Vanessa Rissetto: Why You Should Build for Customers, Not Investors

What does it take to build a venture-backed healthcare company while challenging everything people think they know about nutrition? In this episode of The First 200, host Amira Rasool sits down with Vanessa Rissetto, Co-Founder and CEO of Culina Health, the virtual nutrition care platform she has raised $10 million in venture capital to build. As a registered dietitian turned entrepreneur, Vanessa is transforming access to personalized nutrition care while proving that healthcare outcomes improve when providers reflect the communities they serve. Together, the entrepreneurs discuss building a healthcare startup, raising venture capital in the digital health space, navigating bias as a Black woman founder, the realities of scaling a mission-driven company, and why representation in healthcare isn't just important, it's essential to improving patient outcomes. 00:00 - Introduction 03:46 - Founder Origin 09:29 - Problem 12:02 - Solution 14:37 - Business Model 18:14 - Go To Market 21:05 - Team 23:01 - Fundraising 44:11 - Lightning Round 44:17 - Closing FOLLOW THE FIRST 200 Website: https://www.thefirst200.com/ Instagram:   / firsttwohundred   TikTok:   / firsttwohundred   SPONSORED BY THE FOLKLORE The Folklore helps brands sell better and market smarter with technology that powers retail distribution, affiliate commerce, and AI-powered marketing tools. Start your free trial: https://thefolklore.com/pages/join-us