In this episode of Founder2Founder, Aaron Spivak sits down with Keida Dervishi, the 23-year-old founder of Soulmate Customs, a custom embroidery brand that hit $1 million in revenue in under 11 months without spending a dollar on ads. What started as a hoodie gift for her mom’s birthday quickly turned into a viral business powered by emotional storytelling and relentless content creation.

Keida shares how growing up in an immigrant household shaped her drive, how she transitioned from child star in Albania to business builder, and what it’s like leading a fast-scaling brand at such a young age. From hiring mistakes, to burnout, staying grounded, to posting 40+ times a day, this conversation is a real look at what it takes to scale with zero shortcuts.

Chapters:
02:08 – Growing Up in an Entrepreneurial Household
03:47 – From Child Star to Burnout on Stage
05:43 – Accidentally Entering Entrepreneurship
07:00 – The Hoodie Gift That Started Soulmate Custom
09:58 – Viral Launch and Selling Out Within Days
11:32 – No Strategy, Just Action: Early Days of Posting
12:37 – Moving Out of Her Bedroom to Scale Fulfillment
13:02 – First TikTok Lives and Learning to Sell
14:22 – Hiring Challenges and Missteps
15:45 – The Family Business Breakdown: Who Does What
16:37 – Discovering Her Why: The Fear That Fuels Her
18:01 – A Breakthrough Moment at Founders Club
19:04 – The Realities of Building While Your Parents Age
21:10 – Navigating Burnout, Routines, and Sleep Struggles
23:10 – Posting 40+ Times a Day: Pressure and Purpose
25:12 – Why Consistency Is Her Superpower
27:21 – Leading a Team as the Youngest in the Room
30:44 – Building Confidence and Letting Go of Limiting Beliefs
34:11 – Embracing Embarrassment to Achieve Greatness
35:27 – What Keeps Her Going: Live Calls with Customers
38:47 – Giving Credit Where It’s Due and Admiring the Work
41:38 – What’s Next for Soulmate Customs
44:45 – Learning to Let Go as the Business Grows
49:28 – Curating Her Circle and Protecting Her Environment
54:25 – Working With Her Brother and Navigating Family Tension
57:22 – What She’d Tell Her 9-Year-Old Self
Guest Links:
Website: https://soulmatecustoms.com/
Instagram: @SoulmateCustoms
@Keida02

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