I am excited and humbled to announce that Free From Market closed its $2.1M Seed Round. This milestone means so much to me and represents significant progress both personally and professionally. It is no mistake that today I make this announcement on my father, Lee Hill's, 76th birthday. A man of faith, whose actions have taught me the values of hard work, perseverance, and service. Family is everything and has long been the inspiration for my work. For the past nine years, I have been focused on ensuring EVERYONE has inclusive access to the food and resources they need to be healthy. My passion for this mission runs deep and is rooted in lived experience. My family, like many, poor, Black families from the rural south, were dying of Pellagra, a systemic disease caused by a severe deficiency in vitamin B at the turn of the century. This deficiency was caused by a poor diet and was preventable. In 2013 my mother died suddenly at the age of 61 to complications related to heart disease and diabetes. I almost lost my father to the same fate in 2021. Both my mother and father came of age during the 1960s, when fast-food began to proliferate in our communities. I remember stopping at Whataburger on our way to school frequently as a young child for an egg and cheese bun. We didn't know this was hurting us. When I became a mother, I read up on nutrition and worked to give my children the very best start I could. But things didn't work out the way I planned. My kids both developed food related conditions and it was difficult to manage both our grocery budget and their dietary needs. Like many Americans during tough economic times, I turned to the support of federal nutrition programs and food pantries. When I could not find the products we needed, I became obsessed with creating a resource in my community. One that not only provides access to food, but support to make the dietary changes to thrive. Every experience of the past, for good or bad, has positioned me to build Free From Market. I am so grateful to everyone who has supported me, especially our investors. Bluestein Ventures Acumen KCRise Fund Beta Boom 1st Course Capital AssetBlue Investment Group Let's go! #healthequity #blackfounders
Tim Brown
1y
You are so blessed!!!
congratulations Emily
Congratulations Emily Brown Your father sounds like an amazing man. I bet your mama is smiling down on you and so proud of the amazing things you are doing to make this world a better place.
Congratulations Emily. I am so proud of you and what you have accomplished. So many people benefit from your obsession!
So incredibly proud to know you, Emily Brown. HUGE love and congrats!!!! 🌟
Lisa Gable
1y
Congratulations!
Keep going!!! We need this advocacy. What a beautiful evolution. Keep fighting to make healthy foods and nutritional education accessible to all, especially the beautiful souls that need it the most! Great job!! Believe in your Passion!
Aviva Ajmera
1y
Congratulations!
Innovator, Leader, Builder - Creating Impact and a Future We All Want to Live In
1yCongratulations Emily!!! So wonderful walking with you, Free From Market and the impact you are having. Your innovation - connecting food supply/logistics, nutrition, education, food as medicine (which it always has been), with health care payors, providers and consumers - is ground breaking. 🎉 And, Javier Evelyn Goodie Nation - thank you for introducing Emily to Goodie Nation!!! The power of networks and relationships! 🎉 ✨