Shazi Visram

This mother sold her organic baby food company for $250M.

Retirement lasted until her son got an autism diagnosis and she realized the baby industry was full of toxic garbage.

Shazi Visram built two companies, for two of her babies.

The first: Happy Family Organics.

The second: HealthyBaby.

In 2003, while studying at Columbia Business School, Shazi had a conversation with a friend who felt guilty for not being able to make homemade food for her twins.

So she started experimenting with organic baby food in her kitchen.

She added mint to mashed peas. Mixed quinoa with black beans and bananas.

And when it was time to raise capital, her mother, Zarin, wrote the first check.

Between 2004 and 2012, she raised $23M from 186 individual investors. Including Honest Tea’s Seth Goldman, chef Tom Colicchio, and Demi Moore.

In 2006, she launched Happy Baby with co-founder Jessica Rolph.

Over the next seven years, Happy Family became the fastest-growing organic baby food brand in the U.S.

On Mother’s Day 2013, she sold 92% of the company to Danone for $250M.

She stayed on as CEO until 2017.

Then, her son Zane, developmentally typical until age two, was diagnosed with autism.

The neurologist offered little hope.

So Shazi went looking for researchers, doctors, neurologists, developmental pediatricians, and environmental biologists.

She discovered that nothing in Zane’s genetics predicted autism, and that many factors in a baby’s environment could shape their development.

She applied all of that knowledge to her second pregnancy with her daughter Asha.

Then she built her second company: HealthyBaby.

Soft-launched in 2020 and officially launched in 2021, HealthyBaby is focused on supporting babies from preconception through pre-K.

Their patented diaper became the first ever to be verified by the Environmental Working Group.

They also offer plant-based baby balms, prenatal vitamins, wipes, and home cleaning products.

The company expanded into Target stores in 2023.

Investors include Sara Blakely and Seth Goldman.

Zane took three years to learn how to blow out a candle.

That process became the blueprint for HealthyBaby’s first toothbrush, designed to support oral motor development before delays appear.

The company operates from “The Nest,” a developmental play space and innovation hub.

Employees work four days a week there, and remote staff are flown in for events like the annual holiday party.

The goal: eliminate plastic from diapers and go fully sustainable.

Shazi’s personal life reflects the same resilience.

She went through spinal fusion surgery.

Her husband Joe, her life coach and biggest supporter, played Rocky music during recovery.

She credits her support network at home and at work for helping her keep going.

She’s also an investor and advisor.

She sits on the boards of Ovia Health, Bulletproof, and Recycle Track Systems.

And she’s worked with the Environmental Working Group and founded the Happy Family Children’s Village in Tanzania in honor of her father.