Bridget shares her remarkable journey of founding, building, and eventually selling Owney's Rum, a New York-based distillery.
From her early career at a hedge fund to identifying market opportunities in craft spirits, she leveraged her finance background to launch a successful rum brand. Bridget discusses the challenges of raising initial capital, running a lean operation, and handling media attention.
She also delves into the complexities of selling her business to Proximo Spirits, the emotional and operational transitions, and lessons learned. Now focused on her new venture, Rockaway Soda, Bridget reflects on balancing passion with strategic planning in the non-alcoholic beverage market.
2:44 The “Aha” Moment to Build a Rum Distillery
4:43 Raising $500K to Bring the Vision to Life
6:25 How Friends and Family Backed the First Round
8:02 A Deep Passion for Crafting Great-Tasting Rum
10:02 Press Coverage That Skyrocketed Their Visibility
12:00 Self-Distributing Rum Out of the Back of Her Car
14:29 A Surprisingly Short Timeline From Launch to Sale
17:10 Early, Informal Talks With a Potential Acquirer
19:25 Building a Smart Cash-Off Strategy
22:06 Negotiating With Major Industry Players
25:49 Navigating the Legal Maze of Selling a Business
29:39 Why Freedom Was Her Ultimate Motivator
31:51 Lessons Learned From Previous Ventures
34:19 Launching Rockaway Soda as a Creative Outlet
37:10 Managing Anxiety Through Entrepreneurial Experience
