KM Viray
Cauli Rice is going global–and behind this great product is Filipina founder Gem Misa. Cauli Rice is the first long-life, ready-to-heat version of the global diet phenomenon, Cauliflower Rice. Cauliflower rice is not just a food trend, it aims to be a mainstay in the world of healthy eating as Cauli Rice is a low calorie and low GI Rice Replacement. It has 80% fewer calories than ordinary white rice, but has the same taste and gives the same satisfaction.
With Misa’s trademark establishment and successful patent search completed, the Cauli Rice is now a semi-finalist in the Virgin Media Business’s #VOOM Pitch to Rich 2015. In association with the world’s largest professional network LinkedIn, the contest aims to find the brightest and best businesses in the UK and give them the support to be the best they can be. The contest is divided into three categories: 1) Start-Up, involving new businesses out to shake things up; 2) New Things, involving the game-changers; and 3) Grow, involving the established business but who are aiming to go higher. Cauli Rice falls under the Start Up category where Misa stands to win £150,000 in marketing support, as well as a year of mentoring and support from Virgin StartUp’s professional business advisors.
Budding entrepreneurs pitched directly to Richard Branson, founder of the Virgin Group, the umbrella company where Virgin Media Business falls under. On his Facebook page, Branson is described as “tie-loathing adventurer, philanthropist, and troublemaker, who believes in turning ideas into reality.” This businessman-philanthropist is now extending a helpful hand to small business owners. It’s the opportunity of a lifetime and Misa grabbed it fast.
How did she get started in the business? Misa shares:
My husband and I stumbled upon the cauliflower rice health trend three years ago and quickly saw the opportunity to develop a long-life, easy-cook version of this fantastic product. Because it is low-calorie and low-GI, it could help diabetics and people struggling with their weight by allowing them to enjoy meals they’ve previously had to avoid. That was our big eureka moment: we thought that if we could create a convenient, retail-pack format for cauliflower rice, it could really make a big difference to so many people.
And a big difference it made indeed. Virgin Media Business has narrowed down their finalists and 32 brilliant pitches impressed made it through to the semi-finals. The power now falls in the hands of the voters to bring Cauli Rice to the finals. It’s currently in the Top 10 list of semi-finalists, but with the leaderboard being refreshed every 5 minutes, it’s anybody’s ballgame.
Support our fellow Filipino and go to the Virgin Media Business’s #VOOM Pitch to Rich website and vote by simply writing your name and email. Voting closes on June 22.
Banner photo grabbed from Cauli Rice’s Facebook page.
