Hey! It’s Doone, your hype girl in business. After a big July 4th weekend for our American friends and a big week in politics for the English, let’s jump straight into the good stuff today. We’re covering:

• Actual learnings from a failed Kickstarter

• It’s about time you start using your friends

• Glossier x Team USA & more business news

• A $25,000 grant for the creatives among us

• Some really great reccies for this week

Lessons from a failed Kickstarter 🌟

Ever felt the sting of putting your heart into something only to see it not quite hit the mark? Well, you’re not alone. On our latest podcast episode founders Regan and Shannon talk us through how a failed Kickstarter campaign actually turned into a launchpad for success. Let’s dive into their journey:

The First Attempt 👉

Regan and Shannon spent 2-3 months pouring their hearts into their first Kickstarter campaign. They treated it as a business plan and proof of concept, creating a killer marketing video to introduce their dream. They aimed high, asking for $100,000. Unfortunately, they only raised $40,000. Ouch.

It was a tough blow… They faced a critical decision: give up or keep going? They cried, picked themselves up, and got ready to try again, learning:

1. High Goals Can Intimidate:

   • Their $100,000 goal was too ambitious. People saw the high target & doubted it would be reached, and hesitated to pledge. For their second they set a more achievable goal of $25,000.

2. Educate Your Audience:

   • Back in 2014, Kickstarter wasn’t as well-known. They realised they needed to better educate their potential backers about how Kickstarter works but also how their product works.

3. Use Momentum:

   • The experience from their first campaign, despite its failure, provided valuable insights and momentum. They leveraged this knowledge to fuel their second attempt.

The Second Attempt 👉

Armed with the lessons from their first campaign, Regan and Shannon launched their second Kickstarter, asking for $25,000. This time, they surpassed their goal, raising $63,000! This success gave them the funds they needed to launch their business.

So, if your first attempt doesn’t go as planned, remember their journey: cry if you need to, then pick yourself up and try again ✊

Listen to our mini series on the podcast →

"Using" your close friends 👋 

You know that little green circle around your bestie's profile pic on Instagram Stories? That's the magic of the “Close Friends” feature, and doesn’t it make you feel ✨special✨. That’s because they’re essentially telling you that you’re a VIP in their lives. Well… It could be time that your business capitalises on this. Let’s chat how you can turn this secret weapon into your new fave tool.

In a world where everyone’s fighting for attention, making your followers feel special is key. This feature is perfect for creating a tight-knit community that feels valued and in the loop. You’re giving your followers a very clear reason to stick around and engage with your brand. Using, for example:

• Exclusive Offers ✨ give your VIPs early access to sales, discounts, or exclusive products (they’ll feel the love, and you’ll boost engagement)

• Behind-the-Scenes Content 🤳 my fave; share the real, raw moments of your business - how them the hard work, the fun times, and the little quirks and personality that make your brand unique

• Personalised Messages 💌 Send shout-outs, thank-you notes, or special updates (a great way to build a deeper connection)

Ready to get rolling? Here’s how to set up your “Close Friends” list:

1. Assemble Your List: choose your most engaged follower, the people who like, comment, and share your posts regularly.

2. Create a Story: just like you normally would, but this time, select the “Close Friends” option before posting.

3. Post Away!: Share your content and watch your engagement ✨soar✨.

👉 Insider tip: before you dive in, keep in mind you can’t boost “Close Friends” posts with paid media, so this is all about organic growth.

• Glossier is partnering with Team USA Women’s Basketball

• & NYX partners with Shilese Jones (did someone say Olympics?)

• Who made Forbes’ richest self-made women under 40 list?

• Shopify merchants can now sell their items on Target

• TBH, these stats don’t even surprise me anymore…

• Olivia Rodrigo is launching a Stanley cup collab(!!)

• Beauty tech startup Boldhue raises a $3.37M round

• How Coach turned its flop era into a slay (excuse my Gen Z)

• This modern-day Myspace app is No.1 in the app store

• Summer camps are literally banning skincare products

• $50M to invest in influencer-led consumer brands

• JSHealth Vitamins sets its sights on the US market

This week's grant...

The Honeybook Grant is awarding founders in the US & Canada $25,000 to build the creative business of your dreams | Apply by July 16th.

This week's lineup...

This week's recommendations...

Ways I can help you this week…

REMOTE 🏝️

• Love + Chew Brands, baking clean label plant-based protein cookies, is looking for a tech savvy Sales Manager | APPLY HERE.

• Female Founder Collective, led by women & supporting women, is hiring an Intern to join their mission for 3-6 months | APPLY HERE.

NYC 🗽

• Wischoff Ventures is looking for a Social Media Manager to oversee their content generation across all channels | APPLY HERE.

LA 🌇

• The Dreamday team is growing! If you are passionate about digital marketing here’s their Affiliate Coordinator position | APPLY HERE.

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