Founder of HarvestOwl
Age: 43 | Shaker Heights
By Lisa Love
Tell us a little about your background.
I grew up in Beachwood and have been drawn to business for as long as I can remember. I was the kid selling drinks at rec softball games, and I started a deck pressure-washing business at 16. I’ve always loved the challenge of building something new that makes the world a little bit better.
What sparked the idea for your business or venture?
After college, I launched and later sold a startup called Campusmenus.com. The idea for HarvestOwl came a few years later, sparked by a friend running a tech company in Midtown. He was frustrated that his team spent their mornings debating lunch and afternoons battling food comas. We started small, with a pilot for three offices. Today, we partner with the top workplaces in Northeast Ohio—companies like Vitamix, the Cavs, and Leaf Home—to deliver fresh, energizing, scratch-made lunches. Our mission is simple: to bring more delight and better health to the workplace. We work with roughly 90 companies and look forward to expanding our reach in Cleveland and beyond.
What were some pivotal moments in your entrepreneurial journey so far?
Post-COVID, we weren’t sure if our business would still be relevant. But as it turns out, it’s more relevant than ever. Nearly all of our partner companies now operate on hybrid schedules, and HarvestOwl helps them make the most of their in-office time—bringing team members together over lunch to strengthen relationships, build camaraderie, and reinforce company culture.
How has your Jewish identity or upbringing shaped your approach to work or life?
One idea that has stuck with me is Tikkun Olam, the call to help repair the world. I’m motivated to build a business that not only runs well but leaves the world a little better—whether that’s through the health of the guests we serve, how we treat our team, or our commitment to sustainability.
How have you grown as a person and a professional since starting?
Things go wrong all the time. A truck breaks down, a cooler fails, a key team member leaves, or a sale falls through. Early on, those moments would really knock me down. I’ve learned to recover faster. The setbacks still sting, but they don’t shake me the same way.
What’s been the most rewarding part of the journey so far?
Hearing from guests who share how much they appreciate the service—how it helps them eat better, feel better, and make their day a little easier. Knowing that we’re having that kind of impact makes the hard work feel deeply worth it.
What are your hopes or goals for the next 5 years?
This year, our goal is to blanket Northeast Ohio with Owl fridges (where the lunches are stored). Looking ahead, we’re excited to bring the HarvestOwl model to other cities like Columbus and Pittsburgh.
What advice would you give to someone just starting out?
Don’t try to be everything to everyone. Define your target market clearly, get to know them deeply, and make sure you’re solving a problem that truly matters to them. Invest the time up front to define your mission and core values. It’ll help you attract the right people—and if you get the right people on board, everything else gets a lot easier.
