How Bea Bennett Turned a Personal Wellness Frustration Into Liquid Collagen Stix

As a college field hockey player competing at an elite level, Bea Bennett was constantly chasing one thing: enough protein to fuel her performance and recovery. Her daily goal was 180 grams, but every shake, powder, and supplement designed to help her get there left her feeling worse instead of better. The products were often chalky, harsh on her digestive system, and packed with ingredients that simply didn’t feel aligned with the kind of wellness she wanted for herself. While Bea was technically hitting her protein goals, her gut, energy, and skin were paying the price.

After years of forcing down powders and handfuls of pills, Bea realized there had to be a better way. So, she created one.

Driven by a passion for simplifying wellness without compromising effectiveness, Bea launched Liquid Collagen Stix: clean, concentrated collagen designed to fit seamlessly into everyday life. What began as a personal solution quickly evolved into a mission to help others nourish their bodies in a way that feels supportive, sustainable, and uncomplicated. By identifying a clear gap in the market, Bea built more than just a product—she created a wellness solution she hopes will empower countless people throughout their health, fitness, and recovery journeys.

In what ways have your upbringing or past experiences contributed to how you operate as an entrepreneur?

I’m a former athlete and have competed at an elite level, where ambition, commitment, and routine are required in order to be successful. The characteristics I learned throughout my childhood and young adulthood as I pursued athletic success have been instrumental in how I show up for my business and the team I have built: never giving up, showing up on time, being present, harnessing your strengths, and having the confidence to make decisions. Those are just a few of the areas where I’ve naturally been able to transpose my experience in sports to being a CEO. 

What’s been the hardest and most rewarding part of your entrepreneurial journey?

Being a consumer food product, the first major hurdle we faced was establishing early adopters, both in terms of individual consumers and retail partners. Coming from a place where I was a consumer looking for a solution, I believed there was a need for the product—and I also believed what we’d made could perform. Still, when you’re new in a space, getting on the map can be hard. The continuous cold calling and emailing was endless, but it finally paid off. We started to get customers loving the product and advocating for Liquid Collagen Stix. As a CPG founder, seeing a customer use your product, love it, and make it part of their daily routine is the most rewarding thing.

What’s the biggest misconception others have around entrepreneurship?

Entrepreneurship is often glorified as this utopian career choice. On one hand, yes, it is amazing, especially because I am working on something I am completely passionate and knowledgeable about. However, the unspoken pressures—everything from financials to management of a team to not having a sense of work life balance—are misunderstood. Being an entrepreneur is scrappy, difficult, and not glamorous 99% of the time! Everything in life has good parts, bad parts, boring parts, and exciting parts. Entrepreneurship is no different.

What would you tell your younger self if you were to start your entrepreneurial journey all over again?

Work hard. Never give up. Attention to detail will show up in the long run. Respect for the people you work with is invaluable. Never lose the love or passion for what you do.