Female Startup Club

Today on the show we’re learning from Katie Wilson, founder of BelliWelli.BelliWelli is a functional wellness brand that offers a healthy snack alternative, while also creating a movement around the very common but rarely talked about struggle of digestive health which affects over 70% of U.S. adults. Katie saw a gap in the $280 B functional food market and set out to create a treat that was made by gut sufferers, for gut sufferers, with the FIRST gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, and certified low-FODMAP bar being born.What I love about this story, is the serendipity of it all. The wildly successful billboard and merch you've probably spotted across your socials were a happy accident. It all came about because Kati knew from day one the uphill battle that she was going to have normalizing the conversation around gut issues. Many people along the way echoed "no-one is ever going to buy a food product for IBS". The billboard, "Hot Girls have IBS" came from the TikTok trends. The magic lies in the way IBS and hot girls is such a polarising thing, but it doesn't have to be. People went crazy for it. There was a line of people taking selfies at the infamous billboard. BelliWelli started selling the merch based on this, and to this day they can’t keep it in stock.This episode is so much fun, Katie is a marketing genius and shares so many learnings around how she built her communities, and grassroots initiatives to get the word out there about the brand, and the billboard that went viral.If you love this episode as much as I did recording it, remember to screenshot and share on IG to help other ears find us!LINKS WE MENTION:BelliWelli's InstagramKatie's InstagramJoin thousands of small business owners who are reading our newsletter every Monday at: www.femalestartupclub.comJoin our tool and private community for small business owners, Majic [formerly known as Hype Club]Female Startup Club's InstagramDoone's InstagramDoone's TikTokSay hello to Doone: hello@femalestartupclub.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today on the show we’re learning from Katie Wilson, founder of BelliWelli.BelliWelli is a functional wellness brand that offers a healthy snack alternative, while also creating a movement around the very common but rarely talked about struggle of digestive health which affects over 70% of U.S. adults. Katie saw a gap in the $280 B functional food market and set out to create a treat that was made by gut sufferers, for gut sufferers, with the FIRST gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, and certified low-FODMAP bar being born.What I love about this story, is the serendipity of it all. The wildly successful billboard and merch you've probably spotted across your socials were a happy accident. It all came about because Kati knew from day one the uphill battle that she was going to have normalizing the conversation around gut issues. Many people along the way echoed "no-one is ever going to buy a food product for IBS". The billboard, "Hot Girls have IBS" came from the TikTok trends. The magic lies in the way IBS and hot girls is such a polarising thing, but it doesn't have to be. People went crazy for it. There was a line of people taking selfies at the infamous billboard. BelliWelli started selling the merch based on this, and to this day they can’t keep it in stock.This episode is so much fun, Katie is a marketing genius and shares so many learnings around how she built her communities, and grassroots initiatives to get the word out there about the brand, and the billboard that went viral.If you love this episode as much as I did recording it, remember to screenshot and share on IG to help other ears find us!LINKS WE MENTION:BelliWelli's InstagramKatie's InstagramJoin thousands of small business owners who are reading our newsletter every Monday at: www.femalestartupclub.comJoin our tool and private community for small business owners, Majic [formerly known as Hype Club]Female Startup Club's InstagramDoone's InstagramDoone's TikTokSay hello to Doone: hello@femalestartupclub.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.If you learn something from this episode please do share it on Instagram stories and tag us @femalestartupclub to help other ears find us. I am so grateful to each and every one of you when you do that.LINKS WE MENTION:Reshma's InstagramSummersalt's InstagramJoin thousands of small business owners who are reading our newsletter every Monday at: www.femalestartupclub.comJoin our tool and private community for small business owners, Majic [formerly known as Hype Club]Female Startup Club's InstagramDoone's InstagramDoone's TikTokSay hello to Doone: hello@femalestartupclub.co Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.If you learn something from this episode please do share it on Instagram stories and tag us @femalestartupclub to help other ears find us. I am so grateful to each and every one of you when you do that.LINKS WE MENTION:Reshma's InstagramSummersalt's InstagramJoin thousands of small