The biggest risk Katie Wafer-Gillberg took involved quitting her job and going after a dream that she knew could become a reality. “I felt very strongly about IV therapy and knew that it could be used for more than just hangover recovery,” said Wafer-Gillberg. “I believe that IV therapy could be used to help people achieve health and wellness in their day-to-day lives.”
These beliefs led Wafer-Gillberg to invest every dime she had to open Hydrate IV Bar in 2016.
Hydrate IV Bar is a collection of IV therapy spas promoting wellness from within. Featuring 14 locations sprinkled throughout Colorado and beyond, including Arizona, Utah and Texas, the company’s mission is to deliver high-quality products and services administered by experienced and trustworthy medical and wellness professionals in a relaxing, spa-like atmosphere.
Since Wafer-Gillberg was named a Titan 100 in 2023, Hydrate IV Bar was recognized as a Colorado Company to Watch by the Denver Business Journal. She was also recognized with the Female Entrepreneur Award from Great Companies to Watch. Wafer-Gillberg also became a founding member of the IV Bio Boardroom this year, joining other industry experts to support the IV therapy business.
Her involvement with the IV Bio Boardroom led Wafer-Gillberg to add a telemedicine doctor to consult with patients as needed and implemented proprietary safety changes supported by her team of registered nurses and medical directors. She has also made it a top priority to add more training for her employees. “Not only is my team learning but they are having fun and are able to apply what they learn to what we do each day,” she said.
This year, Wafer-Gillberg said her greatest leadership lesson learned is that you need to be forward-thinking, always planning and always keeping your eye on your business. “Even when you have an amazing team that supports you, you are ultimately responsible for the success or failure of your business,” said Wafer-Gillberg. “That can be a lot of pressure for business owners, especially when you’re just starting out but I truly pride myself on always looking forward and learning from the past.”
As a leader, Wafer-Gillberg relies on her ability to bring people together to achieve success. “I’m a huge believer in networking and giving back to the community,” she said. “It brings me great joy to be able to connect people with common needs or interests.”
