the companies. And, you know, CEOs continue after exit, but I think it depends on how you want to grow and whether you can grow on your own or whether you need to exit really to grow the way you want to, whether that's global expansion or, you know, new product lines. I think with Yayday, you know, the gut health category is kind of wide open in so many ways. There's so many exciting things I think we can do. And Colin and I already have ideas of different extensions and different ways we may want to go. And so the question will just be, you know, how much of that can we do on our own or will there be a time where we think it would be better to do it with a partner? So there are a lot of good reasons to exit or to try it on your own, but I think it is different case by case.
Colin Walsh
Well, I think everyone needs to try Yay Day, it seems like. But if anyone can try Yay Day, should try Yay Day. Yay.
Wait.
So I really. This has been great. It's rare that we get to talk through business and health. It's normally two separate conversations. Very rare that we've ever been able to do that. So I'm. I always enjoy having two people on the show. It's much better. It's like having a panel of experts. So if people want to get in touch with you, they want to find out more information about the brand. And also, congratulations on your one year anniversary.
Dr. Roshini Raj
Thank you. Yeah, we're at Myye Day.com is our website and our Instagram as well. And yeah, reach out. We'd love to hear from you.
Colin Walsh
Yeah, it's really been a pleasure. Daniel, thank you so much for having us. And it is, you're touching on the thing that brings me so much joy, having a doctor and a practicing gastroenterologist and a published author and just someone as remarkable as Roshni is. It's been a pleasure to create this brand and to share it. And so I bring the layman passion for a product that I deeply use and believe in. And I have the good fortune to have an expert make sure we're creating a remarkable product for everyone else.
Well, I hope everyone checks out. Yay day. And with this, that's how you have to say it.
Daniel
Yay.
Colin Walsh
Jay does it. It's not the same. Thank you both for joining us. Today on Founder Story.
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Podcast Summary: Founder's Story – "From Probiotics to Poop: How a P&G Beauty Boss and a Gastroenterologist Built YayDay | Ep 211"
Episode Information:
In this enlightening episode of Founder's Story, Colin Walsh and Dr. Roshini Raj delve into the creation and mission of YayDay—a pioneering company at the intersection of beauty, gut health, and overall wellness. Hosted by IBH Media, the conversation provides listeners with an in-depth look into the founders' journey, the science behind their product, and the strategies that set YayDay apart in the competitive wellness industry.
Colin Walsh begins by sharing his extensive experience in the beauty industry, highlighting his two-decade-long tenure, including his role as CEO of beauty at Procter & Gamble. He introduces Dr. Roshini Raj, the co-founder of Tula Skincare—a probiotic-based skincare brand.
At [01:38], Colin recounts their meeting:
"We sat across from each other talking about the dream of YayDay and what it could be."
Dr. Roshini Raj elaborates on her transition from gastroenterology to the beauty sector, driven by her passion for the microbiome and its impact on skin health. Her entrepreneurial spirit led to the founding of Tula, which was eventually acquired by P&G, setting the stage for the creation of YayDay.
Dr. Raj emphasizes the critical role of gut health in overall well-being. Referring to her book, "Gut Renovation," she explains how the gut microbiome influences various aspects of health, including mood, immunity, and metabolism.
At [02:25], she states:
"The entire inspiration for the book is how we now know how your gut microbiome affects every aspect of your health from head to toe."
She highlights a significant issue:
"Over 90% of Americans are not getting the adequate recommended amount of fiber."
This statistic underscores the need for accessible gut health solutions like YayDay.
YayDay is conceived as a next-generation prebiotic fiber product that not only supports gut health but also bridges the connection between gut and mind by incorporating magnesium. The founders aimed to create a product that addresses common gut health challenges—such as inadequate fiber intake and the negative effects of poor sleep—while making it enjoyable and user-friendly.
Colin Walsh shares a personal anecdote about his own gut health struggles:
"I've suffered from many gut health issues throughout my life, so I've had to learn about these things." [05:22]
Colin's personal experiences with gut health issues, including his teenage use of Metamucil, add authenticity to YayDay's mission. His openness about these struggles highlights the emotional and physical impact of gut health problems and reinforces the importance of their solution.
Colin Walsh:
"I get to take it every night and I just love the result, the way I feel and why I would take it every night." [15:17]
Dr. Raj provides a comprehensive explanation of the gut microbiome, distinguishing between probiotics, prebiotics, and postbiotics.
