Founder’s Story
Greetings,
I’m Dr. Ali Karami, and I’d like to share a brief part of my journey. I started my education in Iran, earning a BSc. and MSc. Then, in 2008, I moved to Malaysia to begin my Ph.D. at a prestigious research university. I’ve always been the kind of person who takes things seriously. If I start something, I see it through to the end. I don’t like leaving tasks unfinished. I wholeheartedly immersed myself in my studies and research, resulting in my Ph.D. graduation in 2012. Leveraging my strong academic credentials, I transitioned into a role as a Senior Lecturer at the same institution and undertook the monumental task of establishing two research laboratories from the ground up.
Taste testing with random strangers in a park, Sydney, Australia – 2017
Over the course of three years, my career thrived, marked by over 50 research papers published in top-tier scientific journals and 4 patents, well-funded research projects, student mentorship, and educational course and workshops. Yet, I found myself growing increasingly disillusioned with the rigidity of university positions – a perceived lack of real- world impact through academic publications. My aspiration was to leave a lasting legacy, a tangible contribution to making the world a better place to live. In pursuit of this dream, I made the bold decision to leave the academic world and move to Australia in mid-2017. With just two suitcases in hand, I landed on Australian soil with no social connections or contacts. I was well aware that without taking risks and making sacrifices, there could be no reward. So, I rolled up my sleeves and began from square one. I began crafting herbal tonics that were handed down to me, and I approached random strangers on the streets and in parks, asking them to try the products and share their honest feedback.
nudeherbs’ mini-farm, Queensland, Australia – 2018
I used their insights to refine my recipes. This was an exceptionally tough task, especially for someone who had recently migrated. The initial brews were far from perfect— unpleasant taste and unappealing colours. Determined to enhance the tonics, I decided to cultivate my own herbs and flowers. This prompted a move to the warmer climes of northern Australia (Queensland), where I transformed an arduous three-month effort, involving 135-hour workweeks and a steep learning curve in farming, into the creation of a mini-farm and greenhouse.
Our first Farmers’ Market, Byron Bay, Australia – 2018
In September 2018, the first batch of tonics was officially produced, and I embarked on the challenging journey of securing retail placement and participating in weekend farmers’ markets.
However, the labour-intensive nature of farming, coupled with solo management of manufacturing, sales, and marketing, proved unsustainable. In an ironic twist, my greenhouse drew the attention of law enforcement, who mistakenly believed I was growing illicit plants! The police left the property, however, once they inspected and found that I was only growing legal herbs and flowers for my tonics. In addition, that year, there was a significant issue with insufficient rainfall. The recently installed 23,000-liter water tank soon ran empty, causing a major financial setback to the business.
Fast forward to early 2019, I opted to temporarily shutter the business and relocate to Melbourne. Just as I was poised to relaunch small-scale production in a commercial kitchen, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted life as we knew it. Melbourne, where I resided, became the world’s most lockdown-affected city. Despite daunting challenges, I persevered, running production and securing agreements with a few retailers to stock nudeherbs tonics.
The next significant milestone involved saving every cent to establish my own modest production facility. So, I located a small property in an industrial area and secured the necessary licenses, all in the pursuit of my dream. These sacrifices paved the way for a successful crowdfunding campaign, which provided the capital to move to a larger space and establish a small production plant in 2022. Fast forward again, with numerous brand and product enhancements, nudeherbs Tonics now grace the shelves of over 400 retailers and continue to experience rapid growth. Although my journey has only just begun, one thing is clear: success is not a capricious occurrence. It demands substantial sacrifices, unwavering work ethics, and an unwavering vision which is “to empower individuals all around the world to enhance their physical and mental well-being naturally through nudeherbs”. Cheers!
Founder’s Story
Greetings,
I’m Dr. Ali Karami, and I’d like to share a brief part of my journey. I started my education in Iran, earning a BSc. and MSc. Then, in 2008, I moved to Malaysia to begin my Ph.D. at a prestigious research university. I’ve always been the kind of person who takes things seriously. If I start something, I see it through to the end. I don’t like leaving tasks unfinished. I wholeheartedly immersed myself in my studies and research, resulting in my Ph.D. graduation in 2012. Leveraging my strong academic credentials, I transitioned into a role as a Senior Lecturer at the same institution and undertook the monumental task of establishing two research laboratories from the ground up.
Taste testing with random strangers in a park, Sydney, Australia – 2017.
Over the course of three years, my career thrived, marked by over 50 research papers published in top-tier scientific journals and 4 patents, well-funded research projects, student mentorship, and educational course and workshops. Yet, I found myself growing increasingly disillusioned with the rigidity of university positions-fixed compensation regardless of effort and a perceived lack of real- world impact through academic publications. My aspiration was to leave a lasting legacy, a tangible contribution to making the world a better place to live. In pursuit of this dream, I made the bold decision to leave the academic world and move to Australia in mid-2017. With just two suitcases in hand, I landed on Australian soil with no social connections or contacts. I was well aware that without taking risks and making sacrifices, there could be no reward. So, I rolled up my sleeves and began from square one. I began crafting herbal tonics that were handed down to me, and I approached random strangers on the streets and in parks, asking them to try the products and share their honest feedback.
nudeherbs’ mini-farm, Queensland, Australia – 2018
I used their insights to refine my recipes. This was an exceptionally tough task, especially for someone who had recently migrated. The initial brews were far from perfect— unpleasant taste and unappealing colours. Determined to enhance the tonics, I decided to cultivate my own herbs and flowers. This prompted a move to the warmer climes of northern Australia (Queensland), where I transformed an arduous three-month effort, involving 135-hour workweeks and a steep learning curve in farming, into the creation of a mini-farm and greenhouse.
Our first Farmers’ Market, Byron Bay, Australia – 2018
In September 2018, the first batch of tonics was officially produced, and I embarked on the challenging journey of securing retail placement and participating in weekend farmers’ markets.
However, the labour-intensive nature of farming, coupled with solo management of manufacturing, sales, and marketing, proved unsustainable. In an ironic twist, my greenhouse drew the attention of law enforcement, who mistakenly believed I was growing illicit plants! The police left the property, however, once they inspected and found that I was only growing legal herbs and flowers for my tonics. In addition, that year, there was a significant issue with insufficient rainfall. The recently installed 23,000-liter water tank soon ran empty, causing a major financial setback to the business.
Fast forward to early 2019, I opted to temporarily shutter the business and relocate to Melbourne. Just as I was poised to relaunch small-scale production in a commercial kitchen, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted life as we knew it. Melbourne, where I resided, became the world’s most lockdown-affected city. Despite daunting challenges, I persevered, running production and securing agreements with a few retailers to stock nudeherbs tonics.
The next significant milestone involved saving every cent to establish my own modest production facility. So, I located a small property in an industrial area and secured the necessary licenses, all in the pursuit of my dream. These sacrifices paved the way for a successful crowdfunding campaign, which provided the capital to move to a larger space and establish a small production plant in 2022. Fast forward again, with numerous brand and product enhancements, nudeherbs Tonics now grace the shelves of over 400 retailers and continue to experience rapid growth. Although my journey has only just begun, one thing is clear: success is not a capricious occurrence. It demands substantial sacrifices, unwavering work ethics, and an unwavering vision which is “to empower individuals all around the world to enhance their physical and mental well-being naturally through nudeherbs”. Cheers!
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