Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Jonathan Weaver, Co-Founder of ūmmi hard kombucha, located in Lisbon, Portugal.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Our business provides health-conscious people an alternative buzz that won't slow them down the morning after. Our solution is ūmmi hard kombucha—an organic, vegan, gluten-free, low-sugar alternative drink with 6% abv. Our customers are primarily in Portugal currently, but we're growing into the UK and France with new distribution partners and via Scandinavia and Germany through a B2C logistics partner.
Tell us about yourself
As a parent, I can afford to have any wasted days. As I got older and we had kids while I was still trying to get up to run, do yoga, surf and snowboard. I found I was missing too many moments from the hangovers from traditional alcohol, so along with 5 like-minded friends, we set to creating the brand we all had been looking for here in Europe.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
With ūmmi, it's for sure two things. Firstly the fantastic community of people who are investing and part of the brand, including Mikey February, Mia Rose, Ben Howard, Nina Brooke, Oski, Kevin Backstrom, Roger Gracie, and many more. It's an eclectic mix, but they keep us grounded in our vision. Secondly would be the fantastic bars, restaurants, and design hotels that believe in what we're doing and have supported us since day 1, including Java, Da Noi, Cafe Janis, Quinta da Comporta and many more.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
It knows where and when to spend your time on the right part of the business.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
Great question. So I would say :
- To have the right team with aligned values and work ethics.
- To have a goal that's more than 'to make a product and make money,' there has to be a more significant reason for getting up every day. Ours is to help people Enjoy the Būzz without having to compromise their next day.
- To have fun along the way. Some of our best days have been in the brewery, testing new flavors, having launch events, and meeting new partners. Enjoy the ride, even if it's bumpy along the way.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://ummikombucha.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ummi_kombucha/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ummi-hard-kombucha/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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