O TYM ODCINKU
In this live episode of Virgin StartUp Changemakers, Natalie Pearce sits down with Seedlip and Sylva founder Ben Branson to explore what can happen when founders follow their curiosity rather than simply searching for a gap in the market.
From experimenting with botanical distillation at home to helping establish the alcohol-free drinks category, Ben shares the thinking behind Seedlip and his latest venture, Sylva, which explores the extraordinary flavours found in trees and wood. He reflects candidly on the personal sacrifices behind rapid growth, knowing what your brand will say no to and why his second time building a startup still comes with uncertainty, stress and the possibility of failure.
Whether you're developing an original idea, creating a new category or questioning what growth should look like for your business, this episode offers a different perspective on curiosity, creativity, founder wellbeing and building without compromising what matters to you.
In this episode:
- Why Ben's businesses begin with curiosity rather than market gaps
- How a 17th-century book helped inspire the experiments behind Seedlip
- Creating a category when customers don't yet know they need it
- What Ben learned from Seedlip's rapid international growth
- Why building a second startup doesn't make the uncertainty disappear
- Defining your brand by what you refuse to do
- Using a "not now" list to protect your focus without abandoning good ideas
- Why Sylva is exploring trees and wood as a new source of flavour
- Rethinking what scale and success should look like the second time around
- How a late autism and ADHD diagnosis changed Ben's understanding of himself and his work
Changemakers is brought to you by Virgin StartUp, the not-for-profit organisation helping founders start and scale the businesses they're passionate about.
Recorded live at Virgin StartUp's Changemakers events, every episode features honest conversations with entrepreneurs, founders and business leaders sharing the lessons, challenges and ideas shaping the future of business.
Looking to start or grow your own business?
Find out more at virginstartup.org
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