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Forget Chips. Gautam Gupta’s NatureBox Will Change Your Snacktime

One of my coworkers hates snacks, which I just think is weird. Half of the space in my bag is usually full of food to keep me going through the day; low blood sugar is death for this chick. On the other hand, I know that snacking will eventually ruin my girlish figure, especially considering how accessible the least healthy foods are, so I’m totally digging Gautam Gupta‘s new company, NatureBox.

 

NatureBox will send you snacks for a whole month for only twenty bucks. And when I say snacks, I’m not talking those little bags of cheetos that you get at the corner store. All of their products are nutritionist-improved and come with info about how to change your eating habits.

 

 

This product is such a great fit for me (I’m lazy, cheap, and love chips) that I decided I had to talk to Gautam to see what goes on his day to day life as a startup star.

How long have you been involved with the internet? What were your first steps?

I always spent a lot of time on the computer and when the internet really started to take off I was in high school. I started my first website then and started building/fixing computers from my house. After college, I was fortunate to join a VC firm and learn about the internet from the business/monetization side.

What time do you usually start work each day?

I’m usually responding to emails by 7AM and in the office around 8AM. Communication is so important when your team is small that we are all on email/phone whether we’re in the office or not.

 

Do you have an office or work at home?

We work out of an office. We’re actually housed in the incubation space at General Catalyst‘s Palo Alto office.

When do your best ideas come to you?

My best ideas seem to come to me when I can’t take note of them (driving, in the shower, in a meeting).

The same thing happens to me and I keep thinking that it’s a great opportunity for some sort of… app/tool/device… anyone? anyone? Bueller?

I’ve recently started to use Asana on my phone and so whenever I remember to do something or have an idea, I start a new task on Asana. This forces me to remember it when I am back at my desk.

Ok, ok. Maybe I’ll give Asana a shot. Thanks for the tip. So… What’s on your desk right now?

My desk is a mess right now! I have my computer, a printer, phone, and stacks of papers. I have a bad habit of letting things pile up on my desk rather than filing them away.

 

I totally do the same thing. I’ve tried all sorts of filing systems but the pile always comes back. Hey, so… a lot of people have big ideas. What gave you the confidence to actually put your life on hold and realize yours?

I got tired of seeing most of my friends from college start a company! I decided that I wanted to start a company and that there was no better time than the present to start. Having a great co-founder and the support of the VC firm I worked for really helped.

What advice do you have for other entrepreneurs struggling to get their business off the ground?

My advice would be to enlist your friends, mentors, and other supporters in helping you find a path to launch/grow your business. One of the most amazing things about starting a company is how willing people are to help entrepreneurs. You just have to ask!

 

Any regrets?

Not leaving my job to launch the company sooner.

We hear that all the time…

I knew I wanted to start NatureBox in the Fall of 2011 but waited to leave my job in January 2012 and its amazing how much progress you can make on your company when you are full time.

Where can our readers get ahold of you?

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