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August 2, 2018 40 Under Forty 2018

Ali Lazowski

Photo | J. Fiereck Photography

Age: 27

Company: Bare Life

Title: Founder and CEO

No. of years with current company: 10 Months

Town where I live: Hartford

Town where I work: West Hartford

College: Johns Hopkins University

Highest degree: Pursuing a bachelor's degree

Ali Lazowski founded Bare Life, an allergen and irritant-friendly food startup, which launched with a crowdfunding campaign last fall. Lazowski attended culinary school in Italy before starting college at Johns Hopkins University. She has always been passionate about food, but it was her simultaneous battles with cancer and Lyme disease that inspired her to truly explore her love of food and launch a business. She began by creating Bare Life's coconut hot cocoa mix — organic, Kosher, vegan, gluten free, Paleo and produced locally — and writing Bare Life's first sweets-centric cookbook.

What's been your biggest professional accomplishment?

In addition to founding Bare Life, my biggest accomplishment is having my company selected to participate in reSET's 2018 Impact Accelerator and winning third prize at its Venture Showcase this spring. Being a part of reSET's extremely supportive entrepreneur community and having the opportunity to learn from some of Connecticut's impressive startups was an incredible experience.

How are you involved in the community?

Bare Life has provided me with wonderful opportunities to connect with our community, such as speaking with students about being a young entrepreneur, and connecting and supporting people with chronic illnesses, like myself, through our online support groups.

What do you like to do outside of work?

Running my Bare Life startup, I am working almost 24/7, although, cooking and creating desserts really doesn't feel like work. Oddly, it took cancer and being bed-ridden with Lyme disease to find my dream career. Right now, taking a break, for me, means sleeping.

Give an example of a people-skills habit you adhere to in your work and daily life.

Communication. I've found that most problems stem from communication issues, so I try to communicate clearly and regularly.

What must the Greater Hartford region do to attract more talented young professionals?

With accelerator programs like reSET in Hartford, we're already doing a lot to attract talent. The more we can support these programs and entrepreneurs, the more that talent pool can grow.

Four reasons why you deserve to be a 40 Under Forty:

• Founder of Bare Life, a crave-worthy, allergen and irritant-friendly startup inspired by my struggles with cancer and Lyme disease.

• Member of reSET's 2018 Social Impact Accelerator Program and third place winner of reSET's Impact award.

• Founding member of Restart the Hart, which aims to reclaim Hartford for the modern generation.

• Proudly working with a local, gluten free and organic co-packer, Raw Food Central, to make our Bare Life foods.

Fun Fact 

I speak mandarin and lived in China for a year.

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