Founder Interview with Jadis Montijo, Motivo Scar Care
Photo Credit: Motivo Scar Care
Every month, we spotlight LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs who are turning personal challenges into powerful solutions. This month, we're thrilled to feature Jadis Montijo, founder and CEO of Motivo Scar Care - a company born from his own top surgery recovery experience and a frustration with scar therapy products that simply didn't work.
What started as a conversation with his surgeon about ineffective scar care has evolved into a mission to revolutionize an entire industry. From moving back into his parents' basement to fund his dream to building products that prioritize both healing and long-term skin health, Jadis embodies the resilience and authenticity that define the best of LGBTQ+ entrepreneurship.
His story isn't just about building a better product - it's about rejecting the status quo, staying true to your values even when it's harder, and proving that the challenges we face in our community can become our greatest strengths in business.
Check out the interview below!
Can you walk us through your personal and professional journey (how you got to where you are today)?
Motivo started from my own experience recovering from top surgery during my gender transition. I tried several scar care products and honestly had a bad experience with all of them. Eventually, I stopped using anything altogether, and my scars stretched and built up excess tissue. I ended up needing a scar revision surgery, and that was my turning point. I didn’t want to keep going in circles, and I knew I wasn’t alone in feeling this way—so that’s when I approached Dr. Keith to start Motivo.
When I was looking for surgeons for my top surgery, my transition was coming on fast. As soon as I got the first little bit of hairs on my chin, I was like, I cannot have a beard and boobs. I need to find a surgeon now. My friend Sam had wanted to go to Dr. Keith but couldn’t due to insurance conflicts, so he recommended him to me. At my consultation, we immediately got along. He’d ask about business stuff because he knew I was running a cannabis company at the time. We went through the first surgery and tried scar care products, but they didn’t work well for me. When my scars started to stretch, I tried steroid injections and prescription medicine—none of it worked. Ultimately, Dr. Keith said, “Let’s do a scar revision surgery.”
After the second surgery, with the same scar care issues, I told him these products suck. He said many of his patients—reconstructive, breast cancer, and gender-affirming—deal with similar problems. That’s when I asked, “Would you be down to do something better?” He said he didn’t know much about business, but if I could lay the groundwork, he’d be in.
Photo Credit: Motivo Scar Care
My business background started in the cannabis industry in 2013. I helped build an ancillary cannabis product—vaporizers to smoke dry herb and wax concentrates. We were almost acquired twice, but both deals fell through. The first failed after bad industry news when people started dying from vaporizers, which was devastating because I wanted to use that money to start Motivo. We pivoted, found another acquirer, and then COVID hit. During COVID, I thought, This would be my baby, my business, something I really believe in. I moved out of my ocean view condo into my parents’ basement, used a lot of my own money to start Motivo, and Dr. Keith invested as well. I’m not in my parents’ basement anymore—thank goodness—I’m back on the ocean, and so happy about that.
What is one challenge you have faced as the Founder of Motivo Scar Care and how did you navigate it?
Startups are basically nonstop problem-solving. One moment that stands out was during our early product development, I was so excited about our custom tape dispenser that I approved the sample without properly testing it. We ordered 10,000 units and quickly realized they were a nightmare to open. So my friend and I (who was also an early investor) sat and sanded down the latch on every single one. I laugh now, but it could've been a big financial loss.
I've learned (the hard way) to slow down and be more diligent.
What is your long-term vision for Motivo Scar Care?
I want Motivo to be more than just a product, I want it to be a platform for change.
“My dream is to one day donate top surgeries to those who can't afford them and eventually open a trans surgery recovery house for people who have nowhere safe to heal.”
As a brand, I'd love to see Motivo on shelves at Sephora and Ulta. Scar care deserves a place in beauty, and we've already proven there's demand, we just need to scale it.
Our long-term goal is to be known as the scar experts. If we can help with that part of your situation - if I can help you heal your scar - I can definitely help you with your long-term skin health and other parts of your skin and other ailments as well. We want to expand our line beyond scar care to include pre-procedure products, post-procedure products, and stuff you can use to prepare your skin so it heals better if you have a planned surgery.
Photo Credit: Motivo Scar Care
If you could give one piece of advice to future LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs, what would it be?
“You've already overcome so much. Entrepreneurship is tough, but when it comes to resilience, who has more of it than us? Don't let anyone question your strength or your seat at the table.”
Right now, running a business along with everything that's going on politically, the struggles are much harder than just your average business struggle. I'm very thankful that we don't have tariffs currently affecting our business since I've always known I wanted to be manufactured in the USA for stuff people put on their skin. But that doesn't take away from the challenges - I've had investors lined up who are now saying their portfolio's frozen.
So I'm operating as if no extra capital is coming into the company and asking how do we turn this into a profitable business? I like to think we have a recession-proof product because regardless of the economy, accidents happen, traumas happen. Even in recessions, self-harm tends to increase, domestic violence tends to increase. We have customers who've been in domestic violence situations, and the LGBTQ community has unfortunately always been subject to violent acts. There are just so many reasons why people would continue to need this product, and I'm happy we won't have to increase our prices on people.
Tell us about one of your values and how you have incorporated it into your brand.
“Authenticity. I’ve paid the price for being authentic, been judged and excluded because of it, but nothing feels better than being secure in who you are.”
That’s the energy I want our customers to feel when they use Motivo products: no matter what they’ve been through, they deserve to feel like themselves again. Dr. Keith and I stand behind the integrity of our products. We don’t need gimmicks or fake before-and-after photos to prove they work, and we’re not interested in chasing trends.
Competitors sometimes use makeup to fake scars in ads, but we choose real people and real results. We have enough customers to maintain that honest, human connection, and we want to keep it that way. As a small brand, our focus is on genuine relationships, real growth, and creating products that last, not inflating numbers to please investors. I want Motivo to be around for the long run, helping as many people as possible.
Photo Credit: Motivo Scar Care
How do you take care of yourself, especially during this moment in history (a record number of anti-LGBTQ+ bills being passed / an increase in violence against our community / current hateful admin)?
“I try to keep my eyes on the long game and protect my peace. I give myself time to feel and process, and I stay close to my community. Talking it through with others helps me stay grounded.”
Physical activity. I live on the boardwalk and walk every single morning. I have my schedule blocked off before 10 a.m. and I wake up at 5:30, so I know for a fact that's time I'll have to myself - quiet time to do what I want to do. I'm a morning person anyway, so I like getting up early, seeing the sunrise when I walk, and going to the cafe to grab my matcha.
When you're running a business, I have no clue what's going to happen other than what's on my schedule, and even that doesn't mean that's your day at all. So I make sure I make that time for myself from 5:30 in the morning till 10 a.m. - I don't do any business before that.
Photo Credit: Motivo Scar Care
What LGBTQ+ owned brands are your go-tos and why? (Please share 1-3)
Kinnect – I'm big on family, and this app helps preserve family memories for future generations.
Moodeaux – Because I always gotta smell good!
Who is your favorite LGBTQ+ celebrity, public figure, or icon, and why? (musician, actor, author, artist, etc.)
Zaya Wade. She's been so true to herself from a young age, and despite all the public backlash, her family never wavered in their support. She's making a huge impact in the trans community, truly inspiring.
Can you share one fun fact about yourself?
I wish I was fun, lol! In second grade, I asked to use the bathroom… and instead walked straight out the front door and all the way home. Sent everyone into a panic. So yeah… I guess I've never been great at following the rules.
