This month, Goodr celebrates our 5-year anniversary! When I think back on this journey, I can hardly believe it has been 5 years. Reports show that 45% of all businesses fail during the first five years, so to be here means more to me than I can ever put into words.
If I had to sum up the journey of building Goodr so far in one word, it would be perseverance. I remember when Goodr was just an idea. So many people told me that Goodr wasn’t going to work. We sit at the intersection of food waste and hunger. We are solving two of the biggest problems in the world and it can be hard for people to imagine that we can solve these problems. No matter what people said, I remained committed to this idea and to building Goodr. It hasn’t always been easy, but I stayed focused on my North Star – my belief that we can change how hunger is solved in this country and the world. It is so rewarding to see the results as we expand across the country, bring on even more partners, hire more employees, and continue to deploy innovative solutions in the fight to end hunger and food waste.
Reflecting on Five Years
As I reflect on the last five years, there have been many amazing memories so far. However, there are two moments that stand out the most to me. The first was securing our first major Surplus Food Recovery partner, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Our partnership with the airport is the result of our participation in a Goodie Nation Hackathon back in 2017. I remember getting a phone call from Goodie Nation founder, Joey Womack. He told me that Goodie Nation was doing a hackathon for the airport and that I should enter and share our work. I entered and pitched directly to the airport’s sustainability team about the work of Goodr and how together we can reduce waste and feed so many people in need. Both Goodie Nation and the Atlanta airport believed in my goodness when so few people did, and I will forever cherish those partnerships.
The second stand-out moment on this journey was the opening of the first Goodr office in 2019. When we found the office, it was a simple space. However, I knew it could be special and we worked hard to “Goodr-fy” it. With the renovations and upgrades, the office became one of my favorite places. Though we are moving into a new larger office space to accommodate our rapidly growing team, I will always love our very first office and what it meant for Goodr’s growth.
Looking Forward
Celebrating an anniversary gives us the opportunity to not just reflect, but to look forward as well. With a milestone like 5 years, I can’t help but think about the next 5 years and beyond. Building a team of people that want to see Goodr grow has been one of my joys as a founder. As we continue to grow, I can’t wait to add more incredible members to our team. In the last year, we launched several new services like Holistic Waste Management and our first free Goodr Grocery Store. I am excited about scaling and expanding our solutions to feed more and waste less in new communities across the country and internationally.
I could write a much longer letter filled with memories from the last five years and plans for the next five so I’ll stop here. Over the last five years, Goodr has continued to exceed expectations. I am so proud of all we’ve accomplished in just five short years. We have been so blessed to work and partner with some of the most amazing brands in the world, from the NBA, the NFL, and the Atlanta Airport to artists like Kandi, Gunna and so many more. This has not been overnight; we are truly just getting started!
I want to thank every single person that has been on this journey with me. Thank you for believing in Goodr, for every hour worked, every meal served, every food pickup, every post liked or shared. Thank you so very much!
Cheers to the next five years!
Jasmine Crowe, Founder and CEO
