April Ye

I attribute my success to a combination of patience, self-motivation, responsibility, creativity, and perseverance. I have always been motivated to challenge myself, embrace new opportunities, and pursue growth, including starting a new career. I take my responsibilities seriously, not only toward my children and family, but also toward my friends, my business, and the investors who have placed their trust in me. Creativity is another important part of who I am; I strive to bring originality and excellence to everything I do, even in everyday activities such as cooking, where I enjoy creating food that is both nutritious and visually appealing. Above all, I believe my perseverance has been the greatest foundation of my success. It has given me the determination to remain focused, overcome challenges, and continue moving forward no matter how difficult the circumstances may be.

The best career advice I have received has come from two mentors and close friends who have profoundly influenced the way I approach entrepreneurship and personal growth. One is a venture capital founder who taught me to look beyond the surface when evaluating opportunities by considering the strength of a product, the market, the customer, and the potential financial return. He also demonstrated the importance of stepping outside your comfort zone. I was especially inspired when I saw him courageously perform piano on stage at his young son’s recital, despite being nervous himself. That experience reminded me that courage is not the absence of fear, but the willingness to move forward despite it. His encouragement continues to inspire me to take risks, pursue new opportunities, and have the confidence to start something new. My second mentor is an accomplished entrepreneur whose journey taught me that success is not defined solely by financial outcomes. Despite experiencing significant setbacks in his own business, he remained committed to entrepreneurship, learning, and personal growth. His resilience, intellectual curiosity, and willingness to embrace challenges have shown me the importance of perseverance and continuous learning. Together, their examples taught me to be courageous, think critically, embrace challenges, learn from failure, and never give up on the entrepreneurial journey.

My advice to young women entering the CPG industry is to stay focused on the customer and develop products that genuinely address their needs rather than simply following trends or copying what is already successful in the market. A good product is not defined by what we think is valuable; it is defined by what customers want, need, and are willing to embrace. I also encourage women to think beyond short-term profits and consider what they are truly passionate about, because there is a meaningful difference between simply making money and building something you genuinely believe in and can turn into a long-term career. For me, that means staying committed to developing original ideas, understanding how products are made, and maintaining control over the quality and vision of what I create. The CPG market is highly competitive, and while it may be tempting to replicate existing products with minor changes, I believe lasting success comes from innovation, authenticity, and the courage to pursue an idea that is uniquely your own.

The biggest challenge in my field is that manufacturing requires significant investment, so managing costs while reaching profitability is one of my greatest priorities. Before expanding into larger markets, we need to establish strong customer demand, achieve healthy product velocity, and develop the right strategy for each stage of growth. Different retail channels require different approaches, and learning how to balance volume, pricing, margins, and long-term sustainability has been both challenging and valuable. At the same time, I see tremendous opportunities in the CPG and food manufacturing space, particularly in the growing demand for high-quality, clean-label products that are both appealing and innovative. We are also investing in proprietary manufacturing capabilities and innovative equipment that allows us to create breads with distinctive fillings, flavors, and textures rather than simply producing traditional products. I believe this combination of innovation, manufacturing expertise, and a strong understanding of consumer preferences gives us an opportunity to differentiate ourselves in an increasingly competitive market.

The values that are most important to me, both professionally and personally, are perseverance and intuition. I believe perseverance gives me the strength to remain committed, overcome challenges, and continue moving forward even when circumstances are difficult. At the same time, I value intuition because it helps me recognize opportunities, trust my judgment, and make thoughtful decisions when there is no clear path forward. Together, these values guide me to stay resilient, confident, and true to my vision.