Chapter 5

I made the decision to start a company on a random Wednesday afternoon.

My college roommate, Grace Cooper, flew in from out of state to hear me out.

She had spent the last three years working R&D at a cosmetics manufacturing plant, specializing in formulas and active ingredients.

I had pitched my rough idea to her over the phone, and she booked a flight the very next morning.

We met up at a local roadside diner. We sat in a vinyl booth, eating chili and drinking black coffee while she read through my business plan from cover to cover.

"You…