We were lucky to catch up with Hannah Dayton recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Hannah, thanks for joining us today. Almost all entrepreneurs have had to decide whether to start now or later? There are always pros and cons for waiting and so we’d love to hear what you think about your decision in retrospect. If you could go back in time, would you have started your business sooner, later or at the exact time you started?

I’m currently 26 and started my business at 17 years old during my senior year of high school. I was lucky to attend a school that not only encouraged creativity across all subjects, but also gave us a platform to pursue a passion project—similar to a senior thesis. Some students built things, others created art, some learned new skills—and I chose to create my own business.

I’m so grateful I was given the time, space, and resources to bring my concept to life. Looking back, I wouldn’t change the timing. I believe there’s no “perfect” age or stage to start a business—whether you’re in middle school, high school, college, or post-grad. If you feel passionate about creating something of your own and becoming your own boss, I strongly encourage you to take that first step. Starting can be as simple (and low-cost) as securing a name and forming an LLC.

There will always be ebbs and flows in the journey of building a business. At times, it may feel like you’re not making progress—but those small, consistent steps are just as important as the big wins. As long as the passion and hunger to keep moving toward your dream stay alive, you will always keep moving forward.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Hi, I’m Hannah, founder of Boa Vida Goods — a clean, organic cold-pressed juice and snack brand in East Hampton, New York. I started Boa Vida when I was 17 years old, after a senior project inspired me to turn my passion for food, wellness, and creativity into my career.

At Boa Vida Goods, we believe feeling good should taste good too. Every product we make is crafted with organic ingredients and no added sugars or fillers. We proudly source as much as we can from local organic farms on the East End of Long Island, working directly with growers who share our commitment to quality and sustainability.

Our goal is simple: to fuel vibrant, healthy lives with products that feel just as good as they taste. We serve our community through local farmers markets, special events, and select partners, staying deeply connected to the people who inspire our work every day.

What sets us apart is our commitment to authenticity — no shortcuts, just thoughtfully made products that fit into real life.

I’m most proud of the trust we’ve built with our customers. When someone tells me Boa Vida has become part of their morning ritual or uplifted their day, that’s the biggest win.

At the end of the day, Boa Vida is about more than juice — it’s about living the “good life” your own way. Whether you’re grabbing a bottle after a yoga class, stocking your fridge for the week, or just treating yourself to something nourishing.

Can you talk to us about manufacturing? How’d you figure it all out? We’d love to hear the story.

I’ve always had a passion for cooking, which started early — from enrolling in a cooking school program when I was younger to working in restaurants and a juice/smoothie bar during high school. Cooking and creating for others has always brought me a lot of joy, and that love for food is what inspired me to start Boa Vida Goods.

When I launched, I didn’t have formal experience manufacturing packaged products, so there was a lot of trial and error at the beginning. I personally developed all of our recipes, drawing on my experience with flavor pairings and an understanding of balancing ingredients to create fresh, desirable flavors. I also handle all of the production and packaging myself. We don’t work with any outside manufacturers because maintaining the raw integrity and nutrition of our juices is incredibly important to me.

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that patience is key — especially during the recipe development phase. It takes time (and a lot of tasting and tweaking!) to create something you’re truly proud of. But it’s also one of the most exciting and rewarding parts of the process.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

Farmers markets were the true launch of my business and played a huge role in building my reputation. I’m only entering my second year of running Boa Vida Goods, but I’ve learned that getting out into the community is essential. Connecting face-to-face with customers — offering samples, sharing the story behind the brand, and answering questions in real time — creates a special kind of trust that’s hard to replicate elsewhere.

In the food and beverage world especially, having that direct, personal connection makes a huge difference. I believe that showing up with kindness, authenticity, and genuine care during every interaction has helped me build lasting relationships with customers and establish a positive reputation.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.boavidagoods.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boavidagoods/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannah-dayton/