Lauren Batterby never set out to be a founder. In fact, she once swore she’d never follow in her father’s entrepreneurial footsteps. But after years in the events industry, a career pivot during COVID, and an innate drive to prove herself, she found herself building Life Event Staffing—a company that now handles thousands of events with a rapidly growing workforce. Her journey is one of unexpected turns, rapid scaling, and the balancing act of being both an entrepreneur and a mother.

Bridget Connelly, founder and CEO of Luna Bay Booch, is rewriting the rules of the alcohol industry by merging wellness with social connection. From facing the challenges of a male-dominated space to pioneering the hard kombucha category, her journey is defined by resilience, intuition, and an unwavering commitment to authenticity. She built Luna Bay Booch not just as a brand, but as a movement—creating a cleaner, more inclusive approach to alcohol while staying true to her values. By prioritizing deep market presence over rapid expansion and championing women in the industry, Bridget is proving that success isn’t just about scale—it’s about impact.

A nine-year-old living with his grandmother while his parents worked abroad doesn't sound like the beginning of a startup story. But for Santhosh, this unconventional childhood sparked an independence that would later help him juggle being both a practicing physician and founder of Medtrics. His mission to free doctors from administrative hell offers a fascinating glimpse into the hidden world of healthcare education tech.

When your brother builds a DIY grow box in college, you don't typically expect it to turn into a multimillion-dollar business. But for Aedan, that moment sparked a journey from a $85,000 pitch competition win to navigating a dramatic COVID pivot that shot revenue from $50,000 to $1.5M. His raw story of resilience, tough partnership lessons, and "no BS" advice for Gen Z shows what it really takes to build something meaningful.

Growing up in an ad agency and doing 500+ skydiving jumps aren't your typical founder origin story. But for Paul, these early experiences shaped a unique perspective on risk, creativity and building something authentic. This intimate look at his journey from agency kid to startup founder reveals how personal tragedy and life-changing moments can spark the courage to finally build something meaningful.

From delivering Meals on Wheels as a kid to founding a tech company that's revolutionizing nonprofit fundraising, Leya's story isn't your typical startup journey. Her raw insights on being overlooked as a female founder in a male-dominated space, while serving an industry that's 83% women, reveal the complex reality of building mission-driven tech. And her experience getting sober adds an unexpected layer of resilience that shapes how she leads today.