This post was originally produced for Forbes.
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James Hagen admits his health wasn’t great while working as a hedge fund analyst. The stress and a chronic disease diagnosed as a kid left him looking for answers.
When his parents decided to retire from their catalog dental supply business, he recognized the old catalog business needed to be converted to an e-commerce model and hoped to find a lower-stress environment. He decided it was time to head for home in Minnesota.
His research into better health, not surprisingly led him to focus on diet, exercise and sleep. Then, attuned to the dental industry, he began finding evidence that better oral care can improve whole-body health.
He decided to launch Boka, an oral care business that would focus on overall health.
Having helped found the nonprofit Surge, Hagen wanted to do more than make a profit. He wanted to make a difference. Not only is he hoping to improve the h…