Some of the most interesting enterprises aren’t built from business plans alone. They grow out of life-changing moments — a health scare that sparks a new approach to food, a new baby that inspires a mother to rethink work, or simply the feeling that it’s time to build something of your own.
That’s the story behind two of Walnut Creek’s newest women-led businesses: Earthy Roots and Bondadoso Coffee & Tea Collective. Their products may be different — but the women behind them share a similar leap of faith.
Earthy Roots
Viki Jai, a food scientist by training, spent years working at General Mills, Annie's, and Heinz. Then she got sick. She was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and found herself on five different medications, but nothing gave her relief.
"That's when my healing journey began," she said. "Plant-based meals played a big role in keeping my inflammation down."
She switched to whole plant-based meals with no added oils, and over time, her inflammation slowly decreased. Even as her health improved, she faced a new challenge: finding convenient, protein-packed plant-based food that actually tasted good.
"Being vegan and gluten-free, it was very hard," she said. "I used to carry these meals with me wherever I go."
The idea for Earthy Roots came during a hike on the Inca Trail. Jai brought her homemade meals along, and fellow hikers took notice.
"People were like, 'Can I have that?' It's easy to stir in water and drink it," she said.
She shared so much of her meals with the group she had little left for herself. And she realized she had stumbled onto something bigger: a business idea.
"We can put it out there to people who are looking for convenient, no oils added, no preservatives, very clean, made from whole foods," she said.
She came back, refined the recipes with her friend Kodi Jayakumar, and started prototyping. Chelsey Wood, a neighbor and friend, jumped in to handle marketing and creative processes.
Earthy Roots was born: easy, convenient, instant meals in dehydrated form. The meals are made from whole plant-based ingredients, primarily beans and lentils, with added spices for flavor. All you need to do is add water, mix, let it sit for a few minutes, and eat. You can eat it as a single-serving meal or use it as a meal base.
They officially launched sales in January at local farmers' markets. Farmer Joe's in Oakland also carries their products.
"We've gotten amazing feedback," Jai said. "People from all walks of life, and moms looking for quick nutrition for themselves or for their kids."
And kids do love them too, Wood said.
"Kids, even babies, love it," she said. "My kids are the pickiest eaters. If we get them to begrudgingly try it, they're licking the bowl clean."
While the business began operating as a cottage food operation based out of a garage, the next steps include moving into a commercial kitchen and getting products into local grocery stores, gyms, and studios.
For now, the three moms are taking it one step at a time.
"We're learning as we go," Jai said. "We're three moms who took a break for our kids or our health."
Bondadoso Coffee & Tea Collective
The latte you order today at Bondadoso Coffee & Tea Collective might not be the same latte next week. And that’s by design.
"We rotate through different roasters," said Julia Siewert, who took over the Walnut Creek shop about a year and a half ago with her husband. "It's going to be a long time before you get the same latte."
Siewert is an East Bay native who grew up in Danville. Her dad grew up in Walnut Creek. "We've been around a long time," she said.
She and her husband have two young children, and Siewert is pregnant with their third child. After having her second baby, she knew she wanted to go back to work but wanted some flexibility.
She and her husband decided to buy a business. They looked at several coffee shops, but then she found Bondadoso.
"It just really spoke to me," she said. "It's close to my house. I can take my children there. It's really rooted in the community, which was really important to me."
Bondadoso is kid- and family-friendly, with a welcoming interior. Some of the regular customers work on their laptops or enjoy a drink on the patio, while others stop in to grab a quick to-go cup. With an array of teas, the shop also draws many tea drinkers.
Bondadoso has a deep backstory. The previous owner had a long career in coffee, and the name of the shop, Bondadoso, which is the Spanish word for "kind," was inspired by his late sister.
"The concept of why he started the cafe also really spoke to me," Siewert said. "It's important to me as a young mom who is crafting little people, and I want them to always lead with kindness."
Siewert didn’t have a background in coffee, but she fully immersed herself in learning the business. For her, the shop is about more than coffee. It’s important for her kids to see her working and to know where she works.
"It allows me the flexibility to continue to be the mom I want to be," she said. "It's really filled my cup in a way that I didn't realize it would. And it makes me want to open more coffee shops."