Balancing ethics and making money, re-defining wealth, and talking openly about reproductive health online with Valeria Emanuel, co-founder of Rif Care

Valeria Emanuel, the co-founder with ⁠Rebecca Caputo⁠ of Riff Care, a period care brand, shares her entrepreneurial journey and the message behind her company. Rif Care is an organic and sustainability focused period care brand based in Los Angeles began with a shared passion between Val and her best-friend, Rebecca for making an impact with reproductive health care products. Val discusses the importance of sustainability and the challenges of balancing ethics and costs. Val also talks about breaking the stigma around periods and reproductive health, and how she navigates negative comments and stays authentic. She shares her experience as a natural entrepreneur and the financial realities of starting a business. Valerie discusses the financial challenges of being a founder and the importance of managing money wisely. She emphasizes the difference between running a small business and a startup, highlighting the need for rapid growth and raising capital in the startup world. Val shares her motivation to keep going despite setbacks and failures, attributing it to her faith, healthy lifestyle, and positive mindset. She also addresses the misconception that desiring wealth is selfish, explaining that money can be used to make a positive impact and help others. Val talks about the sacrifices she has made, including giving up a higher income and prioritizing the business over personal relationships. She advises aspiring entrepreneurs to gain experience in their desired field and save money before starting a business. Takeaways: Building a sustainable brand requires making ethical decisions, even if they come at a higher cost. Breaking the stigma around periods and reproductive health is important for creating a supportive community. Navigating negative comments and staying authentic is crucial for building a genuine connection with an audience. Being an entrepreneur involves being an action taker and overcoming fears of being seen or judged. Financial challenges, such as high startup costs and fluctuating expenses, are part of the entrepreneurial journey. Being a founder comes with financial challenges, and it's important to manage money wisely. Running a small business is different from running a startup, which requires rapid growth and raising capital. Motivation to keep going despite setbacks and failures can come from faith, a healthy lifestyle, and a positive mindset. Desiring wealth is not inherently selfish; money can be used to make a positive impact and help others. Sacrifices may need to be made, such as giving up a higher income and prioritizing the business over personal relationships. Gaining experience in the desired field and saving money before starting a business can be beneficial for aspiring entrepreneurs. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction and Background 07:21 Overcoming Stigma and Talking Openly 16:25 Balancing Ethics and Making Money 33:47 Redefining Wealth: Making an Impact 41:15 The Sacrifices and Priorities of an Entrepreneur You can find Rif Care on their website and social media pages: ● Website, ⁠https://rifcare.com/ ● ⁠⁠Insta, https://www.instagram.com/rifcare You can also follow Valeria on: ● Instagram ⁠@malibumama⁠__ Make sure to check out our social media accounts on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok: ● Instagram ⁠@thestartupconfessionspod⁠ ● TikTok @thestartupconfessionspod ● YouTube: The StartUp Confessions Podcast