This Week in Startups E1091: LAUNCH Accelerator Cohort 17 founders reflect on their journeys throughout the program: Nude Barre (DTC hosiery made for women of all shades), Techmate (On-demand tech support for remote & satellite employees) & Solo (Trucking-as-a-Service)
Aug 4, 2020
Erin Carpenter, founder of Nude Barre, shares her journey in creating inclusive hosiery for diverse skin tones, backed by Serena Williams and the Bumble Fund. Nicole Beals, co-founder of TechMate, discusses how the pandemic pushed her tech support service for remote workers to evolve and thrive. Armando Perez, co-founder of Solo, reveals the innovative ways his platform empowers truck drivers to achieve independence. These founders reflect on their accelerator experiences, fundraising challenges, and the importance of community support in their entrepreneurial journeys.
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Wendy Williams Endorsement
- Erin Carpenter sent Nude Bar products to Wendy Williams on a whim.
- This led to Wendy Williams becoming Nude Bar's first celebrity customer and featuring the product on her show and website, which attracted other celebrities.
Serena Williams Investment
- Serena Williams anonymously bought Nude Bar products and became a regular customer.
- When Nude Bar sold out of her size, Erin Carpenter pitched Serena Williams on investing, leading to her becoming an investor.
D2C Success Factors
- Focus on products with unique value propositions and target underserved or passionate audiences in the D2C space.
- Founders should deeply care about the product and identify audiences with strong product affinity.