Green Garden Bakery Profile

Green Garden Bakery logo.

Green Garden Bakery is a nonprofit organization based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. This young entrepreneur founded startup creates vegetable-based desserts using sustainable practices. Desserts are sold on a donation basis and all proceeds are donated back into the community.

Founder(s): Raniya Shiekh, Leensa Ahmed, Jy’Mar Mitchell, Maya Gray, Sadrea Dobbins, Jasmine Salter, Sade Dobbins, Said Ahmed Nur, Alfonzo Williams, Jacobi Simmons, and Arafat Ahmed

Industry: Food & Beverage

Founded in: 2014

Location: Food & Beverage

Email: Greengardenbakery@gmail.com

Interview With D’Loveantae Allen

Describe your product or service 

Vegetable based desserts

Describe your company culture in 3 words

Diverse youth

Describe your company values

We value giving back, and giving opportunities.

What are you ultimately hoping to achieve with your business?

We’re hoping to achieve a storefront and to expand.

How are you funded? 

Donors and donations. (non-profit)

How big is your team?

3 executive/10 Jr. executive 20 crew members

Tell us about your team: 

Executive team, Jr. executive/ crew member

What made you want to start your own business? 

Me personally, I saw how the people in GGB (green garden bakery) did it before me. And I really enjoyed being a part of the team and working my way up and gaining experience.

How did you come up with your company name? 

We had a brainstorming session, and yes we did have a few other names in mind.

How did you come up with your startup idea? Did you have other names you considered? 

We came up with the idea after selling our green tomato cake at the Midtown Global Market and we thought we would make around $500, but we actually made $1500. Then we decided to make this into a real thing.

What is something that makes your company unique? 

We make vegetable based desserts

What was your biggest challenge and how did you overcome it? 

Biggest challenge would be memorizing and creating our powerpoints and presentations.

Who is your product or service made for? 

Any age.

What’s your marketing strategy? 

Social media

How did you acquire your first 100 customers? 

Through the neighborhood. Most of our employees are from the neighborhood we started in, also through Step-Up.

How do you track your progress? 

Sugar, fat, and calories. As well as adding vegetable[s] to EVERY dessert.

How has your approach to business changed from when you started to now?

It changed because I’ve developed in myself. However, my managing style is more or less the same. 

If you could go back in time and change anything about your entrepreneurial journey, would you?

I would aim to work more sooner.

What is the biggest lesson you learned during your journey?

I learned how to lead.

Who is your support system? 

Urban Strategies. They have greatly helped us.

Who inspired you to start your business? 

No one inspired it, it was completely original.

What motivates you? 

Results and positive change

Did you have to develop any habits that helped lead you to success? 

Writing things down and checking my email.

How do you define success? 

Feeling like you’ve accomplished something great.

What are you most proud of as an entrepreneur? 

Becoming CEO of Green Garden Bakery.

What advice do you have for aspiring entrepreneurs? 

Find out what you need to do. Do that, and more.

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