When juggling multiple coffees nearly went wrong one day, Natalie Boyatt knew something had to change. Her invention, Bevee, was born out of daily frustration—a stylish and practical drink carrier designed to make life easier for busy women everywhere. In her candid new book, Pivot and Persevere: Product Creation from Dollar One, Natalie strips back the glamor, sharing openly how she moved from corporate America into entrepreneurship, navigated patent filings, secured funding, and ultimately rose to prominence as an Amazon success story.
As a single mother, Natalie tackled every challenge with inspiring strength, leaning into the uncertainty of leaving a secure corporate job behind. Her mission extends far beyond business success; she is fiercely committed to empowering other women entrepreneurs by openly discussing fears, setbacks, and victories. Natalie found guidance and inspiration from fellow trailblazing women entrepreneurs, such as Sarah Kauss of S’Well. Today, she stands as a role model, dedicated to mentoring and uplifting the next generation of female inventors.
We had the honor of chatting with Natalie, and she shared her journey with us in raw, authentic detail. She shares crucial advice on validating market needs, offers insights into successful strategies for selling on Amazon, and reveals the real story of how she balanced building an innovative product business with motherhood.
Check out our full interview with her below.
Natalie Boyatt, the Inventor of Bevee and Author of Pivot and Persevere: Product Creation from Dollar One
What was the moment when you knew you had to leave Corporate America to pursue Bevee, and what fears did you have to overcome as a single mother making this leap?
Natalie Boyatt: I had just dropped off ten drinks to one of my old medical offices—juggling them in two flimsy cardboard carriers—and one almost slipped right through. That was my tipping point. I realized I wasn’t alone in this frustration, and if no one had solved it yet, maybe I was the one to do it.
The fear was real, especially as a single mom. Financial insecurity, time away from my daughter, and the possibility of failure kept me up at night. But I also knew that showing her what it looks like to take a risk and build something mattered more.
You mention being inspired by Sarah Kauss from S’Well – how important is it for women entrepreneurs to have other successful women as role models, and how do you now serve in that role for others?
Natalie Boyatt: Seeing Sarah turn a simple idea into a global brand showed me what was possible. Representation matters—we need to see women doing bold things to believe we can, too. Now, I share the real behind-the-scenes journey: the wins and the struggles. I’ve mentored other women through product launches, shared resources from my book, and always try to say “yes” when someone reaches out.
In your book “Pivot and Persevere,” you talk about product creation from dollar one. Can you walk us through what those very first financial decisions looked like when you had limited resources?
Natalie Boyatt: In the early days, I bootstrapped everything. I started with a $100 prototype made from Home Depot parts, then used creative measures like sweat equity to hire a designer. I worked with my patent attorney to set up a payment plan so I could file for a patent. And I got really good at using the internet to educate myself on anything I didn’t know about.
Every dollar had to count. I focused only on what would move the product forward—no fancy branding or offices, just action.
Take us back to the “aha moment” when you first conceptualized Bevee. What problem were you personally experiencing that sparked this invention?
Natalie Boyatt: I was a medical device rep, constantly bringing coffees to offices. One day, as I walked in carrying ten drinks, the bottom almost fell out of a cardboard carrier—again. I thought, “Why hasn’t anyone made a better solution?”
That was it. I drove home, sketched it out, and started researching.
The patent process can be intimidating for many inventors, especially women who might feel out of their depth in technical spaces. What was your strategy for navigating this process successfully?
Natalie Boyatt: I started by reading as much as I could. I wasn’t an engineer or a lawyer, but I was determined. I was also smart enough to realize this was out of my wheelhouse and there was a reason why attorneys go to law school.
On the recommendation of a friend, I called a lawyer from a large firm. This is one of the most important first steps, and the one I almost always encourage every new entrepreneur to spend a small amount of money. Have the firm do a patent search to ensure that the next big, great idea isn’t already out there. I also discuss in my book how I managed to do it on my single mom salary. Payment plans are almost always an option.
How did you validate that there was actually a market need for Bevee before investing significant time and money into development?
Natalie Boyatt: I tested demand by simply talking to other moms, teachers, and sales reps—people who regularly carry drinks. I showed them my crude prototypes and received instant feedback, such as, “Where can I buy this?”
That gave me the confidence to keep building. Social media also became an early validator when people started asking for links before I even had a website.
You’ve achieved success on Amazon, a notoriously competitive platform. What specific strategies did you use to stand out and gain traction on the platform?
Natalie Boyatt: Great visuals and a clear value prop were key. I invested in lifestyle imagery that showed how Bevee solves a problem, not just what it looks like. I also leveraged early viral videos to drive traffic to my Amazon listing, focusing on keywords people actually use when they’re frustrated with cardboard drink carriers.
Raising money as a female founder comes with unique challenges. What approach did you take to secure funding, and what advice would you give to women preparing to pitch investors?
Natalie Boyatt: I started with friends and family, angel investing, pitch competitions, and bootstrapped sales to prove demand. Investors want traction. When pitching, I focus on showing what I’ve already done with very little—and how their capital can scale it.
My advice: Lead with confidence, know your numbers cold, and never apologize for being a woman or a mom. That’s your edge.
The title “Pivot and Persevere” suggests you didn’t get everything right the first time. What was your biggest pivot, and how did you know when to change course versus when to push through?
Natalie Boyatt: My first version was a 12-cup carrier—great for catering, but not practical for everyday users. I kept hearing that people needed something smaller. Pivoting to the 6-cup version was the game-changer. I knew it was time to change course when I stopped defending my idea and started listening to my customers.
In addition, my 12-cup only held standard drink sizes and with the evolution of slim cans and 32oz sizes, I needed a drink carrier to hold all drink sizes. We accomplished this with our 6-cup.
As a single mother building a business, how did you manage the guilt and time management challenges that many women entrepreneurs face?
Natalie Boyatt: There were nights I felt like I was failing at both. But I learned to be fully present, whether I was at a pitch event or at my daughter’s school activities. I stopped aiming for balance and started building a life where my daughter saw me trying, even when it was messy. That’s powerful. Additionally, involving her in the process as much as possible provided us with a great bonding experience, showing her that there’s nothing she can’t accomplish.
You mentioned hearing from female inventors and product developers who are inspired by your story. What patterns do you see in the questions and concerns they’re bringing to you?
Natalie Boyatt: Most of them ask the same question I once had: “Where do I start?” There’s a fear of not knowing the ‘right’ steps. I see a lot of women with brilliant ideas but no roadmap. That’s why I wrote Pivot and Persevere—to show that you don’t need a business degree or deep pockets to begin.
For women who have a product idea but feel overwhelmed by the process of bringing it to market, what would you say is the single most important first step they should take?
Natalie Boyatt: Make a prototype—even if it’s ugly. Getting your idea out of your head and into your hands changes everything. It doesn’t need to be perfect. Once it’s real, you’ll start to see the path forward.
Lastly, is there a specific mantra, quote, or affirmation that you hold close to your heart?
Natalie Boyatt: Yes: “Do it scared.” If I waited to feel ready, I’d still be waiting. Courage isn’t the absence of fear—it’s moving forward anyway.
Emily Sprinkle, also known as Emma Loggins, is a designer, marketer, blogger, and speaker. She is the Editor-In-Chief for Women's Business Daily where she pulls from her experience as the CEO and Director of Strategy for Excite Creative Studios, where she specializes in web development, UI/UX design, social media marketing, and overall strategy for her clients.
Emily has also written for CNN, Autotrader, The Guardian, and is also the Editor-In-Chief for the geek lifestyle site FanBolt.com
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