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As well as being an award-winning author – see our April 24 issue – Lisa Jolly is an entrepreneur causing a stir abroad.
Recently, the Kawakawa Bay local travelled to Seattle and New York to try and break into the lucrative American market with her I Am Hot honey products. During the trip, she pitched ideas at the Naturally Rising competition and the Level Up VC event, she confirms.
“I was the fifth finalist in the Naturally Rising competition, which is a well-recognised competition through which consumer-packaged goods (CPG) brands are bringing various products to market. They recognise the best new products in their categories,” Jolly says.
“I had to deliver a three-minute pitch to judges. You pitch your business plan to them and explain why you’re the next big thing.”
I Am Hot Honey combines manuka honey, ginger, chilli, wasabi, orange zest, Himalayan salt and smoked paprika in a spicy, sweet mix.
Jolly actually had two products on show – her I Am Hot Honey also includes 100 per cent biodegradable containers made of upcycled bee material.
“I Am Hot Honey is the proof of concept for the patent-pending packaging. We’re launching in the US market to build a CPG that highlights our packaging [and] shows the industry how it can work.”
As well as the Naturally Rising competition, Jolly visited various stores selling organic produce, including Erewhon, a premium whole-food chain – effectively the supermarket for the stars.
In New York, Jolly attended a mixology event held at the Brasserie Saint Marc where cocktails were made using her range.
With a successful product pitch, new connections formed to help her expand and, importantly, securing an investor all added up to an amazing trip, Jolly says.
She is looking forward to launching I Am Hot Honey in the US on July 1 expects to expand manufacturing in both NZ and the US.
