Hey! It’s Doone, your hype girl in business. Wow it’s been another wild week to be a woman. When a rando NFL kicker tells us to get in the kitchen > building a career you know that we still have a lot of work to do here 🤦‍♀️ the comments are going wild on this one, join in here

Let’s not waste any more time! Today we’re covering 👇

• A pitch competition might be just what you need

• The lactation cookie drama that had us shook✨

• Taylor Hill enters the chat & more biz news

• The TechStars “anywhere” remote accelerator

• & ways I can help you this week… 💕

How to ✨win✨ pitch competitions

So, picture this: Sashee, a determined entrepreneur with big dreams but limited funding and a limited network (sound familiar??). The solution? She decided to dive headfirst into the world of pitch competitions.

Sashee poured her heart and soul into perfecting her pitch, and boy, did it pay off (literally). But how did she do it? Here are her top pitch comp tips:

👉 Know Your Business Inside Out: Before you hit the stage, make sure you know your business like the back of your hand. What problem are you solving? What makes your solution unique? Having these answers ready will give you the confidence to ✨shine✨. And remember to think of your pitch as a story. Sprinkle in some anecdotes, visuals, and data to really bring it to life.

👉 Practice, Practice, Practice: Practice makes perfect, right? Rehearse your pitch until it feels like second nature. Pitch to anyone who will listen – friends, family (even your pet). Pay attention to your body language and tone of voice to ensure you come across as confident and engaging.

👉 Focus on What Matters: Keep your pitch short and sweet, focusing on the most important aspects of your business. Skip the jargon and dive straight into the juicy stuff. Remember, less is more!

👉 Seek Feedback and Iterate: Don't be afraid to ask for feedback. Whether it's from mentors, pitch coaches, or fellow entrepreneurs, constructive criticism is your bestie.

Remember, pitching is a skill that can be developed over time. No one is born loving to pitch. Practice, practice, practice, and don't be afraid to ask for help along the way. As Sashee shows us, honing your pitching skills can have a srsly great impact on your biz! (check out LIVE pitch competitions right here)

Listen to this gem on the podcast →

JUST ADD MILK (but don’t show us where it comes from) 👉

This week, the advertising world was rocked by controversy when Molly Baz, chef and New York Times bestselling cookbook author, unveiled a 45-foot billboard in Times Square featuring her holding lactation cookies to her boobs with the text, “Just Add Milk.” But, the ad was pulled three days later.

WHY oh why we’re not ready to see a pregnant woman in our world of over-sexualised lingerie-porn-car-ads is beyond me.

But here's the thing: despite the backlash, the bold move paid off big time. While it wasn’t quite under the terms they had hope, Swehl, the brand behind the ad, experienced a 500% increase in traffic and attracted 40,000 new users. So, what can we learn from this moment?

1. Embrace Controversy 🤗 In today's crowded marketplace, it's crucial to stand out. Sometimes, that means pushing the boundaries and stirring up a little controversy. By challenging adland's double standards, Baz sparked a conversation that captured the public's attention and evoked emotion.

2. Harness the Power of Words ⚡ Words have the power to captivate, inspire, and provoke. Don't be afraid to be bold and unapologetic. Craft a message that resonates with your audience and sparks curiosity.

3. Leverage Earned Media 🌟 Earned media is like gold in the world of marketing. It's the coverage your brand receives through organic means, such as media coverage, social media buzz, and word-of-mouth. By creating provocative content that gets people talking, you can attract the attention of journalists, influencers, and consumers alike.

In conclusion, Molly Baz's controversial billboard may have been short-lived, but its impact was anything but. Molly Baz and Swehl have sparked some serious emotion and with that a conversation that resonated with thousands of people. I’ve only got admiration.

👋 Join the conversation on Instagram >

• Serena Ventures shakes up their management team

• Melinda Gates resigns from her role after 20 years(!!)

• Taylor Hill (finally) ventures into the pet business

• Glossier tunes into Reddit & brings back an old fave

• Launches: Elavi in Thrive Market & Daye in Walmart!

• E-commerce spending is on the up over last year 🎉

• Urban Decay x WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks are back

• Behind Genius raises its second fund of $8.9M

• You can now personally invest in Female Invest

• Menopause is a $600 billion opportunity

• OpenAI just grew eyes, ears and a voice

This week's grant...

You have two days left(!!) to apply to the TechStars Accelerator (all regions are currently open, including the remote option 🤝) and be in with a chance of securing your $120,000 investment. You have until May 22nd.

This week's lineup...

This week's recommendations...

Ways I can help you this week…

REMOTE 🏝️

• Reels Tips, the media brand dedicated to keeping you on top of social media trends, is hiring a freelance Social & Marketing Coordinator and Social Video Editor to start at the end of the month | apply here.

• The platform helping companies increase employee engagement, Rising Team, is looking for a Data Analyst | apply here.

NYC 🗽

• Billie, building razors built for womankind, is looking for an innovative new Design Director to join their Brand Team | apply here.

SoCal ☀️

• Clean deodorant and body care brand Curie is hiring two Social Media Summer Interns to join the team part-time | apply here.

✨ That’s a wrap! Here’s to a happy and healthy week, & remember: