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Hey! It’s Doone, your hype girl in business. If you missed the cheeky survey I sent out last week, you’d be doing me a big favour by popping in your two cents [here], it’ll take less than 60 seconds I promise! To everyone who filled it out, I see you - tysm 🩷

Right, let’s get into it - today we’re covering:

• From Failing Fashion Brand to Millions of Mid-Day Squares Chocky Bars

• Must-knows from raising $36ish million (w/ The Nue Co.)

• $200,000 to a CA entrepreneur who dares to believe

• Girls in Tech & Women Who Code are both Closing Down 💔

• If you’re like me & still getting up to speed with how we can use AI to our advantage, this is for us 👇

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From a Failing Fashion Brand to Selling ONE MILLION Chocolate Bars in 20 Months 🍫

We learn a lot from others’ successes, but there’s undoubtedly, even more, to learn about failures. They’re just a little bit trickier to talk about.

Lezlie had no trouble pinpointing the exact reason her beloved luxury fashion brand, Hector, failed. And she’s ready to pass on her lessons.

MISTAKE #1: ‘I didn’t design clothes for myself.’ 👚

This was the biggest learning that Lezlie brought with her to Mid-Day Squares. She became the consumer of her own product. If you’re not… Who is?

MISTAKE #2: ‘I didn’t utilise my community.’ 🤗

Clothing line Hector was within the 1% price point. We’re talking high-end fashion. This meant Lezlie’s community couldn’t afford to support her. When launching Mid-Day Squares it became easy for people to buy her product. Easy for people to support and be the Hype-Girl she needed. This all helps create virality and momentum.

MISTAKE #3: ‘I didn’t put myself out there.’ ❤️‍🔥

She was always behind the scenes. What’s more engaging than seeing a 23-year-old running around NYC in heels hustling buyers to get into stores? If that’s not inspiring, I don’t know what is. But she didn’t show that. She didn’t know how to use the BTS as leverage. How to tell her story. How to put herself out there. How to market herself.

At one point you need to know how to shut something down: ‘a good founder knows how to throw in the towel’. So, she did. After 3 years. Took some time off and realised what to do differently in the next venture. & thank god for that! We’ve been cheering the Mid-Day Squares team since they started, and those learnings from her first go around have become

Listen to Lezlie’s full story on the podcast →

Insider Insights from Raising $36M 👀

Raising a whopping $36M isn’t just about having a great idea; it’s about strategy, confidence, and clarity. Here’s what Jules learned from the funding journey that found her pitching in the most sought-after offices in NYC 👉

1. Know Your Customer Inside Out 🧑‍🎓 first things first, be super confident in your customer insight (understand them deeply and translate that insight into a perfectly aligned and compelling product and brand proposition)

2. Have a Clear Exit Strategy 🏃 investors are in it for the returns, be very clear on your exit strategy (outline a roadmap showing how they’ll get their money back and how profitable the venture will be - design your brand with potential acquirers in mind, ensuring it was something they’d want to invest in)

3. Define How You’ll Divide the Pie 🥧 know what you want to keep control over and what you’re willing to give up (for Jules, maintaining ownership of their products, brand, and team was non-negotiable - being clear on these points will keep you focused and motivated in the long run)

4. Align with the Right Investors 🤝 aligning with the right investors is crucial, they need to share your vision and values (be srsly honest with yourself as this alignment can make or break your success)

5. Perfect Your Pitch ✨ go out and meet as many people as possible (know the types of questions they’ll ask and refine your pitch until it’s ✨perfect✨)

Listen to this gem on the podcast →

• If you’re seeing tennis everywhere, you’re not imagining things

• Girls in Tech and Women Who Code are shutting their doors

• How to stop a co-founder breakup from killing your brand

• The SoulCycle founder-duo has started a new venture

• Here are the next NYC retail destinations to know

• Olaplex hires former Away exec as CFO and COO

• It’s a great time to be a Creator Startup in 2024

• Here’s what you leadership style says about you

• Take notes(!!) from REFY’s community brand trip

• DYK ADHD in women has nearly doubled since 2020

• This is taking shrinkflation to a whole new level

This week's grant...

Canadian founders 👋 This #StandWithOwners Grant is awarding $200,000(!!) to a business owner who dares to believe & there’s plenty of time to get your application together - you have until September 4th.

This week's lineup...

This week's recommendations...

REMOTE 🏝️

• Health and productivity business Thrive Global is hiring an ambitious and interesting Associate Product Designer | APPLY HERE.

• Rent the Runway, transforming the way we get dressed, is on the hunt for a Remote Stylist to join the styling team | APPLY HERE.

PARIS 🥐

• French speakers! Beauty brand VIOLETTE_FR is looking for an Intern to act as a Business Development Assistant | APPLY HERE.

Marickville, NSW 🌊

• Homewares store and design studio McMullin & Co. is hiring for an exciting, newly created Head of Sales role for B2B | APPLY HERE.

That’s all for today folks! For your daily lols & inspo come and say hi here 👋