Meet the founders of Tuki
Meet Chris and Alicia, the plant-obsessed founders of Tuki
We're Chris and Alicia — married, plant-obsessed, and now co-founders of Tuki.
Some couples take on a DIY project together. We decided to start a business. It's been fun, chaotic, full of learning, and, yes, we're still married.
Why We Started Tuki
We've always had the entrepreneurial itch — side projects, creative ideas, spreadsheets filled with "one day" plans.
Tuki was the one that stuck. It ticked all the right boxes:
- ✔ Plants (we love them)
- ✔ A real problem worth solving
- ✔ A techy challenge (we're into that)
- ✔ Something with global potential
- ✔ And maybe most importantly — it just felt meaningful
We wanted to build something that genuinely improves people's lives and spaces. Helping plant lovers connect and thrive? That felt like a mission worth committing to.
What Drives Us
We're both lifelong learners. We get a kick out of building things, figuring stuff out, and doing work that matters.
We always said if we were going to start something, it had to be good for people — not just profitable. Sure, opening a cheesecake shop was on the table for a while (and still might be one day). But we wanted to create something that's pure upside. Cheesecake's great, but plants? They're magic. They clean the air, boost your mood, and never leave you with regret.
So here we are — driven by growth, by purpose, and by the hope that a little green in every home might make the world just a bit better.
What We've Learned So Far
Every single step has been a lesson.
The biggest one? Start talking about your idea before you build it. We probably could've done more to test and validate early on. But we also knew that real validation comes from real usage — not just followers or likes.
We believed in the idea, so we decided to go for it. Now, we're learning by doing — and that's the best way we know how.
Our Hopes for the Tuki Community
We're building more than an app. We're building a place where plant people can connect — to trade, to share, to grow together.
Maybe one day that'll look like a physical space: a combo café, plant shop, and community hub. But for now, we're focused on one simple goal — making it easier to get more plants into more homes.
Let's Stay in Touch
If you haven't already, join the waitlist — or just drop us a note at chris@heytuki.com or alicia@heytuki.com.
We'd love to hear from you 🌱