Lizzi Ackerman had her mind set on being a doctor. That decision, made after a life-changing event, seemed perfect – until it wasn’t. “As much as I loved medicine,” admits Lizzi, “it wasn’t the right fit.” But that didn’t stop her from being a doctor; she just went a different direction. Lizzi left medicine behind to become Dr. Pancake.

Birch Benders was born back in 2012 after a series of trial-and-error pancake recipes resulted in a no fuss mix with a healthy twist -- the company makes vegan, gluten-free and paleo mixes. Today, Ackerman and her cofounder, who's also her husband, have taken the Denver-based, just-add-water pancake mix company to shelves in 6,000 stores nationwide -- including Target, Whole Foods and Safeway.

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