About six months ago, I began my internship at Snaxshot– a food & beverage newsletter that covers emerging brands, industry trends, and predictions for what’s to come. The genius behind it all, Andrea Hernandez, is one of my biggest influences.

Snaxshot strikes a harmonious balance between educational, witty, and edgy; I had been a reader for some time before my internship, so when the opportunity to work for her presented itself, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity.

I have learned more working for Andrea than I have in all of my other previous internships combined. Andrea brought me on the team as a true team player– not just a task rabbit completing odd jobs. I’ve planned Snaxshot events, met countless founders in the space, and attended conferences to represent the publication. Due to her trust in me, I have learned to trust and believe in myself– which is why I dove into launching my venture at 21 years old.

My venture, Endure Sport Nutrition, aims to bridge the gap between snacks and sport nutrition. The two need not feel so distinct from one another– athletes should still feel like what they put into their bodies is real food. We craft our sport nutrition from nutrient-dense, whole-food ingredients rather than the synthetic sugars and preservatives that are pumped into many sport gels and bars.

I had the idea over the winter, initially thinking it would be something I would launch later once I had free time or experience. However, working for Andrea has reiterated to me that there is never an exceptionally “right time.” She launched Snaxshot in September 2020 and has grown it into an entity with readers in over sixty countries. I find her work ethic to be incredibly inspiring.

However, the inspiration I have drawn from Andrea doesn’t stop with just her. The founders she’s introduced me to inspire me as well. I’ve met founders from around the world with a multitude of different stories. While none of their stories are the same, they all possess a similar drive to make their vision succeed in a saturated market. Andrea’s vision with Snaxshot is built on community and real-time interaction. As I build out my company, I want to employ that mindset as well– keeping the customers I’m catering to be involved in my vision and story, and building a successful product together. That is how one builds a successful CPG company– through knowing the customer and adapting as needs and demands shift.

As I’ve built Endure and continue to strategize further growth opportunities, I’ve kept Andrea and the lessons she’s taught me at the forefront of my mind. Brand storytelling is just as important as the product, and a big component of a story is the founder and who they are. I believe that any venture is as successful as its founders’ belief in themselves and in the company they’re building. Andrea works impeccably hard, and her industry peers recognize that about her. Her work ethic motivates me to believe in myself and keep going, regardless of the obstacles that are thrown my way.

Written By: Anja Westhues (BA ‘24)