business owners who are reading our newsletter every Monday at: www.femalestartupclub.comJoin our tool and private community for small business owners, Majic [formerly known as Hype Club]Female Startup Club's InstagramDoone's InstagramDoone's TikTokSay hello to Doone: hello@femalestartupclub.co Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we are learning from Lisa Guerrera, the founder of Experiment Beauty.Chances are you’ve seen this brand on Instagram or Tiktok, but if you haven’t Experiment is a chemist-led brand building science-backed beauty 2.0. They're rebranding what a science-backed beauty brand feels like for the next generation of consumers and also what it looks like. All of their products are clinically backed, thoughtfully sustainable, and ridiculously fun. You’ll probably recognise their first product which is the acid neon green reusable sheet mask we’ve all seen cruising around the internet.Always wanted to know what you do you do when you have an $8500 budget to launch a beauty brand? You get creative pretty. damn. quickly. Lisa shares her 3-step organic marketing approach that got her hero product out into the world (without spending a dime). Firstly, the product. You have to clock this one early on, but creating a product that is memorable, meme-able, and sharable will simply sell itself. Secondly, TikTok. There’s just no way you’re going to get around this one if you’re a brand launching in 2020 - get behind the screen yourself and work with other creators to push your product out there (bonus points for going viral). And finally, brand collabs. Creating a product that pairs well with other products is a dream for organizing cool collabs, it’s a win-win! Have a really unique perspective. And own it. Beauty is one of the most crowded spaces. Stick with your vibe, your absurdity, the fun, and the people will follow.We also cover the story of how to deal with a nightmare manufacturer and avoid this in the future, not spending a dime on launch-day marketing and Lisa’s top piece of advice for founders looking to launch into the beauty space. I loved this chat with Lisa, she shares her journey so deeply and there are so many takeaways you’ll learn from her.LINKS WE MENTION:Lisa's InstagramExperiment Beauty's InstagramNick Sharma’s NewsletterGlossy Pop NewsletterJoin thousands of small business owners who are reading our newsletter every Monday at: www.femalestartupclub.comJoin our tool and private community for small business owners, Majic [formerly known as Hype Club]Female Startup Club's InstagramDoone's InstagramDoone's TikTokSay hello to Doone: hello@femalestartupclub.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we are learning from Lisa Guerrera, the founder of Experiment Beauty.Chances are you’ve seen this brand on Instagram or Tiktok, but if you haven’t Experiment is a chemist-led brand building science-backed beauty 2.0. They're rebranding what a science-backed beauty brand feels like for the next generation of consumers and also what it looks like. All of their products are clinically backed, thoughtfully sustainable, and ridiculously fun. You’ll probably recognise their first product which is the acid neon green reusable sheet mask we’ve all seen cruising around the internet.Always wanted to know what you do you do when you have an $8500 budget to launch a beauty brand? You get creative pretty. damn. quickly. Lisa shares her 3-step organic marketing approach that got her hero product out into the world (without spending a dime). Firstly, the product. You have to clock this one early on, but creating a product that is memorable, meme-able, and sharable will simply sell itself. Secondly, TikTok. There’s just no way you’re going to get around this one if you’re a brand launching in 2020 - get behind the screen yourself and work with other creators to push your product out there (bonus points for going viral). And finally, brand collabs. Creating a product that pairs well with other products is a dream for organizing cool collabs, it’s a win-win! Have a really unique perspective. And own it. Beauty is one of the most crowded spaces. Stick with your vibe, your absurdity, the fun, and the people will follow.We also cover the story of how to deal with a nightmare manufacturer and avoid this in the future, not spending a dime on launch-day marketing and Lisa’s top piece of advice for founders looking to launch into the beauty space. I loved this chat with Lisa, she shares her journey so deeply and there are so many takeaways you’ll learn from her.LINKS WE MENTION:Lisa's InstagramExperiment Beauty's InstagramNick Sharma’s NewsletterGlossy Pop NewsletterJoin thousands of small business owners who are reading our newsletter every Monday at: www.femalestartupclub.comJoin our tool and private community for small business owners, Majic [formerly known as Hype Club]Female Startup Club's InstagramDoone's InstagramDoone's TikTokSay hello to Doone: hello@femalestartupclub.