Kelly Ramey didn’t want to choose between her all-time favorite dessert and her all-around wellness. Instead, the Santa Monica-based entrepreneur created a 100% vegan cookie dough with zero gluten, grains, or additives. It all adds up to something special — a delicious indulgence that helps the planet and people everywhere.
Doughy is naturally egg-free, so you can enjoy it straight from the pint with a spoon. Or, if you’re craving cookies, you can bake it into warm and gooey goodness. Either way, you’ll feel good about treating yourself as Doughy keeps a low carbon footprint and donates a portion of every sale to fighting hunger.
Recently, we caught up with Kelly to learn more about her journey and hear her advice for fellow entrepreneurs.
01 Why did you start Doughy?
I love cookie dough! My earliest memories are baking cookies with my mom and patiently waiting for the best part — licking the bowl and spatula clean. As I got older, I started to lean towards a plant-based, grain-free diet and wanted to create something that tasted like the real thing; a treat that brings back that nostalgic feeling without sacrificing on quality ingredients.
02 What obstacles did you face along the way?
As a first-time founder, I’ve faced countless obstacles, both big and small, throughout my journey. When I first started, sourcing scalable high-quality ingredients sounded simple. But, in reality, finding the right farmers proved to be incredibly challenging. Now, I’m lucky to have partnerships with farms around the world.
03 What lessons do you have for other entrepreneurs?
There will be moments throughout your entire career where you either need to pivot your business plan or persevere on your current path. The road to success is paved in failure, so keep going no matter what!
04 What’s on the horizon for Doughy?
Early next year we’ll be launching delicious new flavors! We also have a handful of brand new products that we’re excited to share with everyone — all plant-based and grain-free.
05 How do you keep work/life balance? What drives/inspires you?
Whenever I need to do my best thinking, I find myself hiking or surfing. Nature feeds my mind, keeps me balanced, and allows me to access my core intentions.
When I’m in the kitchen, I get so much joy from experimenting and creating nourishing meals for friends and family. I’m also inspired by all the wonderful responses from our customers. Hearing their positive reactions to a product that I worked so hard to make warms my heart and motivates me to create new healthy and delicious recipes.
It’s very important to me that each purchase of Doughy helps feed a family in need; the work we’ve done by giving back to our community drives me forward everyday.