Hey! It’s Doone, your hype girl in business. Our 2023 Wrapped is officially here and I am stoked to tell you we have sent 56 newsletters (including this beauty) making up 699,461 deliveries. While most of you are in the states (hiiii 👋) people from 72(!!!) different countries have opened our mail this year.

And then we’ve got Spotify Wrapped coming through (!!!) with thousands of you having us in your Top 5 or #1 show listened to. Goodness. What a feeling! So. Bloody. Grateful 💗

Now let’s just straight into it, today we’re covering 👇

• Are you actually talking to your customers?

• Being a non-existent female founder in tech

• MoCRA is taking a hold & other news

• A sweet grant for our Canadian readers

• Ways I can help you this week

Addressing the customer feedback gap 👉

Armed with a wealth of information from their first two years in business, Behave made the game-changing decision mid-2022 to settle into a brief hibernation. They shifted to a new co-packer, reduced costs, and re-formulated their candy. The result? A more affordable, tastier Behave Candy.

But staying out the game for 12-months is far from ideal.

That’s why Mayssa is here to tell you: test the heck out of your product before even thinking about building your brand.

Make a hundred products and have a hundred people who aren't your Aunt Sue or bestie test them out. Get down to the streets, armed with a QR code sticker linked to a Google Form attached to your product, and let strangers be your critics. A hot tip here: ask them to hurt your feelings. Yes, really. Dive deep into the worst feedback because that's where the magic happens.

Make those changes based on the first hundred, then make another hundred, and keep the cycle going. You’re basically collecting an insane amount of customer experiences. It's like crafting your product with the customers, for the customers. Instead of creating a product yourself, and then having to take a 12-month pause whilst your customer help you pivot. The maths is mathing.

But this is exactly the part where many entrepreneurs miss the memo. The customer feedback moment. Why? Because it's scary. It's easier to stay in the echo chamber of friends and family. Mayssa's been there, and she regrets it. That's why she's shouting from the rooftops: don't be scared of feedback!

 Listen to Mayssa on the podcast →

Unmasking FAKE diversity 👀

Being a woman in tech can be like manoeuvring a maze – thrilling but with its share of challenges. So, we all know the drill: stats screaming that it's tougher for us to climb the career ladder, micro-aggressions lurking around every corner, and finding our voice in this male-dominated space? Not a walk in the park. Yet, diversity remains the secret sauce to success. Diverse teams perform better, hire better talent, have more engaged members… That only works when the people involved are real, though.

Yep. If the world wasn’t corrupt enough, developer conference DevTernity has been accused of lining up a fake selection of women speakers (even using AI-headshots 🤦‍♀️) to showcase the “diversity” of their event. So. Damn. Lazy.

Since the news broke many of their real-life speakers rightfully pulled out and as of Monday the conference has been cancelled. Around the same time it also came to light that “the most popular coding account on IG” is actually run by a dude. Not just any dude, the same DevTernity’s Eduards Sizovs.

Now, why does this matter? Because there are so many amazing, kick-ass women out there who've earned their spot in the tech spotlight. They've got stories to tell, insights to share, and they're more than qualified to rock the stage. But nope, DevTernity thought a fake AI profile was a better fit. It's not just about a canceled conference; it's about sending a message that's damaging AF. We can't let fake profiles overshadow the real queens in tech. Instead, we’re well overdue celebrating and uplifting the women who are crushing it in the industry.

We’ve well and truly entered the call-it-out era. If you see something that doesn’t look right. Let’s shout about it. We’re done with being quiet and left out of the conversation. Period.

• MoCRA is going to change the face of the fragrance industry

• Why DTC founders are turning to debt > VC

• ICYMI (jks) Forbes 30u30 North America is LIVE

• Jezebel fans rejoice!

• Odele has sold (an undisclosed) minority stake

• Guess how much US BFCM shoppers spent this year?

• Shein now officially signs for that US IPO

• Kim’s SKYY Partners makes its first ever investment

• We were expecting better from Lululemon…

• As luxury slows down LVMH acquires Barton Perreira

• Emma Chamberlain collabs with Warby Parker 

• PSA: we’re no longer growing “at all costs”

This week's grant...

Stacey’s Rise Project is ready to award 5 Canadian Women Founders with $25,000 (& a casual 4 months of PepsiCo executive mentorship) to grow their businesses - just make sure to apply by December 15th.

This week's lineup...

This week's recommendations...

Ways I can help you this week…

REMOTE 🌴

• Thriving chronic illness community Chronicon is hiring a Marketing and Content Coordinator to make a real impact. Apply directly here.

• B2B SaaS platform Chili Piper is looking for a Product Designer to start working remotely from outside of the US. Something for you? 

LONDON 💂🏻‍♂️ 

• Kavee, the global DTC leader in small pet care, is searching for a Head of Marketing to oversee the entire department. More info here.

SYDNEY ☀️

• The Daily Aus, a digestible and engaging way to access the news, is looking for an experienced Journo to join the team. Find out more.

That’s all for today folks! If we’re in your Spotify Wrapped let us know by tagging us on IG 💖