Leigh-Kathryn Bonner

Illustration by Emma Ptak

Entrepreneur Leigh-Kathryn Bonner founded a business that’s good for the planet. Follow her company Bee Downtown as they take over the world… and make it a better place.

Why are bees good for beesness?

Companies are critically judged by the impact they make in the world. Right now, companies are looking for ways to be more sustainable . We help educate partner's employees on the importance of the environment and sustainability in ways that are memorable. We put healthy bees in cities and take pride in caring for them the way they should be cared for. Our business is focused on sustainability and helping companies create great places to work. This makes it easy for our employees to love their work and company.

How can we all contribute to a bee friendly environment? 

Bees need food. Whether you live in an apartment or a house, there are ways to plant native plants for pollinators. Make meadows, not lawns. Don’t spray toxic chemicals. Your lawn should give life, not be on life support. Plant intentionally.

What came first, the funding or the team? 

At the beginning it was just me and there wasn’t enough revenue yet to pay myself minimum wage. Upon graduating I was offered a job by Michael Goodmon, the owner of American Tobacco Campus, who was the first person ever to buy bees from Bee Downtown. When I told him I was not going to work at ATC, and instead give Bee Downtown a full-time try, he smiled and told me he had hoped that was what I was going to say. He asked me what help I needed and went above and beyond to cheer me on. And that’s the spirit of Durham. When we started 6 years ago we were a little ahead of the game with our corporate sustainability and engagement model. But Durham got it. Anywhere else it wouldn’t have worked. 

Also, we are almost completely self-funded. I am committed to building a profitable business that doesn’t need to raise money. We have been profitable every year since we started. Bee Downtown is an exceptional company because we are for profit, and for doing good. But we shouldn’t be the exception to the rule. All businesses ought to develop this way. I hope one day we are just ordinary. It would be a win in my book that our business model is the norm.

Best treatment for a bee sting?

Put ice on the sting and then eat some Ice cream, for sure! (The ice cream doesn't help the sting, but it makes you happy!)

How much do you worry about Murder Hornets?

Ha-ha. Not much. They wouldn’t like the South- too hot for them!