Feeling under-appreciated as an employee, a nonexistent work-life balance, financial struggles, getting out of bad relationships – these are the most common triggers that push women to become entrepreneurs. Tell us about your trigger?

The triggers that pushed me into entrepreneurship were a desire for a flexible work schedule and financial gain. Though my previous full-time position was flexible, I wanted the ability to work from wherever I could get my job done and not be tied to a desk or a specific location. I also had reached the top, salary-wise, and knew that going out on my own meant that the sky was the limit as far as making more money.

How did you come up with your business idea?

I was previously the marketing director for a restaurant group here in Boston. My former boss, who is now my mentor, encouraged me to start my own business. He didn’t want me to leave the company as much as he knew that I was capable of doing so much more. I already had social media side hustles with other restaurants and food brands, but his constant pushing to go out on my own showed me how much greater my efforts would be if I wasn’t tied to one single brand.

Have you had support from someone, even if just encouragement? Who was that and how did it help you?

As mentioned, my former boss is the greatest mentor I’ve ever had. He’s an entrepreneur and former lawyer, so he did a great job of showing me the ropes of starting a new business. Since starting my own company, I’ve used this mentorship as not only a means of asking questions and advice, but something to constantly encourage me to grow.

Female entrepreneurs are often underestimated and overlooked. Have you ever felt at a disadvantage?

There were a couple times when male owners of other marketing companies didn’t take me going out on my own very seriously. One in particular tried to get me to come work for his company. He was very aware of my skills and that I had built a network of my own, and, in my opinion, wanted to use that to his advantage. While that in itself may be a compliment, I took it as a sign that he thought my business wasn’t at a point where I was already successful on my own. He was very wrong and that conversation motivated me very much. 

Some say it’s hard work, others say it’s talent and resourcefulness that play a crucial role for success in entrepreneurship? Which traits have been instrumental for your success so far? And why?

Tenacity, a good work ethic, and humility. 

I’ve always been extremely motivated when I want something, and very determined to succeed. My work ethic improved greatly when I was finally passionate about my career and having my own business. Humility is equally as important as there are so many unknowns in entrepreneurship. You can’t be afraid to ask questions, do your research, and know when to ask for help.

What excites you the most about being an entrepreneur?

The most exciting thing for me is to be able to look back and realize I did this all myself, and very quickly. I don’t have partners, only a mentor. I attribute my success to being motivated and curious. With entrepreneurship, you are constantly learning, and being open-minded to perpetual growth is key.

Share with us some of the worst business advice you’ve ever received?

“Say yes to any business opportunity.”

I firmly believe that saying “no” more often is the better route. It’s important to learn when to say no to projects that don’t align with your values or clients who may not be the best fit. In the beginning, you may feel like you have to say yes to every opportunity to grow, and that’s understandable. Within time you’ll realize that saying no eliminates future issues and stressors. I’m so much happier knowing my worth and when to actually say yes.

You’ve got a high stake investment opportunity. Pitch your business in 150 words.

My company focuses on digital marketing for restaurant and food brands. Some of our services include social media strategy, photography, email marketing, influencer marketing, and copywriting. I currently have one part-time employee and one virtual assistant.  If I were to take on investment money, I would use it to hire an in-house team of creators and social media strategists so I could replicate what I’m doing now and scale it.

What’s the best piece of advice you’d give to inspire aspiring entrepreneurs?

If you have an idea, go for it. Stop questioning yourself and creating more doubt. Be confident in what it is that you want, and go after it. Surround yourself with people who believe in you and will support you, and eliminate anyone who may hold you back.

What are your goals for the upcoming year?

My goals for the upcoming year are to really strengthen the relationships with my current clients, and continue to expand my restaurant client portfolio. I have a part-time assistant now, and I’d love to see her become a full-time employee so that we can really drive my business forward together. Aside from that, I’d love to do more speaking engagements and make more connections in the Boston food and beverage industry.

