Meet Wildwonder of Target Takeoff Food & Beverage 2021

This is the tenth installment of an interview series with the 2021 Target Takeoff Food & Beverage cohort. Participating founders are sharing, in their own words, details about their innovative companies. All interviews have been conducted by the Target Takeoff Program Management Team. 

Meet Wildwonder. 

TT: Describe Wildwonder in one sentence.

Rosa: Wildwonder makes wellness accessible, starting with a better drink for gut health.

TT: What inspired you to start your company? What makes your product unique in the marketplace?

Rosa: Growing up in China, my grandmother brewed tonics with a symphony of wild herbs. They worked wonders, soothing my stomach and lifting my spirits. The beverage aisles of grocery stores are packed with sugary sodas and fake stuff. Functional beverages that offer health benefits have an acquired taste. So I wanted to create a beverage that combines ancient nutrition with modern taste.

Wildwonder reimagines the healing drinks of my heritage, combining eastern herbal wisdom and gut-healing superfoods with whimsical flavors. We are delicious and low-sugar – our customers call us “Kombucha benefits without the vinegar”. Enjoying the benefits of botanicals should be as easy as popping open a can, and as delicious as a fruity spritz.

TT: How did you decide it was the right time to join an Accelerator? What are you most looking forward to getting out of the Target Takeoff experience?

Rosa: I’m super excited to meet mentors and other founders in the Target Takeoff network. To me, the value of any accelerator comes from the community. I’m looking to learn from other companies and support each other, which makes the entrepreneurial journey more fun. Target Takeoff is specifically interesting to Wildwonder at this stage in our growth cycle since we are fairly new to retail but are receiving a lot of retail interest.

TT: How do you stay motived through the ups and downs of growing your business? 

Rosa: My mission: I’m building a brand to elevate people’s being and doing. Beyond building delicious and gut healing products, we are on a mission to create everyday wonders and for those under-voiced in our communities. 5% of profits from each drink goes towards causes that empower marginalized communities. As a female and AAPI founder, I hope to inspire others like me to pursue their passions. This bigger mission helps me to look beyond daily ups and downs and stay motivated.

My team: My team inspires me to be a better leader and to provide opportunities for them to grow as future leaders

TT: If you had one piece of advice for someone just starting out, what would it be?

Rosa: Don’t be afraid to share your idea / product and get feedback. The goal is to shorten the feedback loop and iterate as much as possible to arrive at something disruptive, so you can save time and money.

To learn more about the drink and to get some for yourself, visit drinkwildwonder.com