Entrepreneurship Rooted in Values - Betsy Fore - Tiny Organics - Episode #72

How do you build something meaningful without losing yourself in the process?

In this episode, David talks with Betsy Fore, Co-Founder and former CEO of Tiny Organics and Founding Partner of Velveteen Ventures. Betsy shares her remarkable journey from toy inventor to serial entrepreneur and impact investor, becoming the first Native American woman to raise a Series A along the way.

She opens up about co-creating Tiny Organics alongside 100 founding families, facing setbacks like her unaired Shark Tank appearance, and learning to redefine success through purpose and presence. Betsy also reflects on the lessons that shaped her new book, Built on Purpose, blending practical entrepreneurship with spiritual grounding and a values-driven approach to leadership.

Now, through her venture fund and nonprofit, Betsy is focused on investing in solutions that uplift communities, children, and the planet, showing that business can be both profitable and deeply purposeful.

Takeaways: 

• Unforgettable Beginnings and Tiny Organics' Success: Betsy's tale begins with her concept of engaging 100 founding families, transforming them into co-creators of Tiny Organics and fostering community-driven innovation.
• Embracing Challenges and the Road Less Traveled: Betsy's first entrepreneurial venture, a Fitbit-like product for dogs, taught her the significance of understanding consumer behavior and product-market fit. 
• A Unique Shark Tank Experience and Fundraising Insights: Navigating numerous challenges, including a memorable Shark Tank experience, Betsy shares insights into the traditional venture fundraising path and the nuances of raising capital, particularly as a Native American woman.
• Discovering Purpose Beyond Business: Betsy's inspiration for her debut book, Built On Purpose, stemmed from a desire to demystify the practice of manifestation and align it with business creation.
• Melding Investment with Impact: Through Velveteen Ventures, Betsy shifts her focus towards using her skills to benefit her community and the broader planet. Her investments in healthcare, climate, and solutions for children.

Quote of the Show:

• “The most important relationship a founder can have isn’t with investors or customers. It’s with themselves." - Betsy Fore

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/betsyfore/ 
• Website: https://www.tinyorganics.com/ 

Ways to Tune In:

• Substack: https://notanotherceo.substack.com/
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1NQ9oAB2XKlgWeL8iEQXg0 
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/not-another-ceo-podcast/id1751581707 
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NotAnotherCEOPodcast 
• Transistor: https://podcast.notanotherceo.com/ 

#NotAnotherCEO #BusinessSuccess #TinyOrganics #VelveteenVentures

Chapters:

00:00 Intro

01:26 Building Tiny Organics with Founding Families

07:47 From Tiny Organics to National Recognition

08:34 Lessons from a Previous Venture

13:51 Shark Tank Experience

19:18 Navigating the Venture Capital Landscape

25:07 Securing Initial Funding and Building a Strong Advisory Board

26:15 Realizing the Importance of Giving Back

27:55 Founding Natives Rising and Healing Through NLP

29:20 Investing in Underrepresented Founders

31:39 Writing 'Built on Purpose' and the Power of Manifestation

35:38 Inspiring Stories from Native American Founders

38:21 Launching a Venture Fund with a Purpose

41:26 From Rural Illinois to International Success

49:35 The Importance of Self-Compassion for Founders

50:35 Outro