Vivian: I’m lucky to have many people in my life who support my journey as an entrepreneur, but founders have a whole other level of understanding of what it’s like.

Anna: Having a network that you can bounce ideas off of, tap for resources, and form strong friendships with makes all the difference in the world.

Barbora: It’s everything! Some of my closest friendships today are from my founder network. They’ve seen my ups and downs, whether business or personal—it all blends. They are my go-to for hard days or to share a celebration.

Barbora: I’ve learned that what fuels my creativity is connecting and collaborating with others. And that deep down I’m an introvert and solo time is how I recharge.

Shira: I would not know where to start with this question! I guess my biggest takeaway is I will always stay in the ring. I do not like to lose.

Ada: I'm also more competitive than I thought. And much more resilient than I give myself credit for.

Samantha: There are few more challenging ways to test your resilience and drive than founding a company. The surprising thing is how uncomfortable you can feel selling your idea (and yourself), but it's what you have to get very good at in the early stages. Part of resilience is building internal confidence and trust.

Janna: I love hearing from customers who appreciate the work we do. Knowing that we’ve connected with someone the way we hoped is so gratifying!

Nathaly: We have the creative freedom to experiment and innovate, and it's incredibly rewarding to see our ideas come to life in the form of our unique ciders.

Barbora: Same—the opportunity to turn a loose idea into a concrete concept. I truly love the process of building a team and working together to bring a vision to life.