Founder Spotlight: Ali Lazowski (Bare Life)
Meet Ali Lazowski
Company:
Bare Life
Bare Life is reimaging our food system by creating easy-to-enjoy, organic, plant based, and gluten free twists on the foods you already know and love! Starting with our deliciously rich and award-winning dairy-free hot chocolates and frozen hot chocolate.
Location:
West Hartford, Connecticut, USA
When did you launch the business?
September 16, 2018
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Startup Stage?
Bootstrapped
What led you to where you are today?
Bare Life began in the doctor’s offices. After years of navigating Lyme disease, thyroid cancer, and complex digestive issues, I longed for foods that felt like comfort—rich, nostalgic, and made with ingredients I could trust. When the world didn’t offer what I needed, I stood in my own kitchen and created it. From that simple, hopeful beginning grew a mission to share these treats with others who deserve both flavor and freedom.
What do you wish you knew before embarking on your entrepreneurial journey?
That you don’t need to have everything figured out to start. Building Bare Life taught me that progress happens through imperfect steps, constant learning, and being willing to ask questions. I wish I had given myself permission early on to grow through mistakes, alongside the brand.
What is the most difficult decision you've had to make regarding your business so far?
Learning when to step back for my health, while still leading a rapidly scaling brand. Balancing chronic illness with nationwide demand forced me to redefine sustainable leadership and build a wonderful team that allows Bare Life to thrive—without sacrificing well-being.
What can you help the VEGPRENEUR community with?
I can support the VEGPRENEUR community with guidance on building and scaling a better-for-you CPG brand—from navigating co-packers and 3PLs to managing distributors, retail launches, and multi-channel sales. I’m happy to share what I’ve learned about product development, ingredient sourcing, and growing sustainably in a competitive category.
How can the VEGPRENEUR community help you?
Your feedback is incredibly powerful for us. Whether it’s where you love to shop, what types of products you wish existed, or how our website and social channels feel from a customer perspective—those insights help us grow smarter. Honest input from fellow founders and shoppers shapes how we refine our brand, improve the experience, and meet people where they are.
Fun fact about you:
I was fortunate enough to spend part of gap year, in between high school and college, studying cooking in Florence, Italy, which sparked my love for simple, comforting food—and eventually inspired parts of Bare Life’s recipe development.
Anything else you would like to share?
At its core, Bare Life exists to bring joy, comfort, and inclusivity to people who often feel overlooked in the food world. We’re excited for what’s ahead as we continue growing, innovating, and creating treats that make life a little cozier for everyone.
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