Deividas Biržys, Simonas Jakštas, and Martynas Kavaliauskas started their business in the simplest way possible – with a conversation between three friends who wanted to build something of their own. They had experience building businesses before, but this time, there was no extensive market data or investors to begin with. Just a gut feeling that there was an untapped opportunity – and the drive to find out if they were right.
They didn’t land on the final idea straight away. They explored skincare, Korean cosmetics, and other products before turning their attention to men’s health. They were taking supplements themselves, watching the market, and saw an opportunity to create a high-quality product that was also convenient to use.
That’s how their men’s supplement brand was born. They developed the formula themselves: Deividas dug into scientific research, while Simonas, who has a background in bioengineering, studied how different active ingredients worked together. After three rounds of testing, all funded out of their own pockets, they arrived at the final formula.
“We had no data at the beginning. What we did have was a gut feeling and a strong drive to give it a shot. In the end, that turned out to matter more than anything.”
Simonas.
Believing in the idea soon turned into a very real financial risk. All three invested their own savings and borrowed money from people close to them. Martynas even sold his car. But once the product hit the market, they realized demand wasn’t going to be their biggest problem. The business was growing so quickly that they were at risk of running out of stock before they had enough working capital to order the next batch.
That’s when the founders turned to Kilo. By joining the Co-Found program, they gained not only investment but also access to Kiloverse – its infrastructure, business-building expertise, and teams that could help them grow faster.
Today, the brand the three friends built has surpassed €1 million in revenue. But their ambitions go much further: they want to build a global men’s health brand.
When Your Co-Founders Are Also Your Friends
What makes their Co-Found story different is that the business is being built by three close friends. They say that trusting one another completely – and bringing different strengths to the table – has helped them overcome challenges that would have been much harder to face alone.
“I can’t imagine building a business like this with someone I couldn’t trust completely. When things get difficult, we never leave each other to deal with problems alone.”
Martynas.
Do they always agree? Definitely not. Each of them brings a different perspective and skill set to the business. One is stronger in marketing and generating ideas, another in analysis and execution, while the third focuses more closely on the product and how it is presented to customers.
“We simply make up for each other’s weaker areas. If one of us isn’t great at something, someone else steps in,” Simonas explains.
But they don’t romanticize building a business with friends. Not every friendship can withstand the pressure of running a company, and they believe it’s essential to separate disagreements at work from personal relationships.
“You can argue in the work chat and still like each other’s Instagram posts the same day. Your friendship can’t depend on what the revenue looks like that month,” says Simonas.
Joining the Co-Found program gave the team financial and operational support from Kilo, but retaining the freedom to make their own decisions mattered just as much. Kilo’s teams advise, share their experience, and help where needed, while the final business decisions remain in the hands of the co-founders.
“When you build a business, you put a part of yourself into it. That means the bad days hit harder – but the wins mean that much more.”
Deividas.
So what would they tell someone thinking about starting a business of their own? The three co-founders have three simple answers:
“Trust your gut.” – Simonas.
“Listen to everyone’s advice. Then decide for yourself.” – Deividas.
“Don’t panic. Just start again.” – Martynas.
They started with more confidence than answers. But they had each other, and they were willing to try.
“We didn’t know it was impossible. So we did it,” the three friends joke – now not only friends, but co-founders of the same business.