To celebrate Female Founders Month this May, we caught up with five brilliant founders to talk honestly about business, burnout, big wins, and the reality behind building a brand from scratch.

Alongside our own founder and CEO, Clementine, they shared the lessons they’ve learned, the advice they’d give to future founders. Plus, the pets who’ve been there through every late night, product launch, and post-work walk. 

Clementine, Founder & CEO of Kavee

“I'm convinced that about half of what separates successful entrepreneurs from the non-successful ones is pure perseverance.”
- Steve Jobs

Q: What’s the best thing about being a founder?
A: I really love the creative process around building a business. To build a brand, develop products, stand for a mission and above all create a wonderful workplace for people to connect and do great things together.

Q: What’s your most unglamorous survival hack?
A: Whatever happens, I strive to keep my house tidy and my hair clean. Those two are my non-negotiables.

Q: What do you do when everything feels like it’s falling apart?
A: I allow myself to be stressed and overwhelmed for a set amount of time and then switch gears to think creatively about the problem at hand. There is always a solution, even if it’s a difficult one.

Q: What achievement are you most proud of?
A: I am incredibly proud to have led Kavee for almost a full decade as a solo bootstrapped founder. I’m proud to have never lost the drive to make it better and bigger.

Q: What advice would you give to women starting out?
A: Start small, scrappy and fast. Test your market fit early on with an MVP. Keep things simple at all costs.

Catch Jones, Founder of Catch Rhys Jewellery

“All progress takes place outside the comfort zone.”

Q: What’s the best thing about being a founder?
A: Being your own boss, and the opportunity to continually learn and grow.

Q: What’s your biggest survival hack?
A: Turning my emails off to focus on deep work.

Q: What do you do on overwhelming days?
A: Take a long walk. Whenever I feel overwhelmed there’s nothing better than getting out of the house and out of my head. I also have most of my best ideas whilst on walks with Wayne.

Q: What achievement are you most proud of?
A: Hearing how customers have worn our jewellery through some of life’s most special moments. It makes all the hard work worthwhile.

Q: What advice would you give to women thinking about taking the leap?
A: Feel the fear and do it anyway. Let go of perfectionism and just get started.

Jess, Founder of Bunnies That Lunch

“Your thoughts become things.”

Q: What’s the best thing about being a founder?
A: Proving to the world that women can do it all. I love women-led networking events and meeting other female business founders.

Q: What’s your most unglamorous survival hack?
A: Surviving on little sleep and rolling with it!

Q: What do you do when things feel like they’re falling apart?
A: I take time out for myself, usually at a spa to relax and reflect. After years of working nonstop, I’ve realised how important it is to step back.

Q: What achievement are you most proud of?
A: Shipping to every country in the world, and now being able to spend more time with my toddler after years of building the business.

Q: What advice would you give to women who haven’t started yet?
A: Do what feels right for you. Your journey is personal to you. It’s not going to be easy, but it is going to be worth it.

Lauren Orlicky, Founder of US Launchpad

“Lean in when it feels hard. You might just solve a problem before it becomes one.”

Q: What’s the best thing about being a founder?
A: I love seeing a vision come to life and knowing the work we do genuinely helps people.

Q: What’s your biggest survival hack?
A: Do the thing you said you were going to do. Consistency alone has catapulted me time and time again.

Q: What do you do when everything feels like it’s collapsing?
A: Cry. Pace around. Think through the worst-case scenario. Then start finding solutions. We are nothing but solution finders.

Q: What achievement are you most proud of?
A: Creating a life I genuinely love living.

Q: What advice would you give to aspiring founders?
A: Buckle up. And if you can, build with someone who understands the journey with you.

Lucy, Founder of Lucy & Lola

“Make it exist first. You can make it perfect later.”

Q: What’s the best thing about being a founder?
A: The freedom to build something completely on your own terms. I taught myself everything from scratch and built a multi-million-pound brand.

Q: What’s your biggest survival hack?
A: Being willing to take risks and being okay with things not working out.

Q: What do you do on difficult days?
A: I remind myself that this is the test. Anyone can run a business when things are going well, but difficult moments are where you really grow.

Q: What achievement are you most proud of?
A: Building a genuine community around Lucy & Lola and creating opportunities for the people around me.

Q: What advice would you give to women starting a business?
A: Make it exist first. You can make it perfect later.

Built By Women

We’re very excited to share that we’re now part of Buy Women Built! 

This incredible movement highlights and celebrates brands founded by women. We’re honoured to stand amongst this network of incredible female trailblazers.