Connect and partner with Christina Orso on Enterprise League

Feeling under-appreciated as an employee, a nonexistent work-life balance, financial struggles, getting out of bad relationships – these are the most common triggers that push women to become entrepreneurs. Tell us about your trigger?

The biggest trigger that pushed me over the edge to finally start my own business was the fear of having to work a 9-5 after graduation. While I thrive on schedules, I wanted to be the one to create my own so I could establish my own boundaries and be in charge of my own time.

How did you come up with your business idea?

I’ve always loved photography, but it wasn’t until college hit when I realized I needed a creative outlet. After purchasing a camera, I went all-in and did everything within my power to create a successful business. When COVID hit, my finances took a plunge, but I quickly realized couples were turning to eloping. I pivoted everything within my business to focus on elopements.

Have you had support from someone, even if just encouragement? Who was that and how did it help you?

My husband has been my biggest supporter. He was the one who pushed me to purchase a camera when we only had $500 in our account. He is constantly pushing me to be better. If it wasn’t for him, I would still be dreading my 9-5 life.

Female entrepreneurs are often underestimated and overlooked. Have you ever felt at a disadvantage?

Absolutely. Whenever I tell people I do photography, I often get comments like, “Oh cool. What do you plan on doing after school?”, “You can actually make money doing that?”, “That’s not very sustainable.” 

I think as a business owner, and especially as a female business owner, we’re constantly having to prove ourselves to people that we can run a company or own a business.

Some say it’s hard work, others say it’s talent and resourcefulness that play a crucial role for success in entrepreneurship? Which traits have been detrimental for your success so far? And why?

The trait that has been the most detrimental to my success has been my perfectionism. I’ve missed so many opportunities due to my fear of not creating something “perfect.” It’s something I constantly work on, but it’s always in the back of my head. 

What excites you the most about being an entrepreneur?

I love having creative freedom and fun in my life. Something that specifically excites me is the ability to travel. I’ve always wanted to travel, but being a 21 year old college student, that’s pretty hard. When I switched to elopements, I focused on marketing towards California. I live in Idaho, but absolutely love traveling to California. 

I love the freedom and options I have when it comes to my business. If I want more elopements in New York, I can make it happen. Traveling makes things fun and exciting for me. It’s definitely one of the most exciting things about being an entrepreneur.

Share with us some of the worst business advice you’ve ever received?

The worst business advice I ever received was “don’t work too hard.” As a business owner, you’re the first one in and last one out everyday. If you don’t work hard and expect your business to succeed, you’re doing it wrong.

You’ve got a high stake investment opportunity. Pitch your business in 150 words.

I’m a California elopement photographer who makes it a mission to inspire, encourage, and empower couples to push traditional boundaries and create experiences they’ll remember forever. I don’t just sell a service to my clients, but I serve an experience.

What’s the best piece of advice you’d give to inspire aspiring entrepreneurs?

Don’t be a perfectionist. I’ve had multiple times within my business where I was too scared to start or even launch something because it wasn’t “perfect.” At the end of the day, nothing you do within your business will be perfect. It’s better to put things out there, even if they’re not “perfect”, rather than just not starting it at all.

What are your goals for the upcoming year?

My biggest goal for the upcoming year is to book an international elopement. I think that would be absolutely amazing, and it would challenge me in a new way.

Connect and partner up with Brianna Parks Photography on Enterprise League

Feeling under-appreciated as an employee, a nonexistent work-life balance, financial struggles, getting out of bad relationships – these are the most common triggers that push women to become entrepreneurs. Tell us about your trigger?

My first son developed GER symptoms after introducing baby bottles to my breastfeeding routines. Seeing my baby cry for days added feelings of maternal failure to the ongoing sleep-deprivation, headaches, pain from c-section, and exhaustion. Doctors insisted this phase was “normal” and he will eventually outgrow it, but I just wanted to help my baby feel better so I could have some rest. 

