Q. Kindly give our readers an introduction to your business. Please include what your business is all about, in which city you are located and if you have offices in multiple locations/ cities.
A. Gut issues affect up to 45 million people in the United States alone. However, current treatments merely focus on improvement of symptoms, instead of getting to the root of the problem. Frustrated that available treatments didn’t work, Dr. Kenneth Brown, a board-certified gastroenterologist in Dallas, set out to create his own. Through careful science and rigorous testing, he and his team created a natural blend of polyphenols called Atrantíl.
Atrantil’s unique, patented combination of natural polyphenols stops symptoms where they begin- in the small intestine. Atrantil gets to the root of the problem providing the only natural and safe solution proven to get rid of abdominal bloating and discomfort with/without diarrhea, constipation or both. Clinical studies show that Atrantil gets rid of the bloating and supports overall digestive health by nourishing and protecting the microbiome.
Atrantil is headquartered in Dallas, Texas and is available in over 300 retailers worldwide as well as online at www.atrantil.com, Amazon and wlamart.com.
Q. Kindly give us a brief description about yourself (it should include your brief educational or entrepreneurial background and list some of your major achievements).
A.
Education
University of Texas Health Science Center | Fellowship in Gastroenterology and Hepatology (2004)
University of Texas Health Science Center | Residency in Internal Medicine (2001)
University of Nebraska Medical Center | Degree : M.D. (1998)
Dana College | Degree: B.A. Biology and Spanish (1992)
Work Experience
Host Gut Check Project
American College of Gastroenterology | Practice Management Committee (2014 – present)
Amsurg | Physician Advisory Board (2014 – 2017)
KBS Research | Chief Medical Officer (2012 – present)
Preston Crossing Endoscopy Center | Director (2010 – 2014)
Digestive Health Associates of Texas | Gastroenterologist (2004 – present)
Certifications
Board-Certified – American Board of Internal Medicine – Gastroenterology
Board-Certified – American Board of Internal Medicine – Gastroenterology Internal Medicine
Medical Licence Texas | 2000 – present
University of Texas Health Science Center | Fellowship in Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
Q. What inspired you to (start a new business venture) or (to make significant changes in an existing business)? How did the idea for your business come about?
A. As a busy gastroenterologist in the Dallas area, it’s not unusual for me to see half a dozen patients a day suffering from abdominal discomfort and bloating, often made worse by constipation or diarrhea. Frustrated by the lack of effective treatments, I decided to dig deeper. In 2008, I participated in clinical trials for a new drug for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The drug performed barely better than placebo in the test—and caused lots of adverse side effects. I wanted better for my patients.
In 2012, I formed KBS Research to explore natural solutions that will provide relief for uncomfortable symptoms created in the gut. Through long hours of research and testing, my team and I have developed Atrantíl—a patented blend of three botanicals that relieves bloating and abdominal discomfort accompanied by constipation, diarrhea or both. It’s made in the United States with the highest standards and purest ingredients and has no known side effects.
I’m thrilled to be able to offer my patients—and you—a natural solution that’s proven by science to provide safe, effective relief.
Q. What three pieces of advice would you give to budding entrepreneurs?
A. The “perfect” time to start your business may never come. Don’t keep waiting for everything to be perfect. At some point you just have to jump in and start being an entrepreneur!
Continue to be the expert in what you are good at and trust your instincts, while being open minded to other experts to help run your business.
Join a group with like-minded entrepreneurs; this way to can learn to avoid stepping on the same land minds.
Q. What would you say are the top three skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur?
A. Don’t try to become someone else, your uniqueness is what got you here
There will be mistakes, but each one is a pivot moment to improve
Be generous, share your wins, ideas and mistakes with your team and like-minded entrepreneurs
Q. How many hours do you work a day on average?
A. ½ hour. (the part that feels like work).
Q. To what do you most attribute your success?
A. Being in constant pursuit of trying to know what I don’t know
Q. How do you go about marketing your business? What has been your most successful form of marketing?
A. We market in many ways, but the most successful form is being able to tell our story.
Q. Where did your organizations funding/capital come from and how did you go about getting it? How did you obtain investors for your venture?
A. Funding came from colleagues who could help promote the product and grow the brand. Each dollar was earned with a long face to face meeting so our investors could understand the big picture and the story behind it.
Q. What is the best way to achieve long-term success?
A. Stick to those core values that got you off the dock, and then see if you are always trying to apply that to the day to day business practice
Q. Where you see yourself and your business in 5 – 10 years?
A. 5 years – rapid growth with multiple new products and research
10 years – traveling the world sharing the science and changing lives
Q. Excluding yours, what company or business do you admire the most?
A. Generosity Feeds – an example of giving back
Q. How important have good employees been to your success?
A. Super important. Employees are who represent you and your business to the world. I use the example that we are like a restaurant. If you go somewhere and the experience is poor from the check in to the wait staff, it doesn’t matter what is being served. You won’t go back.
Q. How long do you stick with an idea before giving up?
A. Do you ever really give up on an idea? An idea that doesn’t works just becomes part of another idea and so on, until something works.
Q. What motivates you?
A. That we can help millions and are just getting started
Q. What are your ideals?
A. Do no Harm, be original, be empathetic and give back
Q. How do you generate new ideas?.
A. Achieving a Flow state- through sauna, meditation, or exercise
Q. How do you define success?
A. One is objective through data analytics. The other is subjective on how we make a difference each person’s life
Q. How do you build a successful customer base?
A. Having a product that works
Q. What is your favorite aspect of being an entrepreneur?
A. Meeting other scientists, entrepreneurs and collaborating to help each other
Q. What has been your most satisfying moment in business?
A. Opening the first box of finished product after launching
Q. What do you feel is the major difference between entrepreneurs and those who work for someone else?
A. Those that work for others are looking for someone else to take the risks to start a business, so that they can have a job.
Q. What kind of culture exists in your organization? How did you establish this tone and why did you institute this particular type of culture?
A. Our culture is open, and every person can have a voice. We try to apply principles of trust, honesty, respect and integrity openly and verbally at the start of each week.
Q. In one word, characterize your life as an entrepreneur.
A. whirlwind
Q. If you had the chance to start your career over again, what would you do differently?
A. Raise more money up front
Q. How has being an entrepreneur affected your family life?
A. It has been difficult because I always bring the wins and losses home. I’m pretty sure they are sick of hearing about all of it!
Q. What is your greatest fear, and how do you manage fear?
A. Developing a product that either doesn’t work or may even hurt someone. I manage that by putting in the time with the science and research.
Q. How did you decide on the location for your business?
A. It’s the city I live in, and we started our actual office location because we got a great deal on the space.
Q. Do you believe there is some sort of pattern or formula to becoming a successful entrepreneur?
A. Always keep self-evaluating and making sure you are on the core course.
Q. What book has inspired you the most? (OR what is your favorite book?)
A. Let my people surf
Q. What are some of the biggest mistakes you’ve made?
A. Too many to list
Q. How can you prevent mistakes or do damage control?
A. Analyzing your mistakes to the prevention part is just to not repeat the same mistakes.
Q. What are your hobbies? What do you do in your non-work time?
A. Taking my kids to their tennis matches and working out.
Q. What makes you happy?
A. Knowing that happiness is a state of mind, so I try not to wait on the world to make me happy.
Q. What sacrifices have you had to make to be a successful entrepreneur?
A. Significant cut in traditional pay, less time for friends, lots of expenses.