Yanni Hufnagel did not start out to be an entrepreneur. Instead, he was a basketball coach who wanted a better beverage for his players. The idea for Lemon Perfect came from a revelation. Hufnagle met a man in a sports nutrition store who wrote a book regarding the ketogenic diet. The book recommended starting the day with a glass of water with lemon. Hufnagel enjoyed his lemon water; he did not care for the mess.
Hufnagel’s big light bulb came when he saw his basketball players drinking infused beverages. He wondered if he could make a healthy lemon drink. After meeting with a friend who loved the idea, Hufnagel did a Google search on how to start a beverage company, and that was the start. The name Lemon Perfect came to him while he was in Paris, and he immediately registered the domain name.
Not everything came easily to Hufnagel. He quickly learned how expensive it is to start a company. A friend suggested he try to raise some capital. Hufnagle did not know how to get investors. His first investor meeting was a disaster. Despite feeling discouraged, Yanni Hufnagel would try again. The next potential investor he met loved his product.
Hufnagle had several more lucky breaks along his journey. While at a trade show, his beverage caught the attention of a Whole Foods buyer, who put Lemon Perfect in stores in New York. Hufnagle has grabbed the attention of many celebrities who have invested in Lemon Perfect. Beyoncé Knowles-Carter posted a picture of herself in a limo, and in the photo was a bottle of Dragon Fruit Mango. Knowles-Carter stated it was a straightforward decision to invest in Lemon Perfect. Other investors include star athletes. Hufnagel believes the future is bright for Lemon Perfect.