How did you come up with your business idea?

Months of research showed that the air in the baby bottles caused the problem. My maternal instinct to help my baby turned into an obsession, and I sat at my kitchen table, day after day, for more than 3 years to design and engineer a solution. It turns out that my invention is the first air-free feeding system —and medical device to-be— for infant GER/GERD mitigation. I have extensive experience in design, engineering, manufacturing, polymer materials, and QC, which allowed me to create a product to help my very gassy and fussy baby. 

Have you had support from someone, even if just encouragement? Who was that and how did it help you?

My husband was very supportive of my idea and after I finished my hand-made prototype, he encouraged me to file for patents. 

Female entrepreneurs are often underestimated and overlooked. Have you ever felt at a disadvantage?

Being a woman in the manufacturing industry was, indeed, very challenging. Once the prototype and drawings were done, I needed a contract manufacturing partner. 

However, presenting the idea to a dozen male engineers wasn’t easy. The first response was “it can’t be done” followed by a synchronized side-to-side head-shaking from all the members at the table. Then I pulled out my handmade prototype and said: “If I tell you how to do this step-by-step, can you make it?” My husband always said this is his favorite part of the whole entrepreneurial journey.

Some say it’s hard work, others say it’s talent and resourcefulness that play a crucial role for success in entrepreneurship? Which traits have been instrumental for your success so far? And why?

I think being an entrepreneur makes you grow a thick skin, at the very minimum. You have to exploit every drop of talent, creativity, grit, resourcefulness, perseverance, learn how to negotiate, persuade, get over your fears, be the best at public speaking, memorize presentation, develop great social skills, don’t miss networking events, figure out how to learn things fast, test and measure, and know how and when to make decisions.

What excites you the most about being an entrepreneur?

My days are never the same. Nothing is monotonous. Although, I have been doing this for almost a decade. Every day is a different day and I get to do different things. One day is product design, the next day is website coding, the next is meet the head of giant corporation and talk about my innovation, the next is make a live video on Youtube, etc, etc. In other words, it’s never boring!

Share with us some of the worst business advice you’ve ever received?

The worst advice I heard was an unsolicited comment suggesting that I should give up. This person obviously didn’t understand the contribution Bittylab is making to this world. Getting rid of a problem that happens in the majority of a population, such as infant gastroesophageal reflux, (which affects 66% of full-term and 80% of premature babies) is an invaluable advance in the world of Pediatrics. GERD is the single-handed catalyst for other life-threatening diseases. For example, common intervention for GERD treatment, such as prescription drugs and formula thickeners have been shown to cause necrotizing enterocolitis in preterm infants. Our solution can help infants with GERD without causing these side effects.

You’ve got a high stake investment opportunity. Pitch your business in 150 words.

Infant gastroesophageal reflux, GER, and the disease GERD, affect 66% of full-term & 85% of pre-term babies. These conditions are reaching the breaking point as Ped. Guidelines suppressed the use of common interventions like prescription drugs and formula thickeners to infants under two months of age. Infant GERD is responsible for $41BN annual expense in treatments, in the US alone, where payers include insurance companies, hospitals, and parents. 

Bittylab, a WBE-certified Startup, introduces Bare® Air-free, a solution that showed improvement in 75% of babies with GERD. The technology has been live via a customer-based platform. We have achieved: proof of concept, over 100k units tested and in use, Pediatrician endorsement, and clinical validation as 75% of babies no longer had GERD symptoms after 2 weeks. Bare® Air-free is a money saver for parents, hospitals, and insurance companies.

Bare® Air-free is for sale at buybuybaby and bittylab.com/shop starting at $17.50/unit.

What’s the best piece of advice you’d give to inspire aspiring entrepreneurs?

Never give up! You can pivot, improve, and modify but never give up. As mentioned above in a question, an entrepreneur is born out of personal necessity. If one person is in need of your product or service, chances are that there’s a whole market for it. You just have to find it.

