Today on the show we’re learning from the co-founder of Summersalt, Reshma Chatteram Chamberlin. Summersalt launched in 2017 after a serendipitous moment with her co-founder Lori, and what started as a swimwear company made from recycled materials has since moved into every area of a woman's wardrobe.
In this episode we cover that harrowing statistics that always come back up, that only 2% of venture funding goes to women. It was almost 3% in 2019 and now it’s closer to 2% again, and Reshma shows us how it’s time to remove our rose-colored glasses. There are fewer women in decision-making seats. Fewer women working in those larger funds. Times aren't easy. Which begs the question, how did you go about pitching swimsuits to a bunch of men, in St Louis? For Reshma, it was all about sharing the big business picture as opposed to getting bogged down in the specifics. Focus on economics. The scale. The opportunity. How big the business could be, and make sure that is very sound. If you truly go for it, you can often end up with something incredible and influence the next generation of entrepreneurs, making their journey that little bit easier. Be one of those people changing the stats.
We’re further talk through Reshma’s journey and the power a mission driven brand can have in a saturated market, how to successfully collaborate with brands as a way to drive significant customer acquisition and her core tips from raising $26m in venture dollars.
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LINKS WE MENTION:
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