Hi, it’s Doone here! Your host and hype girl 🫶 I’m testing something new—I want you to help shape next week’s newsy. Kind of like a choose your own adventure…

1️⃣ Useful ways I’m using AI/automations to improve my business 🤖⚡
Everyone says AI will change everything—but what’s actually helpful vs. just hype? I’ve been deep in automating different parts of my business to save time and reduce decision fatigue, and it’s already making a difference. Wanna do it too?

2️⃣ Is venture capital really worth it? 💸🔥
Everyone glamorizes raising VC, but is it actually the best path? Do you want a billion-dollar exit—or just a business that funds your life? If you have raised, was it what you expected? If you haven’t, is it something you want? Let’s talk about the real trade-offs of taking investor money.

3️⃣ Choosers choice! 👀💭
Been loop thinking about something in particular? Maybe it’s something you’ve been thinking about in your own business, a big topic you’re curious about, or a convo you’d love to see more transparency around. Hit reply and tell me what’s on your mind—I’d love to know! 🩷

Drop your vote here’:

ACQUISITION: Stella McCartney has bought back the minority stake in her name-sake brand from LVMH as she’s taking more control of the brand

RAISES: Formance raises $21M to build the AWS for fintech infrastructure & Spaceium raises an oversubscribed round $6.3M for space re-fuelling

LAUNCH: Hailey Bieber launches her highly anticipated Peptide Lip Shape

UNICORN: Once valued at over $2B rent-to-own startup Divvy Homes is selling to Brookfield for about $1B in a (still) major acquisition

WOMEN IN SPORTS: Laura Mueller becomes F1's first female engineer and women's soccer just secured its first million-dollar player with Naomi Girma

Two weeks ago we chatted about the topic of how much (and when) founders should start paying themselves, off the back of this email one of our readers sent in and WOW did that conversation strike a chord…

One response in particular stood out:

It’s something we really don’t talk about enough. When we hear that a founder has been working for years without taking a pay-check we assume they must be making huge personal sacrifices. (And plenty absolutely are!) But for others, the ability to forgo a salary isn’t just about hustle, it’s by specific construct and design… And I’ll be honest, this one hits home.

With FSC, I didn’t pay myself for a long time—I was constantly prioritizing putting what we made back into the business, telling myself I was reinvesting in myself that way and would figure it out later. I was expensing what I could but not taking actual $$$ out for myself. And the wildest part? I didn’t even have a clear plan for when ‘later’ was supposed to be?!

I also had this feeling like, well, that’s normal—you’re meant to tough it out. It’s ‘gritty,’ as they say...

But I was stressed. Like, always stressed.

Growing up dirt poor and never being a ‘money person,’ I was feeding a lifetime narrative I’ve had around personal finances—thinking one day it would just turn around. And the irony? I’m out here cheerleading women to generate wealth and independence through business, learning directly from women who are wealthy and independent… but I wasn’t applying it to myself.

And nothing changes if nothing changes, right?

I remember chatting to a gf on the phone in early 2024—Meggie!—who's working tirelessly to close the leadership and pay gap with her startup PepTalkHer, and I was venting about the struggles I was having that centred around money, and not taking a salary. She said something along the lines of:

“You need to focus on reconstructing how your business looks as a priority and make a commitment to pay yourself something—even if it’s a verrrrry small amount that seems silly. But by doing that you shift the psychological and energetic flow—not in the business, but for you.”

Long story short, I did as told—starting small—and it made a difference. It wasn’t just about the money itself, but about making my own financial well-being a priority. And look, it’s not easy. But doing that forced me to shift my mindset: I had to make sure I wasn’t building something that would burn me out in the process. Because the (sad) alternative is reaching the tipping point faster than planned, running out of steam, and shutting up shop for good.

And while I’m here, I’ll also share—I am lucky to have a high-earning partner. He’s a lot further along in his startup journey than I am, and he’s been extremely supportive of my goals with FSC. I doubt I would’ve been able to do it without us making a collective decision (and constantly putting in the effort) to prioritize my entrepreneurship journey in addition to his. But that doesn’t mean it’s easy. It’s definitely added an extra layer of stress to our relationship at times, and we’ve had some tough conversations over the years.

Having that conversation with Meggie last year sparked a shift in how I prioritize myself—and how I think about my personal income and long-term financial security.

The truth is, not every founder can go without a salary. And there’s no ‘one right way’ to do this, and no single definition of grit. But I do know this: paying yourself—even a little—isn’t just a financial decision. It’s a psychological one.

If you're a founder wrestling with the salary question, here’s what I’ve learned:

• 💰 Know your financial reality: do you have personal savings, a side gig that’ll continue to pay the bills, support from your partner or family?

• 📈 Be honest about your biz’s financial health: can the company actually afford your salary without compromising growth?

• 🧠 Protect your mental health: if constant financial stress is clouding your judgement, paying yourself something could be the best investment.

Would love to hear from you—how are you thinking about founder salaries? Reply to this email, I’m all ears. 🩷

✨ Glad to see you down here, bestie! Let me know what you thought today 💗