At [06:09], she defines:
"Your gut microbiome is this community of organisms that lives within your gut... a healthy balance where the good bacteria outweigh the bad bacteria."
She further explains:
"Probiotics are beneficial bacteria sourced from foods like fermented items, while prebiotics are like the fertilizer that helps good bacteria grow."
This clarity helps listeners grasp the foundational concepts behind YayDay's formulation.
The founders discuss the challenges of entering the highly competitive wellness and beauty markets. They emphasize the importance of creating a brand that is both scientifically credible and visually appealing.
Colin Walsh reveals their branding inspiration:
"We were inspired by this incredible image of Elle McPherson... How do you redefine gut health and wellness in a fun, provocative, modern way." [21:44]
Dr. Raj adds:
"We wanted to make this something that seemed fun, positive, and just something more attractive overall." [08:52]
This strategic branding aims to differentiate YayDay from traditional, often unappealing gut health products.
Building trust in the wellness industry is paramount. Colin and Dr. Raj discuss their approach to marketing YayDay, focusing on scientific credibility, customer reviews, and tangible results.
At [10:32], Colin emphasizes:
"It's wonderful to create a beautiful brand... but it also has to critically work, deliver results. That's the trust capital you've got to build."
Dr. Raj highlights the power of word-of-mouth:
"Once they try it and like it, they're asking for the product. It's been amazing to see the same thing with YayDay." [23:40]
They utilize trial kits and travel packs to encourage initial use, hoping positive experiences lead to broader adoption.
Understanding the personal routines of the founders provides insight into their commitment to gut health.
Dr. Raj shares her daily regimen:
"I start with my Greek yogurt with probiotics, mixed berries, and I put some flax seed, chia seeds in there... I take my YayDay at night." [18:20]
Colin Walsh complements her routine with his own balanced diet:
"I am protein and vegetable focused... I end every day with YayDay, which clarifies a few sins and mistakes throughout the day." [19:26]
Looking ahead, the founders discuss the expansive potential of the gut health category and the strategic decisions around growth and possible exits.
Colin Walsh reflects on past successes and the uniqueness of each acquisition:
"Buyers are interested in the leadership team and the ability to scale." [29:17]
Dr. Raj contemplates future product extensions:
"With YayDay, the gut health category is wide open... we're exploring new ways to expand." [32:05]
In closing, Colin passionately endorses YayDay, reiterating its benefits and the joy it brings to users:
"Everyone needs to try YayDay. It seems like." [32:37]
Colin Walsh [01:38]:
"We sat across from each other talking about the dream of YayDay and what it could be."
Dr. Roshini Raj [02:25]:
"The entire inspiration for the book is how we now know how your gut microbiome affects every aspect of your health from head to toe."
Colin Walsh [05:22]:
"I've suffered from many gut health issues throughout my life, so I've had to learn about these things."
Dr. Roshini Raj [06:09]:
"Your gut microbiome is this community of organisms that lives within your gut... a healthy balance where the good bacteria outweigh the bad bacteria."
Colin Walsh [15:17]:
"I get to take it every night and I just love the result, the way I feel and why I would take it every night."
Dr. Roshini Raj [08:52]:
"We wanted to make this something that seemed fun, positive, and just something more attractive overall."
Colin Walsh [21:44]:
"We were inspired by this incredible image of Elle McPherson... How do you redefine gut health and wellness in a fun, provocative, modern way."
Colin Walsh [10:32]:
"It's wonderful to create a beautiful brand... but it also has to critically work, deliver results. That's the trust capital you've got to build."
Dr. Roshini Raj [23:40]:
"Once they try it and like it, they're asking for the product. It's been amazing to see the same thing with YayDay."
Colin Walsh [29:17]:
"Buyers are interested in the leadership team and the ability to scale."
Conclusion
This episode of Founder's Story offers a comprehensive exploration of YayDay's inception, the science underpinning its products, and the strategic vision of its founders. Colin Walsh and Dr. Roshini Raj provide valuable insights into blending scientific expertise with effective branding and marketing to create a standout product in the wellness industry. Their commitment to making gut health accessible and enjoyable serves as an inspiring blueprint for aspiring entrepreneurs in the health and beauty sectors.