Lauren Kay Forsch founded Popped.NYC, a brand that creates all-natural, small-batch CBD products, including a popular body butter made from six natural ingredients. While the company has seen success, including months where revenue topped $20,000, it has faced significant challenges. Setbacks from COVID-19, difficulty with credit card processors, and the stigma surrounding CBD products have affected growth. Despite this, Lauren is focused on overcoming obstacles and building a strong business, especially through marketing strategies like email campaigns and personalized customer service.

Chris Sofia founded Humble Blades, a company that specializes in handmade, custom chef knives in Austin, Texas. After leaving a career in marketing and design, Chris embarked on a journey to create a business around his passion for knives, even though he had no prior experience in production or knife making. Using his last unemployment check, he began his self-taught process of designing and crafting knives, which initially resulted in failures but eventually led to success. Through constant self-improvement, transparency on social media, and dedication to customer relationships, Chris turned his hobby into a business. Humble Blades now generates $2,000 in monthly revenue and Chris is focused on scaling the company while maintaining its craftsmanship and authenticity.