From Harvard Business School to Leading a Nutrition Business

Sam Faycurry, co-founder and CEO of Fay, a digital platform connecting people with registered dietitians, shares his entrepreneurial journey. This story highlights the unexpected path that led him to the healthcare industry and the valuable lessons he learned along the way.

Faycurry's Entrepreneurial Journey

Faycurry's entrepreneurial journey began when he was a "weird little kid" who aspired to attend Harvard Business School. His dream became a reality when he got accepted, thrilling his family. However, life had other plans for him.

• While helping his mother and sister, both registered dietitians, start their business, he stumbled upon a business opportunity.
• He co-founded Fay with Mark Stefanski, creating a digital platform that connects people with registered dietitians.
• Fay provides personalized nutrition counseling and accepts insurance.
• The business grew rapidly, leading Faycurry to make a difficult decision to drop out of Harvard Business School.

Key Entrepreneurial Lessons Learned

Faycurry emphasizes the importance of practical experience over theoretical knowledge in building a successful business. He believes in getting your hands dirty and tackling problems directly. This hands-on approach allowed him to deeply understand the challenges in the nutrition industry and develop tailored solutions.

The Importance of Practical Experience

Faycurry advocates for a hands-on approach to entrepreneurship. He learned valuable lessons by taking on menial tasks and understanding the intricate details of his industry.

• He emphasizes the need to check ego at the door and be willing to do menial jobs.
• He learned the importance of solving real problems rather than pursuing intellectual exercises.
• His early business ventures focused on solving intellectual problems, but lacked practical relevance.
• By helping his family with their dietetics practice, he discovered real challenges that needed solutions.

Importance of Being Willing to Pivot

Faycurry learned that success often comes from unexpected places. He prioritized his business over his personal goals, demonstrating the importance of being flexible and adaptable in the face of opportunity.

• He made the difficult decision to drop out of Harvard Business School when his business started gaining traction.
• He emphasizes the importance of being willing to pivot from your original plan.

Staying Hungry for Success

Faycurry emphasizes the need to maintain a sense of hunger and drive in order to stay ahead in the competitive healthcare industry.

• He recognizes that complacency can lead to stagnation and failure.
• He encourages his team to constantly ask themselves how to maintain their drive and hunger.

Fay's Impact on the Healthcare Industry

Faycurry believes that his business has the potential to significantly impact the healthcare industry by improving accessibility to nutrition counseling. The success of Fay demonstrates the power of focusing on real problems and being willing to do the hard work.

• Fay has raised $25 million in funding and is rapidly changing the landscape of nutrition counseling.
• Fay is positioning itself to make a significant impact in the mental healthcare space.

Key Takeaways

Faycurry's story highlights the importance of embracing unexpected opportunities, being willing to learn from practical experience, and maintaining a hunger for success. His journey from a "weird little kid" dreaming of Harvard Business School to a successful entrepreneur leading a venture-backed startup in the healthcare industry is an inspiring example of perseverance and adaptability.

• Focus on solving real problems rather than intellectual exercises.
• Be willing to pivot from your original plan.
• Stay hungry for success.