This entrepreneur secured $16.5 million in funding for her eco-friendly grocery startup. Here are her five keys to achieving success.

In 2021, the U.S. Census Bureau reported a 23% increase in new business applications, with a total of 5.4 million filings, compared to 4.3 million in the previous year.

To be successful as an entrepreneur, you must have dedication and possess information, as advised by Zuleyka Strasner, the founder and CEO of Zero Grocery, a plastic-free online delivery service operating in San Francisco and Los Angeles.

Strasner advised that the first step is to physically act on an idea, rather than just thinking about it. He has observed that many people have great ideas, but they never materialize because they don't take action.

In 2019, Zero Grocery was launched and utilizes reusable food-storage containers for delivery within two hours or less. The company has secured $16.5 million in funding.

Watch this video to discover the secrets of becoming a successful entrepreneur.

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Discover how a single mother in Atlanta earns $10,000 per month on Outschool by teaching a few hours a week with Acorns+CNBC.

Disclosure: NBCUniversal and Comcast Ventures are investors in Acorns.