Josh Puddle
MOMO Kombucha

What inspired you to start your own business?

My wife and I came across kombucha on a trip to New York back in 2016. It was a huge category over there, we absolutely loved it and we couldn't believe it wasn't bigger in the UK. When we got back to London we started brewing our own.

What is the best part of running your own business?

Building relationships with amazing people. We have they best team at MOMO who I feel incredibly lucky to work with, and we have such brilliant stockists who I love getting to know. These guys and girls have put their lives into building a range of exciting businesses including warm and cosy cafes, speciality food shops, stunning restaurants & some of the best coffee shops in the UK. I’m so grateful that they’ve chosen to support MOMO.

What is the biggest challenge you have faced running your own business and how did you overcome it?

About 9 months in when we were trying to move the business out of the house into our brewery, I had a borderline breakdown. In hindsight, I was burned out, but it manifested in insomnia and severe anxiety. I took a lot of steps to overcome it including stopping caffeine and alcohol, writing down all my concerns at night, and then hiring our first employee to start sharing the load. I should have brought someone in much earlier, but at that stage I found it hard to let go.

What is your 5 year vision for the business?

To be the UK's favourite kombucha.

What is the one piece of advice you would give to anyone wanting to start their own business?

Focus on being better than what already exists and always look to improve your offering.

Were there any key moments during your time at NUBS which ignited your entrepreneurial spirit? 

I always wanted to start my own business. The flying start course provided a fantastic foundation for doing so. I remember the company analysis module well - I chose to analyse a soft drinks company, AG Barr, and really enjoyed learning about that industry.