What are your goals for the upcoming year?

We are working in new products as well as engaging research facilities to expand on the effects of air-free feeding, upright feeding position, and flow and pace controlled by babies.

Any final words to end this interview?

 We are very proud to have received the WBE and WOSB certification this year. This will help Bittylab advance into the health and medical fields.

Connect and partner up with Bittylab on Enterprise League

Feeling under-appreciated as an employee, a nonexistent work-life balance, financial struggles, getting out of bad relationships – these are the most common triggers that push women to become entrepreneurs. Tell us about your trigger?

Work-life balance was not great at my previous workplace. However, the main reason I left was because I didn’t feel fulfilled and knew I wanted to be completely independent. I do not like working for other people, I feel it stifles my growth and doesn’t allow me to pursue many of my creative ideas.

How did you come up with your business idea?

It actually wasn’t my idea. My business partner is my husband and he came up with the idea to start an olive oil company after being underwhelmed by the olive oils he found on the shelf in California. I was against the idea until I started doing more research into the industry. I became convinced we could build an incredible company if we truly did things differently.

Have you had support from someone, even if just encouragement? Who was that and how did it help you?

I’ve had help from many people. However, I only confide in a small group of people. My mentor, small group of girlfriends, and publicist have been my biggest supporters in every way imaginable! I feel extremely supported.

Female entrepreneurs are often underestimated and overlooked. Have you ever felt at a disadvantage?

Everyday. It’s wild.

Some say it’s hard work, others say it’s talent and resourcefulness that play a crucial role for success in entrepreneurship? Which traits have been instrumental for your success so far? And why?

Both. You can become an entrepreneur without much talent but it’s going to be extremely difficult to stay competitive. People are drawn towards products and people that make them feel good. It takes talent and the right resources to create an incredible product. 

What excites you the most about being an entrepreneur?

Knowing the next day is going to hold a delightful and/or terrible surprise *adrenaline junky*. 

Share with us some of the worst business advice you’ve ever received?

Talk to as many people as you can about your business idea, especially your family and friends. 

It sounds like good advice but it’s not because family and friends don’t want you to fail and when starting a business there’s always a risk of failure. Only confide in a small group of people that don’t care if you fall on your face. They will be honest about your business idea and be blunt about whether or not that idea or product will work.

You’ve got a high stake investment opportunity. Pitch your business in 150 words.

I don’t want anyone invested in my business.

What’s the best piece of advice you’d give to inspire aspiring entrepreneurs?

Trust your gut.

What are your goals for the upcoming year?

Bringing more products on board! The EXAU line of products will be expanding.

Any final words to end this interview?

I want to see more people of color in the luxury goods industry.

Connect and partner up with EXAU Olive Oil on Enterprise League

Feeling under-appreciated as an employee, a nonexistent work-life balance, financial struggles, getting out of bad relationships – these are the most common triggers that push women to become entrepreneurs. Tell us about your trigger?

I am an entrepreneur at heart. I love to create, visualize, and implement. I saw a need for a better product, and after a lot of research evaluating market potential, I “ran with it.”  

How did you come up with your business idea?

I suffered from debilitating nausea during both of my pregnancies. I found nausea relief from acupressure wrist bands but was dissatisfied with the existing products on the market so I set out to create a superior product.

Have you had support from someone, even if just encouragement? Who was that and how did it help you?

My husband, Michael, of almost 25 years. He was (and is) supportive of my commitment to my company and belief that I could breathe life into a product idea, take it to market, and keep it there. Psi Bands have been selling into the marketplace for 14 years at retailers such as Target, REI, HEB, Pharmaca, Amazon, etc.; in hospitals; and internationally. More than 1m sets sold. We are making a positive and meaningful difference for those who suffer from nausea. 

Female entrepreneurs are often underestimated and overlooked. Have you ever felt at a disadvantage?

