Eureka Moment
My true "Eureka Moment" came when I returned to the UK after 12 years in Australia. I realised the alcoholic ginger beers I loved-natural, using fresh ginger, and gluten-free-simply didn't exist here. Seeing the UK market dominated by synthetic, additive-full drinks, while knowing the high demand for authentic options abroad, was the moment I stopped being just a consumer. I asked myself, "Why don't I just start making it here?"
Finance
I initially bootstrapped the business to prove genuine consumer demand before seeking external capital. A successful Kickstarter campaign allowed me to create a sell-out trial batch. A key turning point was securing crucial funding through Virgin StartUp. Their support not only provided the necessary capital but also formally validated our business plan, giving us the confidence to execute our first two large-scale production runs, moving us from a concept to a serious market player. We've since received VC investment this year, allowing us to grow and accelerate our market reach at a quicker rate.
Regrets
I don't really carry regrets, but as a bit of a perfectionist, I did invest a large amount of time at the beginning trying to achieve the perfect product and the perfect operational system. This intense focus on internal refinement unnecessarily delayed us getting valuable, actionable feedback from the real market. In the fast-moving drinks industry, time is momentum, and this obsession slowed our initial traction.
What would you have changed?
In a perfect world, having sought more seed investment earlier would have allowed us to launch with a larger product range and achieve scale at a quicker pace. However, the subsequent challenges, failings, and crucial learnings acquired whilst growing organically have been invaluable. That hard-earned knowledge is non-negotiable, and I wouldn't trade it for slightly faster initial growth
