In this week’s Founder Series, we meet entrepreneurs whose companies reflect the blend of imagination, grit, and mission that fuels today’s most meaningful start-ups.

Their shared aim: to solve problems and create genuine connections. Elizabeth Hewitt brings art into mental-health conversations; Niall Greenan’s Smart Bunker fixes a long-standing storage problem; Tanya Rodgers gives passion projects identity through Me & Spirit Creative; Bill Strohacker reshapes design education with practical support; and Hannah Attalah’s Oceanus combines fashion and sustainability. Though their paths include funding gaps, personal setbacks, and team-building challenges, each founder’s focus continues to guide their business forward.

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‍Lizzy Hewitt Artist
Elizabeth Hewitt aka Lizzy Hewitt

In a field where trust often shapes the value of the work itself, Elizabeth Hewitt is gaining recognition through a unique style and steady focus on mental health. “I specialise in portraits, landscapes, buildings, and illustration for children’s books—all created in a distinct style,” she says. Her work spans oils, watercolours, pen-and-ink, pencil, and digital colour.

Elizabeth Hewitt’s Background
Raised in Leicester, Elizabeth credits her early success to mentors who shared their skills freely. They helped her start a blog, present her work confidently, and manage client relationships.

More About Lizzy Hewitt Artist
Her studio focuses on meaningful pieces with a mental-health theme. “My biggest goal is to raise awareness of mental health and help people understand various conditions and the challenges they involve,” Elizabeth explains.

Key Challenges
Selling artwork through different channels remains tough. “Doing it alone is hard, but you often find people who are there for you—even at your lowest, when you feel like giving up,” she shares.

Successful Highlights
Elizabeth’s proudest moment was presenting A Right Royal Street Party to the late Queen and receiving a thank-you letter from a lady-in-waiting. “The painting can be seen on my website and Saatchi online,” she notes.

Greenans Products Limited
Niall Greenan

Innovation powers this founder’s work, solving a problem people have faced for generations. “The Smart Bunker is a simple answer to an old problem,” he says. “Until now, there hasn’t been a product that handles both user ability and safety as well as the Smart Bunker.”

Niall Greenan’s Background
From Castlewellan in County Down, Niall’s early jobs included bricklaying and bartending. “Every day is a learning day,” he says.

More About Greenans Products Limited
The company launched with the Smart Bunker—a spring-loaded bin that dispenses materials from the base, ideal for coal, pellets, or feed. “It gives us strong advantages in the market and opens up new possibilities,” Niall says.

Key Challenges
The pandemic and Brexit made production and delivery harder. “Costs went up, paperwork piled up—but like other businesses, we moved forward,” he says.

Successful Highlights
The Smart Bunker has received major endorsements. “HETAS approved it for use with solid fuels, which shows its safety and quality,” Niall adds.

Me & Spirit Creative
Tanya Rodgers

This branding studio is built on meaningful creativity. “Me & Spirit Creative is a small agency that helps purpose-driven businesses and creative individuals express who they are through thoughtful branding,” Tanya says.

Tanya Rodgers’ Background
From Belfast, Tanya studied music and earned a master’s in composition. She later taught herself design, starting out by creating £10 Etsy logos to grow her skills and confidence.

More About Me & Spirit Creative
Her agency blends strategy and style, offering discovery sessions and full brand packages. “I work closely with clients to create unique solutions that reflect their personality and values,” she explains.

Key Challenges
Self-doubt was a major hurdle. “As someone who didn’t study design formally, I often wondered if I was good enough—but I came to see my background as a strength,” Tanya reflects.

Successful Highlights
A favourite project was rebranding 12 Bar Music and Social in Exeter. “Seeing their space match their vision was deeply rewarding,” she says.

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Strohacker Design School
Bill Strohacker

Determined to improve creative education, Bill set out to update how design is taught. “Strohacker Design School is an independent education hub that connects traditional learning with today’s industry needs,” he says.

Bill Strohacker’s Background
Raised in Worthing, Bill brings 30 years of experience in design and education, including course development, creative direction, and hands-on teaching.

More About Strohacker Design School
The school offers practical instruction in design, branding, and communication. It replaces outdated material with real-world projects and one-on-one guidance.

Key Challenges
When the pandemic stopped in-person teaching, Bill quickly developed an online course. “It maintained our quality and helped us reach students around the world,” he says.

Successful Highlights
A standout moment was when a student landed a graphic design job at Pfizer in London within three months. “It showed what focused effort and support can lead to,” he says.

Oceanus
Hannah Attalah

Creativity drives this fashion label’s distinctive edge. “We create hand-embroidered swimwear and ready-to-wear pieces,” Hannah says.

Hannah’s Background
Born in London, Hannah studied both fashion and business. Her interest in vintage textiles and love for painting led her to launch her own brand.

More About Oceanus
Oceanus designs standout garments with sustainability in mind, aiming to reduce fabric waste. “We don’t have direct competitors in the swimwear space because of how our supply chain works,” she explains.

Key Challenges
Building a strong team and managing production growth took time. “I found better recruiters and strengthened my production team,” Hannah says.

Successful Highlights
Landing in Harrods and being featured in American Vogue were major wins. “That was a huge step for us,” she reflects.

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Final Remarks
These five founders show how creativity and persistence lead to purpose-driven businesses. Elizabeth Hewitt opens conversations through art. Niall Greenan’s Smart Bunker provides a clear fix to everyday storage needs. Tanya Rodgers uses thoughtful branding to amplify small businesses. Bill Strohacker proves that design education can stay current and useful. Hannah Attalah brings beauty and environmental care together in fashion. Their advice speaks volumes: “Research is key, and the internet is a great place to start,” says Niall. “Embrace your individuality,” Tanya adds, “and don’t feel pressured to fit a mold.” Elizabeth sums it up well: “You can’t succeed alone—find the people who support you.” Each of these entrepreneurs reminds us that lasting success grows from staying grounded in what matters most and pushing forward with integrity.

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