Transforming Waste into Opportunity: Disney Petit on Building LiquiDonate
In a world where excess and waste often go unnoticed, Disney Petit, founder of LiquiDonate, is challenging the status quo. Her innovative platform is not just addressing waste but turning it into a force for good, helping communities while tackling one of retail’s biggest challenges. We spoke with Disney about her journey, the lessons she’s learned, and her vision for the future.
What inspired you to start your company?
As a long-time activist, I have always had a passion for finding innovative approaches to solving really hard problems. During the pandemic, we all saw that community needs were so high while waste continues to be a growing problem. Continuing off of my previous experiences in building tech for good, I wanted to launch a platform where we could find a home for anything and work towards a world without waste.
What is the most important life, career, or startup lesson you’ve learned, and who (or what) taught it to you?
The most important life lesson that I’ve learned is to always assume positive intent. When I worked for the Apple Store, this was something that they said time and time again, and it has always proven to be true. Even if the other person has malintent, it is much less stressful to go through life not assuming that someone did or said (or didn’t do) something because of something you did.
What is one thing you wish you’d known at the start of your startup journey?
Fundraising is hard. Make sure you have a quality support team behind you that can help keep the business running as normal while your time pivots significantly to focus on the raise. People want to help you and will actually appreciate you following up with them in their area of expertise. I recommend keeping a spreadsheet with the person’s name, contact information, notes from the last time you spoke, and their superpower so that next time you’re in a bind, you have someone you can reach out to as a sounding board for that specific issue. It’s a great way to connect and reconnect with folks you meet along the way.
What is the hardest part of being a founder? And what’s the most rewarding?
The hardest part of being a founder is that what we are building has never existed before! So it has been a challenge in finding the best ways to show our value. Fortunately, it’s an area that our team keeps learning and growing in, and I can tell that we’ve come a long way from when we first started.
The most rewarding is having my team behind me. They are what keeps me going every day since we started the LiquiDonate journey.
“The most important life lesson that I’ve learned is to always assume positive intent.”
Disney Petit
Tell us one (or more) fun facts about your team.
One thing that I love about our company is that we offer paid volunteer time – and the team takes advantage of it! It has been awesome learning about the causes and organizations that are close to the team in their personal lives, and seeing them share their passions in a variety of ways to give back.
How will your company change the world
LiquiDonate’s innovative approach eliminates warehouse glut and prevents it from building up again. We’re setting a new standard in inventory management for all brands and retailers while enabling them to positively impact communities across the nation (and one day, the world!).
16.6% of all sold goods end up being returned, placing an escalating financial burden on retailers. Returns more than doubled since 2021, reaching an astronomical figure of over $800 billion in 2023. The gravity of this issue is further underscored by the fact that 8.4 billion pounds are landfilled, and a staggering 15-45 billion garments produced annually remain unsold.
In the United States, there are over 1.5 million 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations that play a crucial role in addressing gaps in social safety nets, championing causes such as animal welfare, and advocating for important social and environmental issues. In-kind donations of products are pivotal to a nonprofit’s success, especially amid the challenges of navigating stringent and stretched budgets. Nonprofits spend an estimated $1 billion per year on essentials.
LiquiDonate bridges this gap by helping retailers donate excess inventory while recouping costs and reducing waste, and allowing nonprofits to allocate more funds towards their mission.
Why do you do what you do?
There are a lot of things wrong in society, but I truly believe that systems change is possible from within. I see the huge opportunity there is in tackling a segment of our world’s waste problem that puts the responsibility back on companies instead of individuals, in a way that spreads benefits far and wide. We don’t yet have perfect recycling systems, we don’t have seamless circularity for every product, and until we do, we can still extend the life of items while boosting the organizations tackling the needs of so many.
Where do you go for inspiration?
I enjoy reading and staying up to date in tech, sustainability, and social impact. My latest book recommendations are Cradle to Cradle and The Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind by Julian Jaynes.
Anything else you want people to know?
We are grateful to be aligned with all of the wonderful investors, friends, and community we have built so far at LiquiDonate, and we’re just getting started.