When or if I feel like I am being treated at a disadvantage, I stay true to myself. I hold my head high. Sometimes silence is best. Quiet can be loud. Other times, voicing a concern or opinion is critical.  

Some say it’s hard work, others say it’s talent and resourcefulness that play a crucial role for success in entrepreneurship? Which traits have been instrumental for your success so far? And why?

Hard work, passion, growth mindset, strategic outlook, gratitude, and resourcefulness have played a crucial role for success.

What excites you the most about being an entrepreneur?

I am always challenged. Every day brings a new set of challenges and opportunities. And it’s up to me to decide how to creatively and strategically handle them. It’s a journey – and one I embrace. 

Share with us some of the worst business advice you’ve ever received?

“Sell everywhere you can.” Me: “no.” Our organic and targeted approach has allowed us to stay in business. I’d rather be in business than quickly out because we were underfunded and didn’t have the right expertise and/or systems in place to scale up. Learning daily is part of the journey and one I embrace.  

You’ve got a high stake investment opportunity. Pitch your business in 150 words.

I was on “Shark Tank” and received and declined an offer. Here’s the 60-second pitch.

What’s the best piece of advice you’d give to inspire aspiring entrepreneurs?

“You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” – Wayne Gretzky

What are your goals for the upcoming year?

Expand internationally and increase our online presence. We are partially doing this with grants and assistance from the US Commercial Service. Applying for grants is one of many ways to fund a company.   

Any final words to end this interview?

Feeling under-appreciated as an employee, a nonexistent work-life balance, financial struggles, getting out of bad relationships – these are the most common triggers that push women to become entrepreneurs. Tell us about your trigger?

How did you come up with your business idea?

I started this business after a trip to my mother’s cat sitter with her. As I stepped into this woman’s beautifully appointed living room, the first thing I noticed was that it was filled with shipping cartons. She saw me looking around and sheepishly explained, “They’re for the cats.” 

Now, I know why cats love cardboard boxes (there is some serious science to explain it), but it got me thinking: why do their owners put up with dirty, ugly Amazon boxes in their homes? Why not boxes that are clean, cat-safe, fun? 

My boxes are whimsical, environmentally friendly, and imprinted with human-grade, soy-based inks — and cats and their owners love them!

Have you had support from someone, even if just encouragement? Who was that and how did it help you?

Female entrepreneurs are often underestimated and overlooked. Have you ever felt at a disadvantage?

Some say it’s hard work, others say it’s talent and resourcefulness that play a crucial role for success in entrepreneurship? Which traits have been instrumental for your success so far? And why?

What excites you the most about being an entrepreneur?

The second thing that excites me about my business is the opportunity to connect with like-minded people every day. I’m a lifelong animal lover, and I get to connect – through social media mostly – with cat owners every single day! It was one of the unexpected joys of starting this business.

Share with us some of the worst business advice you’ve ever received?

You’ve got a high stake investment opportunity. Pitch your business in 150 words.

Cats are crazy for cardboard boxes. Google “cats in the boxes” and you’ll get about 140 million hits, mostly goofy photos of cats squeezing into boxes they have no business squeezing into. 

This is such a universal phenomenon that scientists have compelling research about why cats are so cardboard box crazy.

The question then, really isn’t why cats like cardboard boxes, but why owners put up with filthy, ugly Amazon boxes in their homes. My boxes are fun, attractive, environmentally friendly, cat safe and made in the USA. And cats love them.

My products have been featured in The Boston Globe, Product Hunt, Parade.com and other major media outlets. DesignBoom, one of the world’s leading design publications, called my Mega Milk Carton a “Warhol-esque stroke of genius.”

Come think inside the box with me!

What’s the best piece of advice you’d give to inspire aspiring entrepreneurs?

What are your goals for the upcoming year?

Any final words to end this interview?

Connect and partner up with Cat in the Box on Enterprise League