Eureka moment
My eureka moment came when I realised vegan food didn't have to be bland, disappointing, or nutritionally poor. After years of accepting underwhelming options, I discovered our Jamaican curry patties could genuinely change perceptions. What surprised me most was that the majority of our customers aren't vegan. They simply prefer the taste. That was the moment I understood that better food, not labels, is what drives real change.
Finance
As a bootstrapped founder, finance has been one of the hardest challenges. Many small businesses struggle to access investment, even with strong ideas and proven demand. We've been fortunate to secure grant funding, which played a vital role in our growth. Support from Lloyds Bank also helped us access lending at an early stage, which made a significant difference.
I don't see mistakes as regrets, only lessons. However, we did spend too much on marketing events that delivered little return. While costly, those experiences helped us gain visibility quickly and clarified where our efforts were better spent.
What would you have changed?
I would have explored investment opportunities earlier. I believed I needed to prove all sales first, but I've since learned that strong ideas can attract pre-seed investment much sooner.
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