About Lanie’s Entrepreneurial Journey
“As we get older, getting and staying hydrated is increasingly challenging and a critical problem. Reasons include finding water unappealing, a weakened thirst mechanism, dexterity and/or mobility issues, and purposely minimizing water intake to avoid trips to the restroom. 48% of older adults hospitalized with a principal diagnosis of dehydration die within a year. Drinking water should be easier.
Motivated by my grandma’s hospitalization for dehydration, my experience as a caregiver, and the potential to help families, we reimagined hydration and developed Hydro Gummy — water you can eat. Hydro Gummy is an alternative way to hydrate and increase existing water intake for older adults who have difficulty drinking and functional limitations. Hydro Gummy is packed with hydration, delicious, and easy to eat. Our core innovation is forming water into a chewable solid form that resembles fruit snack candy. Hydro Gummy is made of 90% water, in solid, bite-size form, soft in texture for easier consumption, and enhanced with electrolytes. It looks, smells, and tastes like candy, but is healthy, low in calories, and packed with hydration. Dehydration is completely preventable, yet $5.5B is spent annually on hospitalization charges for dehydration. Consuming water should be easier — Hydro Gummy can help.
There are 54 million older adults and 53 million caregivers in the U.S. who need more support. If we can help individuals with adequate hydration, we could help mitigate health risks. Hydro Gummy can change the game to become the gold standard for doctors’ hydration recommendations.”
About Lanie’s Pitch
“I’m proud that Hydro Gummy made it to the Minority Women Lead finals and is among such a remarkable cohort. I’m inspired by these women and their courage and perseverance to overcome the additional life, career, and entrepreneurial challenges faced by women of color.
Motivated by my experiences as a granddaughter and caregiver, I created Hydro Gummy — an innovative hydration product that supports the well-being and health of our loved ones and ourselves. As a second-generation Asian American who grew up in a multi-generational household, cultural values and filial piety were instilled in me. I feel a sense of devotion to family and community. I want to help others in similar situations. My goal is to promote good health and help alleviate some of the stress in caregiving, and to especially support and uplift women and minorities.
As a caregiver to my grandmother, I represent one of the 53 million caregivers in the U.S. It’s meaningful to highlight the importance of women’s contributions in the care economy, family, and health and wellness space is personal to me. Caregiving is not just core to our community as women and minorities, it is core to the economy and society.
Caregiving contributes $648 billion to the U.S. economy and the majority of caregivers are female. I want to highlight and support the incredible contributions that caregivers and frontline healthcare professionals give every day — care that ultimately impacts every individual and overall society. Hydro Gummy is an easy way to help improve hydration, especially for those who are most vulnerable, and to help reduce the stress of caregiving.”