Today we’d like to introduce you to James Testa.
During the summer of 2015 I, James Testa was severely injured in a hit and run motorcycle accident. The injuries ranged from broken bones, concussion, road rash and more. The long recovery process ultimately sparked my passion for fitness and nutrition.
During the recovery, as a busy college student who also worked full time, I quickly noticed that there weren’t many ways to get enough protein or energy while on the go without drinking a regular protein shake or harmful energy drink. That is when the idea to develop a high protein coffee dawned on me along with the brand behind it.
So after taking a crowdfunding class during my senior year at Suffolk University and learning this new way to raise funding, I decided to really pursue the idea and launched WarmUp’s Kickstarter campaign with a goal of $8,000. I hit the streets talking to people, blasting the campaign on social media, picked up some local press and the campaign went on to be a success hitting our funding goal within the first two weeks and raising a total of $8,600.
With the money raised, I was able to get our first round of inventory, secure manufacturing, get our LLC and trademarks and bring “WarmUp – Fuel For Go-Getters” to the market on Amazon December 2017.
In our first year, we have started to scale online, sponsored several local competitions/events, started working with local retailers, and got accepted MassChallenge’s 2018 Cohort in the Seaport! We have done some good work up to this point, but I am far more excited about what we can accomplish in the future!
Has it been a smooth road?
I think starting a company is never a smooth road, it often can be portrayed differently, but we definitely had our struggles along the way. Especially when you are jumping into this game as a 21-year-old kid. For example, we bounced back and forth with Amazon for over 3 months with paperwork to get our product approved to sell. Another hurdle was learning how manufacturing and negotiating with manufacturers worked.
The next was figuring out the entire brand and who our product was really best for. We always thought it was simply the fitness-focused, on the go professional including crossfitters and bodybuilders. However, through actually selling the product and being at events we quickly realized there were a lot of people of an older demographic interested in the product as well. So adjusting to cater to them was something that took work.
Dealing with retailers was another new experience for me. Figuring out our price sheet and understanding what retailers were looking for/expected so we could have a mutually beneficial business relationship. was another learning curve. As an entrepreneur, facing challenges is part of the job description. You need to expect that. And more importantly, you need to love the process of overcoming these obstacles. That’s how you win.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
We are a Boston based nutrition company selling the nation’s first 100% natural version of every fitness or health enthusiasts necessities – Coffee & Protein.
WarmUp Protein Coffee – Fuel For Go-Getters features……..
-15g of hydrolyzed protein
-223mg of natural caffeine from Brazilian Espresso
-0g Sugar/carbs/fat
-60 Calories
It comes in a convenient powder form fit for on the go people and unlike most protein powders you can drink it hot as well! Just mix the powder and heat it in your microwave cup!
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I love Boston. I grew up right in Eastie, it’s my home. My favorite thing is the food, I love the food. No matter where you go in Boston you can get great food.
What I like least I bet you can guess…. the weather haha. I always joke around with my friends that I’m moving to Florida and I am getting more serious by the day.
On the serious note, Boston is a great place. We’re tough people and stick together.
Pricing:
- WarmUp Protein Coffee 1lb – 18 Servings $27.99
Contact Info:
- Website: warmupnutrition.com
- Email: james@warmupproteincoffee.com
Image Credit:
Michael Lauletta
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