Interview with Emily Gilels – Founder and CEO of Dosa by DOSA

“As a founder, you have to have a very strong core, you have to have a vision, and you have to stick to it.”

I am excited to be joined by Emily Gilels, Founder and CEO of Dosa by DOSA  on this week’s episode of The Irresistible Factor.

During her travels to India, Emily discovered that Indian food in America was underrepresented. She  felt a calling to bring the Indian food she knew and loved to America by opening her very first venture – Dosa restaurants out of San Francisco, which later became a Michelin-rated farm-to-table restaurant group. Emily later transitioned to Dosa by DOSA, a natural CPG brand.

In this episode, Emily shares how Whole Foods reached out and asked to partner with the restaurant (a major win!). They did something very unique and co-opened a restaurant inside of Whole Foods and ultimately became their global hot bar supplier. As a result, they were able to build and launch  a CPG brand around the needs and wants of the Whole Foods customer.

 Emily and I talk about important lessons she learned along the way like why a big distribution partner should NOT be your first goal, and why she feels it’s  smarter to look for regional distribution partners instead. Emily also talks about the importance of weeding through the tons of advice she’s been given and staying true to yourself and your vision as an entrepreneur. 

If you're an entrepreneur in the CPG industry this episode is a MUST listen. 

You’ll also hear:

- How Emily plans to make Dosa by Dosa THE brand in America for fresh Indian food

- How Emily made the transition from restaurant ventures to CPG 

-How to find investors that are mission-driven 

- Why reflecting and spending time alone is the key to staying true to your vision as a founder