Project Egg: Entrepreneurs Gathering For Growth

Aaron Hinde: LIFEAID founders Orion Melehan and Aaron Hinde first met at a CrossFit® box in Santa Cruz, California, in 2009. Melehan was a Certified Financial Planner™ and Hinde was a sports chiropractor, working with local athletes. A friendship was quickly struck between them, later evolving into a business partnership. The two were convinced that health-conscious consumers would start to demand alternatives to high-sugar, high-caffeine and artificial mass-marketed drinks—in search of products that better aligned with their lifestyles. They were equally convinced that consumers were looking for more functionality beyond that of the caffeine found in energy drinks or isotonic sports drinks. After months of brainstorming and collaboration, they created their vision for LIFEAID and funded it with their life's savings. Melehan’s financial expertise helped craft the business plan; Hinde’s background in nutrition and chiropractic care proved essential when developing LIFEAID products, as he worked closely with t