Episode Details

In this episode, Heather Kelly, founder of Heather’s Choice, shares the raw, real story behind building her food company from scratch. She talks about how outdoor adventures shaped her confidence, what she learned from raising early-stage capital, and the emotional toll of nearly going bankrupt. Heather also reflects on her Shark Tank appearance, the big move from Alaska to Oregon, and why she’s choosing to scale her business her way. This is a conversation about ambition, resilience, and staying grounded in your values even when the pressure to grow fast gets loud. If you’re building something, this one’s for you.

Topics We Cover

• The tension between growth, authenticity, and maintaining control in founder-led businesses
• How adventure and time offline influence entrepreneurial resilience and creativity
• The reality of startup funding: lessons from angel investment and Shark Tank
• The evolving mission and market of Heather’s Choice—from outdoor meals to everyday solutions
• The bold move from Alaska to Oregon to scale manufacturing and build a sustainable future

Learn more about KORE - Kootenay Outdoor Recreation Enterprise

Links:
Heather's Choice
Proper Hotel - Austin
Profit First - book

Connect with Heather on LinkedIn
Connect with Christian on LinkedIn
Christian's website

For more about the KORE Outdoors Podcast, visit https://koreoutdoors.org/podcast/

The KORE Outdoors Podcast is supported by the Province of British Columbia.