High-Level Overview
Feals is a direct-to-consumer wellness startup specializing in premium, full-spectrum CBD products designed to promote better health, targeting issues like stress, anxiety, pain, and sleep.[1][2][3] Founded in 2019 and headquartered in Denver, Colorado, with an additional office in Los Angeles, the company serves individual consumers seeking natural, accessible CBD solutions delivered directly to their doorstep, backed by a 100% happiness guarantee and a focus on customer service.[1][3][4] It solves the problem of confusing, low-quality CBD options by offering simple, effective products without the risk of high, hangover, or addiction, emphasizing what users *don't* feel—like reduced anxiety or pain—while building growth through e-commerce subscriptions, free shipping, and integrations for tracking and support.[2][3]
With around 16-25 employees and revenue under $5 million, Feals has shown early momentum as a fast-growing brand in the retail and consumer goods space, leveraging a custom e-commerce platform powered by Spree Commerce for smooth UX, product variants by CBD dose, and marketing tools.[1][3][4][6]
Origin Story
Feals was founded in 2019 by Drew Todd, Alex Iwanchuk, and Eric Scheibling, who previously worked together in ad tech.[2][3] The idea emerged from a desire to simplify the CBD market, making high-quality, hemp-based products approachable amid a landscape of confusion and inconsistent quality; their tagline, "a better way to feel better," reflects this mission to deliver thoughtful wellness without psychoactive effects.[3] Early traction came from building a direct-to-consumer model with empathetic human support, premium full-spectrum CBD, and features like subscriptions and refunds, disrupting the space via offices in Denver and Los Angeles.[1][3]
Pivotal moments include partnering with Spree Commerce for a mobile-first e-commerce site that integrated customer reviews, Zendesk helpdesk, and analytics, enabling fast growth in a nascent CBD industry.[3]
Core Differentiators
- Premium, Full-Spectrum CBD with Dosing Simplicity: Offers products in varied strengths for anxiety, pain, and sleep, prioritizing transparency, education, and natural efficacy over gimmicks.[2][3]
- Superior Direct-to-Consumer Experience: Custom e-commerce with smooth UX, subscriptions, free shipping, promo codes, full refunds, order tracking, and Zendesk integration for a "human touch" in a digital space.[1][3][5]
- Customer-Centric Guarantees and Support: 100% happiness guarantee, no-risk trial of benefits like clearer headspace, and commitment to accessibility without high or addiction risks.[1][3]
- Tech-Enabled Operations: Leverages Spree Commerce for open-source flexibility, plus tools like Klaviyo and Google for marketing, analytics, and partnerships in a competitive wellness market.[3][4][6]
Role in the Broader Tech Landscape
Feals rides the wave of the CBD and wellness boom, capitalizing on growing consumer demand for natural alternatives to pharmaceuticals amid rising awareness of mental health, stress, and sleep issues post-2018 U.S. hemp legalization.[2][3] Timing aligns with e-commerce acceleration in direct-to-consumer health, where tech like AI-driven personalization and seamless platforms (e.g., Spree) enable startups to scale without heavy retail dependency.[3] Market forces favoring Feals include regulatory clarity on CBD, explosive DTC growth in consumer goods, and shifts toward subscription models for recurring wellness needs.[1][6]
The company influences the ecosystem by modeling empathetic DTC in wellness, inspiring similar brands to prioritize UX, education, and integrations, while contributing to CBD's mainstreaming—evident in celebrity endorsements like Elaine Welteroth.[1][4]
Quick Take & Future Outlook
Feals is poised for expansion in the maturing CBD market through product innovation, deeper e-commerce personalization, and potential retail partnerships, building on its DTC foundation amid wellness trends like mental health tech and natural remedies.[1][2][3] Evolving regulations and consumer shift to evidence-based supplements could amplify growth, with tech stacks enabling data-driven scaling. As a nimble player, its influence may grow via ecosystem collaborations, sustaining momentum from "a better way to feel better" in an increasingly health-conscious world.[3]