Take The Plunge

Ciaran Burke interviews people who "took the plunge" into the world of business

Author: Swoop

Take The Plunge is a series about the bold decision to leave comfort behind and build something of your own. Hosted by Ciaran Burke, each episode dives into the real stories of founders who traded stability for ambition exploring what it really takes to quit your job, start a business, and grow it from the ground up. From funding hurdles and first hires to burnout and big wins, these conversations go beyond the highlight reel to uncover the mindset, grit, and defining moments behind the leap. Real people. Real risks. Real rewards. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Language: en

Genres: Business, Careers, Entrepreneurship

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Aine Kilkenny | Riley Period Care Products | Take the Plunge |Business Podcast | Menstrual Wellbeing
Episode 4
Wednesday, 7 January, 2026

When Aine Kilkenny and her co-founder Fiona couldn’t find a single tampon at home, they didn’t just complain – they created Riley, a 100% organic cotton period care brand now stocked in bathrooms and retailers across Europe.In this episode, Aine shares how Riley grew from a kitchen table in West Cork to 400+ corporate clients, including Google and KPMG, replacing millions of single-use plastic period products with organic, biodegradable alternatives and expanding into the US. She talks candidly about shifting from DTC to a B2B-led model, crowdfunding on Seedrs, and why profit, sustainability and access all have to work together.We also dive into the human side of scaling: building a team around integrity, kindness and respect; finding the right balance between remote work and office hubs; getting onboarding right in a fast-moving startup; and learning to celebrate milestones instead of just sprinting to the next problem.Perfect for anyone interested in women’s health, sustainable consumer products, or what it really takes to build a purpose-driven brand in a crowded category. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.