An E-commerce Food Delivery Service:
Multi-flavored artisanal Arepas, an inexpensive healthier replacement for bread
During quarantine, I went back to Miami to continue my studies online. Being home made me lose routine, and motivation to do anything for myself. At one point, I realized I had to do more to stay focused and motivated, and use my time efficiently. I started looking for job opportunities, but there weren't many open positions. I had so much professional and academic experience that I could apply to the real world. So, I told myself I wasn’t going to stop there.
I took this situation as a learning opportunity to execute, and understand how to put my ideas to action. One of the main social difficulties I was drawn to during this time was restaurant closures. Everyone was staying home and ordering in, there was an increase in demand for take-out orders, restaurants were closing, etc. This is when I decided to take an open opportunity in the food industry and create a business plan. My goal for this project was to develop a business/product that people would enjoy, and would make their lives easier in the kitchen. The main challenge of this project was setting it up and bringing it to life.
I did some desk-research, competitive analysis, designed prototypes, focus groups, and stakeholder interviews to understand my customers' expectations, and deliver maximal value through a design thinking approach. Then, I created the brand image, a financial analysis through a projected income statement, and a social media platform.
In August 2020, I launched AREKIN, a gluten-free, dairy-free, sugar-free, e-commerce business. I now managed everything from strategy to operations of the business including the business model, production, social media strategy, content, and sales. This whole process was a challenge that made me step out of my comfort zone, learn about a new industry, meet new people, and understand how a company is set up from the inside and out. Throughout my entrepreneurial debut, I collected insights that I feared would have never arrived through academic pathways.
Production in progress
