Simon Gates introduces a new perspective for the saturated cannabidiol industry (CBD). Gates founded The Bade Collection while working as a full-time fitness trainer, suffering from chronic back and shin pain that affects her work and sleep. By enrolling in the WeWork Veterans in Residence program, she was able to revive the Bade collection, using sophisticated natural ingredients such as CBD derived from hemp.
“It was never my plan to start a business, but I started formulating natural products that would help me with the pain I had,” she said. “After he helped me, I started giving it to my peers. I got good reviews and then I decided to sell it. ” Gates says she has been looking for useful natural products that do not contain harmful chemicals.
In the process, Gates is also empowering other women, as the Harlem-based company remains owned by women and proudly works on an 80% integrative supply chain for women. “We supply 100 percent of our hemp, and more than half of our herbs and oils come from home farms owned by women. Gates finds that she and the women she works with know pain, as well as how it affects women’s bodies, and are best placed to start conversations about more natural solutions.
“I had the advantage of working as a fitness trainer, so I knew how to work to relieve pain. Gates combines her fitness knowledge with her cannabis-infused drugs while joining a white-male-dominated industry. “Many of the products you see in stores are owned by white men. I’m trying to rewrite this current image, “she said.
Like any new entrepreneur, Gates faced several challenges as he set up his business. “Getting access to relevant information for logical business start-ups was particularly difficult,” she admitted. “I’ve never worked in the beauty industry before. Also, finding a female mentor was difficult for me. ”
Knowing the challenge of having to find a mentor, Gates is determined to become available to other young women who are embarking on entrepreneurship. “I always make sure I attend all kinds of women’s business conferences. I also make sure to invest in the Harlem community. I participate in the WeWork Veterans in Residence program, run by Bunker Labs. ”
According to their website, the one-of-a-kind Veterans in Residence gives novice veterans and spouse veterans the opportunity to turn their passion into reality. This year, more than 130 veterans and spouse veterans across the country were introduced to the incubator-like program. Veterans in Residence brings together veteran tribes in 15 cities across the country to help them grow their business with free mentoring, business guidance, WeWorks office space, networking with VCs and more. Launched on Veterans Day in 2017 in partnership with Bunker Labs, WeWork has already helped hundreds of veterans through the program. For many people, this is the first time they have got a real chance to take their idea or small business to the next level. Every six months, WeWork introduces new veterans to the program, with the goal of affecting the business of at least 1,500 veterinarians over the next five years.
Gates hopes to inspire others with his success story. “I hope my story inspires others not to give up,” she said. “Everyone seems to have a side issue, and people think it’s impossible to make it bigger because of money, for example. But you can develop this side turmoil. It’s a lot of hard work, but it’s not impossible. “
