Hey! It’s Doone, your hype girl in business. It was Women’s Inequality Day over the weekend and at the same time FIFA suspended Luis Rubiales over his (totally out of order) Women’s World Cup kiss (after 11 coaches resigned ✊). Progress? Suppose, somewhat. Long way to go? Even more so. Here’s to a brighter, stronger, and more equal future for us all.

Today we’re covering 👇

• VC-pitching tips from the best in the biz

• Your biggest business boon 

• Want to buy a business? Nuddi is for sale

• Notion has a freebie resource for you

• A $20,000 grant you can apply for today

• Job ops in NYC, LA & London

PITCHING 101: from the best in the biz ⭐

Ever thought about raising capital? Meet Jaclyn, the founder of Create & Cultivate, who now chats with 50 bright-eyed brands every single week about investment opportunities for New Money Ventures (she’s aka: your pitch queen). Pens at the ready, because her advice for your investor pitch is gold:

First things first, presentation! Where oh where did the importance of a presentation get lost? Imagine your pitch as a real head-turner. Next, you want to unravel the essence of your business. Jaclyn's tip? Unveil why your business is a must-have in this world. This is your chance to shine. Sprinkle in a dash of what sets you apart, and you're on the right track.

The good news here: there is this idea that your differentiator needs to be this huge ground-breaking thing but that’s just not the case. There’s no need to reinvent the wheel. You can stand out by jazzing up your brand, weaving a captivating story, or offering pricing that raises eyebrows (in a good way, of course!). Oh, and don't shy away from your hurdles – honesty is the name of the game. There is no greater red flag than a founder who refuses to acknowledge the competitive landscape or to dive (deep) into their numbers. We're talking nitty-gritty, not just the surface sparkle.

And lastly let’s chat about the real magic: the human touch. Jaclyn spills the beans that (contrary to popular belief) investors aren’t just looking for business. They're looking for a connection, a rapport. Focusing on building a human connection with whom you're pitching to might bring you much further than you think. It's not just about the digits; it's about building bridges.

So, here's the game plan: master your presentation, nail your business essence, stand out smartly, be honest about your journey, and embrace the power of connection. Raising isn’t rocket science, but it does benefit from a killer pitch and a whole lot of drive. You’ve got this!

Listen to Jaclyn on the podcast →

Wanna know the greatest advantage you have in starting a business from scratch?

A fresh slate. A clean canvas. A whole new woooorld. But srsly. You have all the latest, shiniest tools right there at your disposal. No more tangled wires or old-school systems that just "get the job done." Nah, you’re all about starting off on the right foot.

Now, here’s the good stuff: starting off on the right foot doesn't have to be a chore. Enter ✨Notion✨. It's like having a tech-savvy BFF who knows just what you need. Things like this freebie Brand Workbook, covering all the essentials needed to truly stand out from the crowd *bye bye expensive branding agency*. All on a platform where this can live alongside your docs, wiki & project management in one happy place.

And here's the scoop… If you're a startup with less than 50 employees and under $10M in funding, Notion wants to help you out even further. How does a 3-month free use of Notion & unlimited AI towards Plus sound? Yep, that's the sound of your startup journey getting a whole lot smoother.

Check out the Notion hype here >

Copycat Catastrophe 🐱

Picture this: It's 2013, the first hot days of summer are upon us, and Triangl bikinis are taking the beach by storm. Even the likes of Kendall Jenner are wearing these cult faves and life. is. good. (especially for co-founder Erin Deering).

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Fast forward to 2014, and there’s a catch. Triangl has made it, but success came with a price tag – a big one. Let's call it the "copycat catastrophe." Yep, when you're the shining star, others want a piece of the glitter. The cold hard truth of the matter is, you can't stop them, and they'll never go away. BUT there are some strategies that will help you move forward:

1/ Get advice before you jump in: when you touch your toe in the legal route it can be costly and go on forever - get as much advice as possible, outside your solicitor, before you undertake legal processes at any stage of business

2/ Hire an IN-HOUSE legal team: solicitors are there to protect you by making their own money, when your business reaches a certain size, make sure you're on the same team

3/ Do your paperwork: protect your brand early on with all the right trademarks and copyrights

4/ Don't spend too much energy watching your back: back that your product is superior, and get the name and the brand to the point that folks don’t want the copycat version - they want the real deal

5/ Focus on innovation: focus on what is going to accelerate, grow, move, and innovate your brand and product offering, and don’t get stuck dwelling on what you can't control

If you have a successful brand, you will be copied in some way. But focus on being the innovator, and keep moving forward.

Listen to Erin on the podcast →

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• Rhode x Krispy Kreme is some great marketing

• There is a time and a place, people

• TikTok Shop is looking to sell more than $20B by EOY 👀

• Our girl Zara has just landed Delhicious in Sephora

• Shopify just made your life a little easier 

• Shein x Forever21 is a fast-fashion nightmare

• This is why I loved the Barbie movie

This week's grant...

You could win $20,000 and a bunch of other prizes with the AT&T She's Connected program. Just get your application in by the end of the month.

This week's lineup...

This week's recommendations...

Ways I can help you this week…

Remote 🌴

• #HalfTheStory is #HIRING! If you want to empower the next generation's relationship with tech, apply here for the role of detail-oriented Program Implementation Manager.

NYC 🌇

• Leakproof and magnetic travel container brand Cadence is hiring a Lifestyle Marketer to join the team. Apply directly here.

LDN 💂🏼‍♂️

• Whering, your digitized wardrobe app, is looking for London-based Content Interns to join the team ASAP. Find out more here.

LA 🌞

• Beauty and culture brand Live Tinted is on the lookout for a new Graphic Designer to jump on board. Read more here.

That’s all for today folks! To stay in the know with our founder stories make sure to follow @femalestartupclub ✨

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