Its booming tech industry is one of Atlanta’s best-kept secrets. Home of the world-renowned Georgia Tech, it came as no surprise when Atlanta became a hotspot rapidly growing with entrepreneurs launching their tech startups. Jasmine Crowe, founder and CEO of Goodr, is among the fresh minds behind the new generation of black entrepreneurs fueling Atlanta’s dynamic rise.
Jasmine Crowe is a serial entrepreneur driven by her mission to address some of the most pressing problems in the country. Goodr, currently valued at $12 million, is a food waste company that connects local Atlanta restaurants to nonprofit organizations that can use excess food to address hunger and food waste in the community.
“This dashboard platform that we’ve built allows customers to get real, tangible insights on the food waste that they’re constantly wasting so that they can make better decisions on their food production,” shared Jasmine Crowe in an interview. “We’re also able to show them who the food goes to, which kind of causes and nonprofits that they’re supporting,” she added.
Jasmine was inspired to build Goodr after her life-changing experience while volunteering with Sunday Soul, a homeless initiative in Atlanta focused on helping the elders of the homeless population.
With the eye-opening experiences, Jasmine Crowe realized that she could do something to help address the lack of support in ending hunger and reducing food waste. She spent a substantial time researching about the issue and found that no one saw the void as an opportunity to make a change. Hence, she stepped up with a nonprofit startup posing a solution to the problem. After four years of launching, Goodr has helped feed the poor and hungry with quality food that local food establishments would have otherwise thrown.
“I had friends and family members that were experiencing hunger, [and] that really made me think I had to move forward,” Jasmine Crowe told CNBC. Goodr stands by its mission to “Feed more, Waste Less.” But despite the company’s altruistic mission, the CEO shared that she has had her fair share of nos. Instead of letting the naysayers weaken her spirit, Jasmine used those who doubted her and her advocacy to continue.
“I probably took over 200 meetings to raise the first million dollars for Goodr. I was told: ‘This sounds like a nonprofit,’ ‘Hunger is already being solved,’ ‘Your team isn’t experienced enough and too young,” said Jasmine Crowe. Fundraising for the company was not a period she thoroughly enjoyed. Still, it taught her how the differences in background and even race impact people’s perspectives on supporting such a startup. Through it all, she learned to be more objective and strategic.
“As a black female founder of a tech company, it wasn’t an easy feat getting people to believe in my business. I heard ‘no’ so many times, but I didn’t get defeated because what I was fighting for was worth it: I believe that everybody deserves to eat.”
Since its founding in 2017, Goodr has expanded to serve communities outside of Atlanta. The platform is currently helping restaurants and organizations in Charlotte, North Carolina, Philadelphia, Miami, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Seattle. The company is also continually looking for new markets to expand to. Jasmine Crowe intends to bring Goodr nationwide and establish it as a household name. Amid COVID-19, Goodr has been pivotal in helping individuals and families who have lost their source of income and are suffering to get through day-to-day struggles.
To learn more about Goodr, visit its website.
Sources:
https://en.everybodywiki.com/Jasmine_Crowe
https://www.cnbc.com/2021/02/19/goodr-ceo-jasmine-crowes-advice-to-build-a-successful-business.html
