Meet Jeannine Davison

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jeannine Davison. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Jeannine, so excited to talk about all sorts of important topics with you today. The first one we want to jump into is about being the only one in the room – for some that’s being the only person of color or the only non-native English speaker or the only non-MBA, etc Can you talk to us about how you have managed to be successful even when you were the only one in the room that looked like you?

As a woman in the field of engineering in the 1980s, I found myself being the only female in the room throughout a lot of my college days and definitely early on in my career. I learned that being genuine and flexible was the way to be effective and even use my differences as an asset. Those differences included patience and modesty with a focus on listening to others and practical problem solving.

I never made demands to be treated “equally.” Instead, I earned it by demonstrating my abilities, like anyone would have to, and using my intuition and diplomacy as an asset. I focussed more on blending in rather than standing out. This humble more reserved approach made me stand out but in a positive and respected way that accelerated my career beyond what I ever imagined!

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I grew up in Minnesota and have always loved gardening, the outdoors, and experimenting with food for as long as I can remember. I’ve never been afraid to try new things, and this adventurous spirit is prevalent in how I cook and approach my work life.

I moved to Los Angeles in the 1980s and worked on the technology side of the entertainment industry for about 25 years, involved with the launch of DVD and Blu-ray for Panasonic. After getting married later in life and having a child, I moved to San Diego to be closer to family and lead a quieter life, still looking for something meaningful and challenging to do work-wise.

My husband and I became interested in developing an edible cup in 2020, seeing it as a great way to mitigate single-use waste, and we formed our company AMAI (Japanese for “unexpected pleasant surprise”). The name is an homage to my long career at Panasonic and frequent travels to Japan.

We had heard about the process of upcycling spent grain, and this got us thinking- what if we could make the cups using recovered grain from local breweries? We joined the Upcycled Food Association and received a quick education about how to upcycle spent grain in a food-safe way. I started baking trials in my kitchen using a waffle cone maker and after extensive experimentation it was time to test cup-making in a real food production lab. The result? A patented recipe and process that yields cups that are delicious, nutritious, stand up to boiling water, and provide a unique and fun sustainable snacking experience!

In 2022, we raised the money to build a small test production facility in Vista, CA, using a custom-designed machine. We’ve test-marketed over 35,000 cups in 17 states in various applications and are now commissioning a high-volume production line to expand our capacity and meet growing demand. Our innovative solution to reducing single-use waste allows clients to differentiate and offer their customers a unique experience. Seeing all the creative ways customers use the cups is really gratifying! Late this fall we’ll be launching in California K-12 schools, replacing some of the plastic cups used in food service and delivering extra nutrition where it’s most needed – a one-two punch.

One of the things we are most proud of is that we have attracted so many talented people who have volunteered their expertise to help us get things off the ground simply because they loved the idea and believed in us. Honestly, this kind of validation keeps me going when I feel discouraged, overwhelmed, or just plain exhausted. When people believe in you, it gives you the fuel to keep going. It’s so exciting to have an A-team working together and solving problems every single day.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Looking back, the three qualities that kept advancing my career (and kept me sane!) were to be humble but confident in my abilities, be patient with others who think differently- allowing an open mind for new ideas- and showing gratitude to those who have helped me. If there is one that stands out it is the last one. Even those who feel they paved a new path alone, probably had help from someone somewhere along the journey. A person who opened a door, said yes when everyone else was saying no, provided a shoulder to cry on, lent you money, or just believed in you. It’s so important to recognize these gestures and express gratitude because I have found it came back ten fold when I simply took the time to appreciate someone else.

The other advice that everyone tells you is, don’t give up. That’s my advice too, with a caveat. Learn to recognize when something just isn’t going to work and find a way to pivot. It’s not giving up. It’s being smart and resourceful!

What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?

Lack of capital. Raising money is really hard, even if you think you have a great idea and even if people have validated that idea or product. It takes so much more time and effort than we ever imagined. Meanwhile, a lot of what we’re tackling with building a new factory is also costing more as inflation goes up and timelines become longer.

We’re focusing on ways to conserve cash by putting off purchases as long as possible and leveraging our partnerships to get extended terms. We’re getting creative with finding sources for capital and we’re networking like crazy by investigating every introduction to a bank, equipment financier, and venture capital firm. We’re searching for grant money, family offices who focus on legacy investing, and philanthropists who care about the environment. Basically leaving no stone unturned and grateful for the initial investors and friends and family who have contributed financially in support of our mission.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://amai.earth/index.html
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amai.earth/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amaiediblecups
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeannine-davison-21360284/
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@amai.earth

Image Credits

Cover shot by Marcy Browe Photography