mybestbox is already shipping wellness-focused subscription boxes, but the startup has a big vision for changing the model. The company has plans to use data to determine the contents of the boxes.
But since they are shipping goods, physical space also comes into play. Standing in the company’s new warehouse space, CEO Fatima Dicko talked about rethinking how lines for packing boxes, and the way sales are made. She acknowledged they don’t have all the answers yet, but the new space allows the company to explore what’s possible.
“We’re really interested in building a skeleton, a framework that can support our future innovation,” Dicko said. “Today, the value proposition that consumers want in this business can’t be delivered with traditional fulfillment centers.”
The move was the latest in a series of highlights for the company this year. In the spring, the company was a member of this year’s AccelerateBaltimore cohort that won an additional $100,000 at the end the four-month accelerator program. It was also a finalist in Kevin Plank’s Cupid’s Cup competition.
The building where mybestbox is housed on South Pulaski Street is one of the many nondescript former industrial buildings in the city that’s active with businesses, but the location of the warehouse in West Baltimore also offers a chance to rethink an area for the future. Dicko pointed to adjacent buildings on West Pratt Street that were damaged in the unrest that followed Freddie Gray’s funeral.
“We’re in a position to create symbolism behind economic development,” she said.
The company continues to garner wider interest. State Sen. Catherine Pugh, who is the Democratic nominee for mayor, attended the warehouse’s opening event and said the company fit her love of healthy living. Jason Towns, who is raising a $10 million fund in D.C. for minority-run startups called Groundwork, also made the trip to Baltimore.
“When we see businesses like this in our community, we must encourage, we must empower and we must enhance,” Pugh said.
Before you go...
Please consider supporting Technical.ly to keep our independent journalism strong. Unlike most business-focused media outlets, we don’t have a paywall. Instead, we count on your personal and organizational support.
3 ways to support our work:- Contribute to the Journalism Fund. Charitable giving ensures our information remains free and accessible for residents to discover workforce programs and entrepreneurship pathways. This includes philanthropic grants and individual tax-deductible donations from readers like you.
- Use our Preferred Partners. Our directory of vetted providers offers high-quality recommendations for services our readers need, and each referral supports our journalism.
- Use our services. If you need entrepreneurs and tech leaders to buy your services, are seeking technologists to hire or want more professionals to know about your ecosystem, Technical.ly has the biggest and most engaged audience in the mid-Atlantic. We help companies tell their stories and answer big questions to meet and serve our community.
Join our growing Slack community
Join 5,000 tech professionals and entrepreneurs in our community Slack today!