{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/6419a7bbe2f2c5001101f1b8/68c90cf922062501637c250f?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"E22: Building a startup with no investors - The Jamaican twist that’s shaking up the drinks industry","thumbnail_width":200,"thumbnail_height":200,"thumbnail_url":"https://open-images.acast.com/shows/6419a7bbe2f2c5001101f1b8/1758005523420-52f9d9ad-7756-40be-8561-b936e961b5f2.jpeg?height=200","description":"<h1>Founder Stories — Episode 22: Monique Farquharson</h1><p><br></p><p><strong>Bootstrapping a Bold Drinks Brand: From Teaching in Jamaica to The Matcha Yard</strong></p><p>Could you really build a drinks brand without funding?</p><p> This week’s guest is living proof that you can.</p><p>In this episode, Simon Kallu sits down with <strong>Monique Farquharson</strong>, CEO &amp; Founder of <strong>The Matcha Yard</strong>, a bold drinks company blending authentic Japanese matcha with Jamaican spices.</p><p>Monique’s journey is anything but ordinary. From teaching in Jamaica, to studying matcha culture in Japan, to launching the UK’s first Jamaican-inspired matcha brand while working full-time at Accenture—her story is packed with lessons in resilience, courage, and creativity.</p><p><br></p><h3>We cover:</h3><ul><li>How Monique went from classroom teaching to founding Jamaica’s first matcha distribution business</li><li>Why she moved to Japan for two years to study matcha culture first-hand</li><li>The leap of faith that brought her to the UK—and the scholarship that changed everything</li><li>What it really takes to bootstrap a food &amp; beverage brand without outside funding</li><li>The sacrifices, setbacks, and lessons learned while juggling Accenture and entrepreneurship</li><li>Why “work-life balance” is a myth, and how Monique embraces <strong>work-life integration</strong></li></ul><p>This candid, practical conversation dives deep into the realities of rejection, immigration hurdles, and building a startup from scratch in a new country.</p><p><br></p><h3>Key Takeaways:</h3><ul><li><strong>How to bootstrap without burning out</strong></li><li><strong>Why authenticity and cultural respect matter in brand building</strong></li><li><strong>The 3 keys to Monique’s success: listening, trusting herself, and knowing when to rest</strong></li><li><strong>The mindset shift every entrepreneur needs to sustain momentum</strong></li></ul><p>If you’re an aspiring founder, foodpreneur, or simply love stories of grit and determination, this episode will inspire you to think bigger, start smaller, and keep pushing forward.</p><p><br></p><h2>About the Guest</h2><p><strong>Monique Farquharson</strong> is the CEO &amp; Founder of <strong>The Matcha Yard</strong>, a UK-based drinks brand fusing authentic Japanese matcha with Jamaican culture and flavours. From humble beginnings as a teacher in Jamaica, to studying in Japan, to building her business alongside a corporate career, Monique’s mission is to make matcha accessible while honouring the cultures that shaped it.</p><p><br></p><h2>About the Host</h2><p><strong>Simon Kallu</strong> is an entrepreneur, business advisor, and host of <strong>Founder Stories</strong>. As the founder of <strong>GrowFactor</strong>, Simon helps business owners scale smarter and design the life they want.</p><p><br></p><p>👉 Subscribe for weekly episodes:</p><p> <a href=\"https://youtube.com/@founderstoriespodcast?si=HYQKUaejcwKvrx3a\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">https://youtube.com/@founderstoriespodcast?si=HYQKUaejcwKvrx3a</a></p><p><br></p><p>🌐 Learn more about GrowFactor: <a href=\"http://www.growfactor.com\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">www.growfactor.com</a></p><p><br></p><p>🎙 Follow Simon Kallu:</p><ul><li><a href=\"https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonkallu/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">LinkedIn</a></li><li><a href=\"https://www.instagram.com/simonkallu\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Instagram</a></li><li><a href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/@simonkallu\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">TikTok</a></li></ul><p><br></p><p>🎙 Follow Monique Farquharson &amp; The Matcha Yard:</p><ul><li><a href=\"https://www.instagram.com/thematchayard\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Instagram</a></li><li><a href=\"https://www.linkedin.com/in/moniquefarquharson\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">LinkedIn</a></li></ul><p><br></p>","author_name":"Simon Kallu"}