Nothing But Good Vibes

Original Post by Maddie Johnson

Brett Wilson isn't just building a business

He's pioneering a movement — a Highvibe movement.

At 31, Brett brings a mix of passion, resilience, and spiritual insight to his mission of creating a community-centred enterprise. The co-founder of Highvibe and Highvibe Foods, Brett's professional story starts with one of personal transformation.

Originally from Toronto, Brett's entrepreneurial spirit led him to venture into podcasting. He signed a lease for a studio in January 2020 with plans to open later that spring, only to have his plans completely disrupted by the pandemic. 

Rather than giving up, Brett saw this as an opportunity for growth and reflection.

He had started learning about mindfulness and meditation a few years prior, when mental wellness was burgeoning. Wrestling with his own mental health challenges during his twenties, he turned to meditation as a source of solace and guidance.

"I started meditating with Headspace," Brett said, "and it was cool learning how to do guided visual meditations." 

Little did he know, this simple step would lead him down a path of profound spiritual awakening. 

Brett spent the rest of 2020 in and out of lockdowns in Toronto, tapping deeper into his spiritual learnings. Eventually, he recognized the need for a change of scenery and a fresh perspective, Brett made the decision to retreat to his family's chalet in Collingwood. 

“At the end of the year I decided I was going to move away from the city so I could work on whatever I was going to work on next,” he said. “I didn’t know at the time but I knew I would figure it out.”

This move not only provided him with a low-cost environment to focus on his endeavours but served as a catalyst for the birth of Highvibe. He spent that December meditating in the forest around Blue Mountain, exploring the concept of consciousness and connecting even deeper with his spiritual self. 

“I would go out in nature and put myself in situations to understand how the mind can influence reality,” he said. 

And then it hit him — he wanted to build a tool to help conscious creators. Highvibe was born. 

In the two years that followed, Brett spent all his free time exploring consciousness firsthand. This journey brought about intense experiences that challenged his beliefs. "I had experiences that made me question everything," he said. 

It also fuelled his search for truth, leading him to study the works of figures like Tom Campbell and Tom DeLonge, and explore topics such as sound technology and paranormal phenomena. During this transformative period, Brett crossed paths with Donna Michelle Reel, who was working at Press Market at the time. 

"We started talking more about consciousness and meditation," Brett said.

Connected by a shared vision of promoting mindfulness and spiritual growth, they decided to team up and embark on a journey to build a community centred around holistic wellness. 

“I needed that feminine energy,” said Brett. 

In the summer of 2023 they decided to level up and join the Foundry, where they found not just a space to nurture their ideas but also a supportive community of like-minded individuals. 

“It was a big step up finding this community of entrepreneurs that I could grow with,” Brett said. “I started to lean into members for mentorship.”

Their second venture, Highvibe Foods, emerged from that. 

After chatting with Bernard Verkaaik, founder of The Greater Goods and a fellow member of their entrepreneurial circle, Donna felt inspired to initiate a food box program. Brett, who had been head-down focusing on Highvibe at the time, jumped on board to help with operations. 

“Your mind and your gut work together for your spiritual health,” said Brett. 

The food boxes quickly gained traction, thanks to the support of their growing customer base and the collaborative environment at the Foundry. Within a month, they connected with Tyler Hickling, business development manager at Roadrunner Foods, and established a budding partnership. Come spring, they plan to transition High Vibe Foods from weekly food boxes to a full-fledged grocery operation. 

In the meantime, Brett is shifting his focus back to Highvibe. He currently has a team of developers building an app and hopes to have a test version available soon. 

“Highvibe Foods gave me the leadership skills and confidence boost that I would need to run this company, and now my goal for this year is back to focusing on Highvibe the app,” he said. 

Looking ahead, Brett envisions a future where Highvibe becomes more than just another meditation app; he hopes to revolutionize the way people approach mental wellness. Building upon the foundation laid by existing meditation apps, he said Highvibe will offer a more comprehensive experience, integrating sound technology, learning modules, and journaling features.

The goal is to create a platform that not only facilitates mindfulness but also fosters personal growth and spiritual development.

“Right now, the meditation apps that currently exist, I call it meditation 1.0 or mental wellness 1.0. We are going to build the 2.0 market,” he said. 

With plans to expand operations and establish a physical presence, Brett dreams of creating a sprawling campus dedicated to mindfulness and spiritual growth. This campus would serve as a hub for the Highvibe community, embodying the values of sustainability and holistic wellness. 

"We see Collingwood and the Blue Mountains as a potential spiritual tourism spot," Brett said.

What Brett is most excited for is the prospect of taking on a bigger role in helping others. He eagerly anticipates the responsibility of providing clarity and guidance to individuals, as well as the opportunity to lead a team of employees. 

“Ten years ago none of this was on my radar. But now I have the gift of vision,” he said.