In Part 2 of this episode, Madison Hilson and Tina Thomson get candid about the realities of entrepreneurship—debunking myths, sharing the sacrifices they’ve made, and celebrating the proudest milestones of building Seniq. They discuss why flexibility is a false promise, why most founders will be broke for a while, and how leaning on family and community has been crucial to their survival. Madison and Tina also open up about the emotional resilience required, the surreal moments when they realized women everywhere wanted Seniq, and what’s next for the brand—from wholesale growth to ambitious dreams like brick-and-mortar stores and even Seniq Route Hotels.

Listen now:

Spotify

Apple
 

Quotables

• “If you’re doing it for flexibility, you’re not going to find it. We work ten times more now than in our corporate jobs.” - Madison Hilson

• “You will be broke for a long time. Slow growth is the best growth if you want to build something that lasts 100 years.” - Tina Thompson

• “We had our parents packing orders and using their basements as our distribution center. It takes a village.” - Madison Hilson

• “Launch day was surreal—I was crying at my mom’s kitchen table just watching orders come in.” - Tina Thompson

• “Any logical person would have given up, but we didn’t. That’s what I’m most proud of.” - Tina Thompson

• “Less really is more. Crushing a few marketing channels works better than being mediocre at all of them.” - Tina Thompson

What You’ll Learn

• The biggest myths about entrepreneurship (spoiler: it’s not about flexibility or overnight success).

• Why building a strong support system is critical to startup survival.

• The emotional highs and lows of launching a brand—from crying on launch day to doubting the scale of success.

• How wholesale growth has accelerated Seniq’s momentum and reach.

• The founders’ vision for the future, including product expansion, community ambassadors, and even the dream of Seniq Route Hotels.

• Personal reflections on sacrifices, resilience, and unexpected lessons.

Key Takeaways from This Episode

• Entrepreneurship is sacrifice-heavy. Founders trade consistent paychecks, health care, and stability for long-term impact.

• Support systems matter. Parents, friends, and family are often the unsung heroes in startup journeys.

• Validation is powerful. Seeing real customers light up at events confirmed Seniq was solving real needs.

• Persistence trumps logic. They kept going when logic said quit—and that grit has been the difference-maker.

• Focus beats pressure. Mastering a few marketing channels proved more impactful than trying to be everywhere.

• Big dreams fuel the grind. From expanded product lines to hotel experiences, Seniq is thinking beyond gear.

People and Resources Mentioned in This Episode

• Title Nine Pitchfest – where Seniq pitched live as female founders.

• Outside Festival – an event where customer feedback validated their vision.

• Patagonia & Mountain Hardwear – gear favorites mentioned by the founders.

• Clarity Club – Seniq’s new community ambassador program.

Where to find Seniq:

• Website: seniqbrand.com

• Instagram:

  • @seniq

  • @valentinathompson___

  • @madison_hilson

Connect with Rebecca Babicz:

• podcast@falllinedigital.com