Today we’d like to introduce you to Rebecca Caputo.
Hi Rebecca, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers.
I am a Filipino-American woman who was raised by a single mother and who got kicked out of Venice High School. I went through some tough times and have the scars to prove it. If you told me 10 years ago I’d be running a company with my best friend, I would not have believed you. Looking back at it all now, I know that I’m lucky to have this amazing opportunity.
I remember when Val sent me the Kickstarter video about Rif, I immediately thought it was remarkable. I was literally on lunch break at my job working in a cancer diagnostic lab and sending her my feedback on the campaign. I started to obsess about all the ways I could help support this company because I understood that this was a culmination of our wellness journeys. I recognize now that obsession and passion are very closely related. We both struggled with hormone imbalances and had to reevaluate our lifestyles from the way we were eating, exercising, and the products we were using to help rebalance our cycles. I don’t think that many women realize how delicate our cycles are and how much it can affect our overall health. Not only that but tampons can shed billions of nano-plastics into our uterus and can take upwards of 500 years to biodegrade.
I got my degree in biology and have worked on scientific research projects focused on environmental sustainability. Before that, I spent a lot of time planning conferences for non-profit organizations. Being the co-founder of Rif really marries these two experiences because I get to support research and development, ESG compliances, and manage multiple projects at a time. I love it. We were pregnant at the same time, our kids are 3 months apart, and we like to joke that Rif is like our baby together. I quit my job when we launched into Erewhon and have been having the time of my life.
I’ve learned so much about myself through becoming an entrepreneur and I never in a million years thought I’d be in this position. When I was younger, I remember being taught to leave a place better than I found it. So, making products that are better for our bodies and the planet just makes sense. I’m really proud of how far I’ve come and how much we’ve been able to grow this company.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
There have definitely been some bumps in the road. We vowed to never run a crowdfunding campaign again after riding the Kickstarter emotional roller coaster. We knew before starting it that running social media ads would help to boost pledges, but we actually were shadow-banned for the majority of the campaign for talking about hemp and sexual wellness. It was a disaster. We ended up calling and texting every single person we knew to share the link. It ended up working out in the end, and we got a lot of support from our community. I think the other major bump that we’ve encountered is with fundraising. Women-founded companies only receive about 2% of venture capital funding. Knowing this and taking calls with different firms and angel groups has not been easy because talking about periods and hormones in a room full of men isn’t necessarily preaching to the choir. It’s been challenging, but I know we have amazing products that women love to use each month. We remain optimistic throughout because we understand that we’re going to do whatever it takes to make this a success.
As you know, we’re big fans of Rif care. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about the brand?
Rif care is a BIPOC women-owned and operated, regenerative wellness brand. We make personal care products that are better for our bodies and the planet. Everything we do is shaped by this commitment. Rif is focused on holistic full-cycle care. So, this covers everything from menstruation to motherhood.
We make our period products out of up-cycled hemp fiber. This means that we take bast fibers that were used in hemp oil production, make it into paper, then create premium organic period care products. Hemp is not only better than cotton because it sequesters carbon, uses less water, and grows without pesticides. But it also has natural antimicrobial and anti-fungal properties so it’s better at preventing infections.
I want the readers to know that Rif stands for Regenerative International Female. This is at our core because regeneration is a process of renewal that occurs naturally in all living things. Regenerative wellness means that we care not only about ourselves but also our environment. Making conscious choices to consistently take steps forward to be better than we were yesterday. Using products that impact the world positively and leaving the world better than we found it.
Mostly, I want everyone to know how much we truly appreciate all of the love and support we have received since our launch in June 2022. Every time we get tagged in a post and see our Rif box displayed on the bathroom counter or we read a review, we still get really excited about it. The best moments are when I’m at an event and get to hear things like ‘I tried your pads and it felt like I wasn’t wearing anything.’ It is the highest compliment of all because I know how good it feels to be comfortable on your period and how much of a difference that can have on our day. It makes it all worth it to know that I was able to play a smart part in making their life a little bit better.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
I think my most important characteristic to my success has to be tenacity. I don’t give up easily when encountering a problem. I always see them as opportunities to learn. I think I’ve had to learn to be tenacious because of my upbringing and that’s helped to shape me into the person I am today. I had to overcome a lot of obstacles, and I could’ve given up and settled on an easier path, but there’s this spirit inside me that just doesn’t give up. It pushes me to be better and keeps me motivated because if I can make it this far, I can keep going.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.rifcare.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rifcare/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Rifcares/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/rifcare
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@rifcare?lang=en
