Smart Funding Strategies for Female Founders: Real Talk on Bootstrapping, Raising Capital, and Scaling Big Dreams with Lori Harder, Veena Jetti, Janice Omadeke, and Kelly Kussman

You can have the dream, you can have the vision, but if you don't have the money…? Today, I'm joined live on stage with four brilliant women who have scaled different types of businesses in different types of ways: Lori Harder, Veena Jetti, Janice Omadeke, and Kelly Kussman! We get into powerful funding strategies for female founders, so you can lean into the best one that works for your business. Our expansive conversation will provide the money habits, operations, and systems we wish we had known sooner to scale faster and smarter. Whether it's bootstrapping for as long as possible, fundraising for the first time ever, or finding the right investor, you'll discover how to finance your big dream!

HIGHLIGHTS

00:00 Meet the women behind the 2025 PW Event Finance Panel with Lori Harder, Veena Jetti, Janice Omadeke, and Kelly Kussman!

15:40 The top three priorities to bootstrap a product-based business.

20:15 What made Lori decide to fundraise for glōci?

24:30 One operational system to help you scale faster.

31:50 What do investors look for beyond the numbers?

38:50 When is the right time to take on money + what should you look for in outside investors?

44:45 Preparation steps for when you know you're ready to start fundraising.

53:55 Realistic funding paths for a service-based business.

RESOURCES + LINKS

Join the waitlist for the 2026 Powerhouse Women Event HERE

FOLLOW

Lori: @loriharder

Veena: @veenajetti

Janice: @janiceomadeke

Kelly: @kelly_ward_kussman

Powerhouse Women: @powerhouse_women

Lindsey: @lindseymarieofficial

Visit the Powerhouse Women website: powerhousewomen.co

Join the PW Community Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/powerhousewomencommunity