Georgia, a Brunel alumna in Industrial Design and Technology, is on a mission to redefine mobility with her start-up, Zeal Lifestyle.
Tell us about your company - what does it specialise in, and what makes it unique?
Zeal Lifestyle is a start-up focused on developing a new generation of desirable and sustainable mobility products. Zeal's first product will be a customer-centric, 4-wheeled walker, made with Great British design and engineering. It is a piece of kit someone is proud to be seen with, representing strength, agility, and prosperity.
What ignited your passion to start your own business? Was there a defining moment or event?
Zeal Lifestyle was born from firsthand frustration with the inequalities in the assisted living sector, the mission is to eliminate the stigma associated with disabilities and ageing. Zeal is dedicated to revolutionising the assisted living sector and reshaping societal views on assistive products. Stylish, sustainable, and user-friendly mobility aids should be the norm, not the exception.
What achievements are you most proud of since starting your business?
We have won an inclusive innovation award for our walker design, it means so much to us and cannot wait to launch our walker for people to use it!
In what ways did your time at Brunel prepare you for the challenges of starting and running a business? Were there any particular experiences, courses, or mentors at Brunel that made a significant impact on you?
The Entrepreneur Hub was incredibly helpful to Zeal Lifestyle. They were one of the first people we told about our vision and idea for Zeal! The venture competition was the first competition we won.
Can you describe the early days of your business? What were some of the biggest hurdles you had to overcome?
The hardest hurdle we have faced is feeling like we should just 'give up', each time something sets us back or takes longer than we thought it's devastating, but perseverance is key! We always keep going!
What was your first big success, and how did it shape the direction of your business? Is there a memorable moment from your journey that stands out to you?
The reason we started Zeal was for my Great Aunty Deb, we wanted to design her a stylish walker that she'd love. Once we had made our first prototype we took it to test with our Great Aunty Deb, and she absolutely loved it, we then tested it with more and more people and the feedback was overwhelming!
How has being an entrepreneur influenced your personal and professional growth?
I have become more resilient, and confident in a professional manner and my problem-solving is second to none, which I don't think any other job would have taught me.
What qualities or skills do you think are essential for someone to be a successful entrepreneur?
Grit and determination.
What advice would you give to current students or recent graduates who are thinking about starting their own businesses?
Do it! You won't regret it.
What were some of the toughest challenges you faced so far, and how did you overcome them? Can you share a time when you had to be particularly bold or take a significant risk?
Once we started Zeal, Josh and I had to make the tough decision to leave our corporate jobs to dedicate more time to Zeal. This has been the biggest risk financially and giving up our careers for our own business, since leaving our jobs we can already see the positive impact this has had on Zeal.
Looking back, is there anything you would do differently in your entrepreneurial journey?
I would have quit my job sooner.
What are your future plans for your business and career?
We are going to launch and begin to sell our Zeal walkers at the end of this year, we cannot wait!
How does your business contribute to the community, either locally or globally? Are there any community or philanthropic initiatives that your company is involved in?
We have collaborated with the MS society so when we launch we can host events for the MS community.
Follow Zeal Lifestyle for more
Website: zeal-lifestyle.com | Instagram: @zeallifestyleltd | Facebook: Zeal Lifestyle Ltd | X: Zeal_Lifestyle_
Images: Zeal Lifestyle Ltd, Brunel University London