In her early childhood Rachael Rapinoe suffered from anxiety and panic attacks. Her mental distress was later compounded by physical pain and injuries she endured in her collegiate and professional soccer career. Having a family history of undiagnosed mental illness and addiction, Rachael was determined to find a natural remedy for her physical, mental and emotional challenges. That’s when she discovered the medicinal benefits of hemp-derived CBD (a non-impairing derivative of the cannabis plant), and a new passion for helping others like herself stay balanced, naturally. Rachael set out to design plant-powered CBD products that would be more widely accessible, approachable and trusted– thus, Mendi CBD Solutions was born. In the beginning, Mendi focused on creating products for elite female athletes to feel their best and manage pain naturally. However, recognizing a growing demand in the market, Rachael expanded the brand focus to include all people with active lifestyles who want to improve their quality of life in the most natural way possible.

Lawrence Hayes II, H.D., Ph.D has a goal to get people back to the basics of skincare. Growing up in the dry climate of Michigan, Lawrence is no stranger to the painful effects of eczema — and to big brand salves that claim to help, but don’t. After earning a degree in nutrition and a Ph.D in Holistic Nutrition, Lawrence set out to improve the beauty industry by offering premium-quality, yet affordable products that are naturally sourced and formulated for effectiveness. “Skincare companies make money convincing people they need expensive products, many of which are made from synthetic ingredients that actually changes the skin’s natural PH balance,” Lawrence says. That’s when he discovered the healing power of Babassu, a natural oil harvested from the seeds of the babassu palm tree in the Amazon rain forest, and an innovative idea to create personal care products with this natural ingredient emerged.