Hey! It’s Doone, your hype girl in biz...

Today we’re covering 👇

• 🩷 She sold her biz for 8-Figures, avoid this mistake

• 🩷 What I learned from America’s first black, self-made millionaire

• 🩷 Skims IPO 2025: will you invest?

• 🩷 $10,000 grant for the “future of women at work” *you?

• 🩷 Jellycat is hiring remotely! + 2 other opportunities

Business Gold You’ll Never Find on Google 👉

Starting a business is tough, and sometimes the best advice comes from those who've been in the trenches. Today some invaluable pieces of wisdom from a founder who’s truly been there and done that—insights of ✨pure gold✨:

1. Legal First: Hire an Attorney and Register Your Trademarks ⚖️

“If you have a business that’s going to be anything, hire an attorney, register your trademarks.”

Before you get too deep into building your empire, make sure you have your legal bases covered. Protecting your intellectual property (IP) and trademarks from the get-go can save you a world of trouble down the road.

2. Website Accessibility: Avoid Costly Lawsuits 💰

“Ensure your website is handicap compliant. You can get sued if not, and it can cost you a fine of $20,000.”

Website accessibility lawsuits are skyrocketing (caught this wild story?). For just $27, you can make your site compliant and dodge hefty fines. 

3. Authentic AI-Driven Content Creation 🤖

“When it comes to finding your voice with AI, stay authentic. Use ChatGPT to ask you 25 questions about your business and answer them as authentically as possible.”

AI can be a powerful tool, but it’s crucial to maintain your authentic voice. By answering detailed questions about your business, you can guide AI tools to produce content that truly reflects your unique style and personality. Smart!

4. Dealing With VCs: Approach With Caution 🆘

“VCs that bought Cali'flour Foods would own anything I created afterwards, which is very common in the VC world.”

Understand the long-term implications of bringing on venture capital. Sometimes, selling shares or partnering with VCs can restrict your future ventures. Make sure you’re clear about what you’re giving up.

5. Personal Growth = Business Growth 💫

“Your business grows as you grow.”

Last but certainly not least, remember that your business grows as you grow. Invest in your personal development—it’s just as crucial as any biz strategy.

Amy’s ep drops on the pod this week -> 

America’s First Self-Made Millionaire Woman 👀

Meet the woman who built a cosmetics and haircare empire - and became the first black, self-made female millionaire in America - without a formal education and a legacy that continues to influence the beauty industry today.

POV: It’s the late 1800s and a woman by the name of Sarah Breedlove is born. The daughter of former slaves who was raised in complete poverty, Sarah was orphaned at the age of seven and married at fourteen - and even though she faced significant challenges in her life, she went on to eventually become the wealthiest self-made black woman of her era.

This is one of the most inspiring stories of entrepreneurial women in the history books!

By the age 20, after the death of her first husband, Sarah moved to St. Louis to join her brothers. She was working as a laundress and earned barely enough to survive, but her determination to improve her circumstances never wavered.

At the time, Sarah was facing severe scalp issues, leading to hair loss—a common problem among her gfs at the time. She became so frustrated with the lack of effective products, that she began experimenting with her own formulas.

And her products were so good in fact, that she decides to launch her very own haircare line - and see if she can sell her products to other African American women.

Sarah transforms herself into Madam C.J. Walker and upskills to become the ultimate saleswoman. She starts going door-to-door selling her products, offering personal consultations, educating women on hair and scalp health, and tailoring her products to meet their specific needs.

And it worked…

As her business started to grow she established the Madam C.J. Walker Manufacturing Company and opened a beauty school to train "hair culturists." Her business grew like crazy and soon her products were being sold nationwide. She employed thousands of women (like, 20,000!) empowering them with financial independence.

By 1919, Madam C. J. Walker was widely considered the wealthiest self-made black woman in America - and officially the first self-made female millionaire. Her entrepreneurial spirit, dedication to her customers, and commitment to uplifting other women left a mark on history, proving that women too, can have a seat at the table and achieve their dreams and goals, no matter what cards you’re dealt in life.

The company was taken over by her daughter after her death - famously known for her wild parties and philanthropic work - and continued for decades until it’s eventual closure in 1981.

But… It wasn’t the end of the story. In 2013 the brand was purchased by the Sundial Brands Group and was relaunched as Madam C. J. Walker Beauty Culture, selling a suite of haircare and cosmetics exclusively at Sephora.

Shortly after, in 2017, Sundial Brands was sold for an estimated $270 million to Unilever — in one of the largest beauty deals for that year — and considered “a victory for minority-owned businesses.”

Following the monumental acquisition, Sundial Brand’s co-founder Richelieu Dennis also went on to buy her historic 34 bedroom, 28,000 square foot New York estate villa and turned it into the New Voices Foundation; a think tank for black female entrepreneurs that provides access to support and capital to help accelerate their businesses, and carry on her legacy.

My top 3 takeaways from Madam C. J. Walker?
 
👉 Every challenge is an opportunity to innovate.
👉 Focus on solving a real problem that a large group of people are struggling with (and will pay for you to solve it for them!)
👉 You will always be your best saleswoman - go knock on some doors ;)
👉 When you champion change and impact in the world, that spirit has a ripple effect - and carries on. Do good stuff.

• SKIMS makes its first steps towards going public in ‘25

• The youngest female unicorn founder has done it again

• Bumble has set up a cafe in the city where it’s all happening

• Summer Fridays just received investment from TSG

• HMRC is clawing back R&D tax credits in the UK

• Ulta Beauty Collection would like to reintroduce itself

• Clue’s founder shares her take on the Flo debacle 

• There’s less than a month left to apply to Forbes 30u30 ’25

• Ex-Clubhouse employees start a social networking startup

Resources & Reccies 👀

Female-founded side hustles and remote jobs you can work alongside building your ✨dream biz✨:

REMOTE 🏝️

• London-based Jellycat is hiring a remote Senior Social Media & Fanbase Manager to join the team | APPLY HERE.

ON THE SIDE 🐥

• Dream job! MAISON ESSENTIELE is hiring a casual Boutique Stylist, working in their flagship store in Paddington (Sydney) | APPLY HERE.

• Rent the Runway is looking for an Office Manager to run the day-to-day operational aspect of their Brooklyn office | APPLY HERE.

That’s a wrap, folks! Come slip into our DMs if you want to carry on the convo 💗