In this interview, Petra shared her beginnings, successes, and the challenges she faced on her journey to creating a successful brand.

Host: "Hi Peti, welcome! Today we’ll take a look at your inspiring entrepreneurial journey and the EcoHaus project. So, how did it all start?"
Petra: "Hi, thanks for having me! I started my business at 18 when I opened my own boutique with fashion brands. Back then, I was actually doing something we would now call influencer marketing, even though that term didn’t exist yet. This laid the foundation for my first company.But in the end, it didn't work out because I didn't delegate any work and stayed in operations. It was my lesson that it's important to not only focus on daily tasks but also on growth and education. I'm not from a business family, so I appreciate even more that I've had this entrepreneurial spirit since I was young. And I didn't let the first failure discourage me.
Moderator: "That must have been a great experience at such a young age. How did all of this lead you to EcoHaus?"
Petra: "I studied at the textile faculty and even at university, I had a big goal to create a sustainable fashion collection. I was interested in slow fashion, but in the end, I realized that I was much more drawn to the question of how to wash expensive clothes that people buy well while also protecting the environment.I was into chemistry even in elementary school – I even competed in the chemistry olympiad. So I was thinking about how to connect that. When I saw how many plastic bottles of laundry gels people bring home, it was unbelievable to me. Up to 90% of the content of those gels is water – completely unnecessary. And all of that is packaged in large plastic bottles that take about 400 years to decompose. That was absolutely unsustainable for me, and I knew I had to find a better solution.
Host: "So that was the impulse to create EcoHaus and your laundry sheets?"
Petra: "Exactly. I wanted to create a product that doesn't contain unnecessary ingredients, and at the same time, its packaging is eco-friendly. Our paper packaging decomposes in 4 months, which is a huge difference compared to plastic."Plus, laundry sheets save space, are easy to use, and most importantly, eliminate dosing problems. Most people use more laundry gel than necessary, which is not only uneconomical but also harmful to clothes, the washing machine, and skin. With laundry sheets, you always have the exact measured dose, so you save money and the environment." Moderator: "That sounds like a genius solution! What other advantages do laundry sheets have?" Petra: "A big advantage is that they are perfect for traveling. You can take them with you on vacation and you don't have to carry bulky bottles or special soaps. Laundry sheets dissolve even in cold water, which most regular detergents can't do. And they leave no residue. That's a huge saving in space and energy.""
Moderator: "So you’ve bet on sustainability with EcoHaus. What else has pushed you forward?"
Petra: "After launching our laundry papers, we established collaborations with several prominent fashion designers, like PONER and Beata Rajská. We sponsored their fashion shows, which helped us get our brand into the minds of people looking for sustainable products. We also have collaborations with beautiful brands like Povlečení Matějovský and Antswer. For me, building partnerships is another important thing – I believe the future of brands lies in connecting and growing together. It makes sense because this way we can reach new customers and offer them something unique.""
Moderator: "That's a great strategy! What made you decide to go the crowdfunding route?"
Petra: "After I won the student startup competition at the Technical University of Liberec, I got the chance to talk about the project in Forbes. There, I mentioned that I wanted to do a crowdfunding campaign, and the problem was that I said it before I had it ready! So I had 14 days to set up the campaign. It was a crazy time because I was also working full-time at the hospital, studying at university, and preparing for my finals. Sometimes I worked for 36 hours straight, but in the end, we raised nearly half a million crowns in the first campaign. That money was for starting up, for development, and just to get the project off the ground.""
Moderator: "That must have been incredibly challenging! How did you manage to pull it off?"
Petra: "It was one of the most challenging periods of my life, but also one of the most interesting. After the first successful campaign, we launched a second campaign focused on new scents of our laundry sheets. Crowdfunding helped me immensely, not just financially, but also in building the brand. Even back then, we had a database of people who knew about us, and we were able to send out products right after the campaign. That's the advantage of crowdfunding when done right – you have a community that believes in you.""
Moderator: "Would you recommend crowdfunding to other entrepreneurs?"
Petra: "Definitely yes, but you need to know that it's not for everyone. It's not like every project that appears on HitHit will automatically be successful. There's a huge amount of work behind it – you need to have a clear vision, a good product, and know how to communicate about it with people. Crowdfunding is a great tool for building a brand, but you need to invest a lot of time and energy into it."
Moderator: "What do you enjoy the most about your work right now?"
Petra: "What I enjoy the most is starting projects. That's where I feel most valuable – in those very early stages, when the idea is being created and everything is just being built.""I find this extremely enjoyable and it drives me forward. I'm also really fulfilled by mentoring. I help young people, often those who already have successful careers in corporations, but are looking to start something of their own. I've already helped kickstart five projects that didn't need investors, saving them a lot of money, stress, and energy."
Moderator: "That sounds inspiring! And as you said, you really listen to your customers. How important is feedback for your business?"
Petra: "For me, customer feedback is absolutely crucial. This product is meant for them, and it's the most important thing the company has. At the END of the campaign, I personally called all the customers, and thanks to them, we came up with not just the packaging, but also other scents.""We regularly evaluate feedback to meet our customers' needs as best as we can. I'm really happy when people with atopic eczema or sensitive skin come back to us because our laundry sheets are perfect for them. The trend of sensitive skin is on the rise – today we're constantly in contact with clothing, pajamas, bedding, so it's important that detergents are not only effective but also gentle. Paradoxically, over-perfumed detergents, even if they contain natural essential oils, can irritate sensitive skin a lot. It's important to pay close attention to this." "Those are really interesting and important insights! Peti, thank you so much for the great interview! It was very inspiring and will definitely encourage a lot of people to pursue their dreams.""
Petra: "Thanks a lot for the invitation, it was an honor!"