Hey! It’s Doone, your hype girl in business. This one goes out to all of us still recovering from a Taylor Swift-induced ticketing rollercoaster, and looking forward to a week actually working at our desks. It’s been a WEEK. I ended up with 2 tickets - but plot twist - somehow they aren’t seated together… So thanks to my husband who cbf to go and sit by himself, I’m giving the other ticket away. Follow my Tiktok account to keep in the loop. I’ll post the details soon!

Let’s get into it 👇

Thinking BIG & raising $40M+ in funding 💸 

Lately, I’ve been talking a lot with other founders about the big difference between what VCs are actually investing in and what women are building. There’s a real disconnect there and a serious need to bridge that gap. And it can feel overwhelming when the stats aren’t changing.

So it was refreshing to chat with someone who had a more positive outlook. A female founder who has gone from the behind-the-scenes of the VC world to building her own brand - Ritual - and going on to raise $40M+ in funding. Kat has seen the problem first-hand. She sees women having great ideas, but the funding just not being there. She sees the funding opportunities to change lives go to waste. But she also sees change. She sees many more women investing in women. She sees the unlock of a female-focused economy. And she sees three quarters of her board consisting of strong, powerful women. We’re on the right track.

Readers, if you’re considering joining in on the VC fun, this one is for you:

First things first, when you're contemplating raising money, ask yourself one crucial question: are you truly committed to getting investment in your business? While raising capital might not be the right path for every entrepreneur (especially if you're building a lifestyle business), if you have your sights set on creating a household name and setting new standards then it's time to think big.

If that’s you nodding along to me RN, let’s dive right into some key pieces of advice for women entering the VC game ➡️

• Let’s kick things off with that magic ingredient ✨conviction✨ You know when someone truly believes in their brand. When they have that unwavering faith in themselves and their business. Well, investors are basically trained to recognize just that. Conviction will make them willing to invest not just their money but also their trust in your journey.

• When it comes to choosing an investor, think of it as ✨going on a date✨ Yep, you heard me right! Just like in the dating world, chemistry matters. It's not just about the name or reputation of the fund; it's about finding a partner who truly understands and believes in your vision. Trust your gut, follow your instincts, and find an investor who has your back and believes in your brand as much as you do.

• Lastly, a little thing not many people talk about: raising funds can sometimes feel strangely ✨celebratory✨ (you’ve seen the posts, the articles, the parties). It feels so strange because you haven’t fully earned it yet. It's important to remember that the true glory lies in the hard work, perseverance, and dedication that lies ahead to reach the milestones you’ve set with that capital. So, don't get too caught up in the applause. Instead, focus on using that funding as a stepping stone toward realizing your vision.

If you decide to embark on the exciting adventure of raising VC capital, remember to keep these pearls of wisdom in your back pocket. Embrace the commitment, and nurture those relationships and trust. Those are the two things that are always going to get people over the line. 💕

Listen to Kat on the podcast →

Oh, and BTW. If you want to learn more about all things investment… We’re working on something right this way 💸

The 4-step Blueprint to a $100M Fashion Business ‍💫

This week, Showpo founder Jane Lu shared her 4-step blueprint to building her $100M Aussie fashion empire:

1/ THE UNSEXY TRUTH OF SYSTEMS & PROCESSES 🤖

Putting in place systems and processes will mean that you can then start hiring people to work in the business, so you can start working on the business; it’s the first step. It’s so hard for an entrepreneur because you’re so busy doing it that you don’t want to slow down and think about systems, but you’ve got to think about the bigger picture. Build that foundation.

2/ HIRING FOR YOUR WEAKNESSES 🤗

Hiring people to work on the business, people to bounce ideas off. Understanding what you don’t like and what your blind spots are. A bit of outsourcing but also in-housing.

3/ GROW YOUR OFFERING 🌱

Growing your inventory, holding more SKUs. Product expansion at a point when you understand what sells better will completely level you up.

4/ MAKE YOURSELF SUPER AVAILABLE 🌎

Lastly, you’ll be at a point where you can afford and want to make the purchasing process as easy and accessible as possible. Get yourself everywhere: open up your marketing channels, and open up the business to ship globally. Ecomm founders, the internet is your limit!

Listen to Jane on the podcast →

• RhiRhi steps down as Savage x Fenty CEO

• While Melanie Bender takes the reins at Rhode 

• & Harry Styles’ Pleasing hires an ex-Gooper as CEO

• Fearless Fund raises multimillion-dollar follow-on round

• Daye creates a water-soluble tampon applicator

• Sequoia had $1B in SVB deposits when the bank was seized, yikes

• This Shein BTS factory tour backfired big-time

• Fenty Beauty makes its Roblox debut

• Princess Peach is finally the star of the show

• Tay Swift is literally impacting inflation here in Aus 

• Sel Gomez is launching 3(!!) new Rare Beauty products

• BrainTrust launches $25M fund for black-founded wellness & beauty

• The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act goes into effect in the US!

• Techstars is raising $150M for a new accelerator fund

• Cardi B x Knorr is the collab we didn’t see coming

🤩 Call out: Be part of our new series on the podcast

It’s been amazing to see the response to our new AMA session on the podcast and I’m LOVING receiving your voice notes in our DMs! To fill you in: I’m starting a new Ask Me Anything segment on the show where I invite you to really ask me ✨anything✨ by dropping a voice note into our DMs.⁠ Biz life, love life, funding, mental health, PR, relationships, social media?! ⁠I'm all ears, ready to offer my insights and advice, or simply have a good laugh 💕

Click the button below, move right through to our DMs, and spill the beans:

This week's lineup...

This week's recommendations...

Sydney 🏄🏽‍♀️

• Podcast Two Broke Chicks is officially expanding and on the hunt for an absolutely killer Media Assistant. Apply directly here.

San Fran 🌇

• Self-care monthly planner brand Silk + Sonder is looking for a Senior Data Analyst to take a key role in the company. More info here.

NYC 🗽 

• Great Jones, making pots and pans you won't want to put away, is hiring for a number of roles: VP Operations & Finance, Director of Growth & Brand Marketing Manager. Apply directly here.

• Yum NYC bakery Milk Bar has an exciting opening for a Head of Bakery to join the team on-side. Something for you?

Chicago 🏙️

• Aqua Cultured Foods, creating sustainable seafood alternatives, is hiring a Director of Industrial Microbiology. More here.

Remote 🌴

• Hearth Display, on a mission to make parenting easier, is on the hunt for an Operations & Supply Chain Associate. Read more here.

That’s all for today folks! Here’s us walking into Monday ready to ✨SLAY✨ the week ahead: