I watched my dad build Cape Cod Potato Chips, and then I built 2 businesses of my own. Here's my advice for founders.

Nicole Bernard Dawes, the founder and CEO of zero-sugar soda brand Nixie, grew up in an entrepreneurial environment. She watched her father, Steve Bernard, start and run Cape Cod Potato Chips, and her mother owned a health food store. These experiences shaped her into the founder she is today. After selling her stake in Late July Snacks to Snyder's-Lance in 2014, Dawes and her husband started Nixie in 2019, which now operates in over 11,000 retailers nationwide.

Dawes, who was pregnant with her first child when she began Late July, is a firm believer in budgeting and sees it as a key skill for entrepreneurs. She and her husband retained most of the leadership team from Late July when they started Nixie, as they valued the team they had built. She emphasizes the importance of trade marketing, such as working directly with retailers for displays, and sampling, as these methods provide a high return on investment.

Dawes also stresses the importance of carefully choosing a partner investor, comparing it to a marriage that should be entered into with great consideration.