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today on the show we’re learning from Aisha, she’s the founder of Bossy Cosmetics. And boy oh boy has she been on the journey! This conversation is just SO good and sprinkled with so many learnings.After a successful 20-year career in the corporate finance industry, Aisha was diagnosed with severe hypertension and felt completely burned out. She dreamed of creating a beloved beauty brand that cared about how women felt starting from the inside and moving outward. Bossy Cosmetics is a mission-driven color cosmetics brand committed to empowering ambitious women to feel, look, and do good with a line of ethically made lipsticks, eyeshadows, and eyeliners.In this episode we cover the importance of just letting the market teach you, the money piece from an initial investment of just $2500, and walking to the beat of your drum whilst figuring out what your customers need. If you’re like me and wondering how she managed to trademark the name Bossy Cosmetics, get ready to hear this wild story!While I’ve got you here, if you’re on your phone right now please take a quick screenshot in your podcast app and share this episode on Instagram stories. It helps me know you really love the show, it helps other ears find us AND it shows you’re part of our club.LINKS WE MENTION:Bossy Cosmetics' InstagramBossy Cosmetics' TwitterHow I built This PodcastBusiness Wars PodcastJoin thousands of small business owners who are reading our newsletter every Monday at: www.femalestartupclub.comJoin our tool and private community for small business owners, Majic [formerly known as Hype Club]Female Startup Club's InstagramDoone's InstagramDoone's TikTokSay hello to Doone: hello@femalestartupclub.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today on the show we’re learning from Aisha, she’s the founder of Bossy Cosmetics. And boy oh boy has she been on the journey! This conversation is just SO good and sprinkled with so many learnings.After a successful 20-year career in the corporate finance industry, Aisha was diagnosed with severe hypertension and felt completely burned out. She dreamed of creating a beloved beauty brand that cared about how women felt starting from the inside and moving outward. Bossy Cosmetics is a mission-driven color cosmetics brand committed to empowering ambitious women to feel, look, and do good with a line of ethically made lipsticks, eyeshadows, and eyeliners.In this episode we cover the importance of just letting the market teach you, the money piece from an initial investment of just $2500, and walking to the beat of your drum whilst figuring out what your customers need. If you’re like me and wondering how she managed to trademark the name Bossy Cosmetics, get ready to hear this wild story!While I’ve got you here, if you’re on your phone right now please take a quick screenshot in your podcast app and share this episode on Instagram stories. It helps me know you really love the show, it helps other ears find us AND it shows you’re part of our club.LINKS WE MENTION:Bossy Cosmetics' InstagramBossy Cosmetics' TwitterHow I built This PodcastBusiness Wars PodcastJoin thousands of small business owners who are reading our newsletter every Monday at: www.femalestartupclub.comJoin our tool and private community for small business owners, Majic [formerly known as Hype Club]Female Startup Club's InstagramDoone's InstagramDoone's TikTokSay hello to Doone: hello@femalestartupclub.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we are learning from Rowena Bird, Co-Founder of Lush Cosmetics. A business that started 27 years ago in Poole, the UK.Since 1995, Lush has been a trailblazer in the cosmetics industry. From inventing bath bombs and creating new, innovative products to fighting animal testing and ethical campaigning, it’s come a long way since its humble beginnings. Lush’s journey is ongoing. And as it continues to grow and evolve in ways that keep breaking new ground in the cosmetics industry, it’s a journey that is so interesting to dig into.In this episode we chat about the importance of hiring people smarter than you, building organic growth and word-of-mouth into the business, and what led LUSH to make the drastic decision to come off social media, as well as a golden tip when it comes to the financial side of things. When it gets to the people piece, Rowena shared some real wisdom. Talking about the people you’re building this with, the people you’re facing every day, it’s important to genuinely like and respect them. Not just for your sake, but for all parties involved. At the end of the day, if you’re not looking forward to talking to someone you might not be opening up to issues in the business. And that’s obviously an issue. In everything from your co-founders, to your investor relations and the people you hire, business continues to be all about relationships and people. I know you’re going to absolutely LOVE this episode.LINKS WE MENTION:Lush’s WebsiteLush's TwitterTED WebsiteJoin thousands of small business owners who are reading our newsletter every Monday at: www.femalestartupclub.comJoin our tool and private community for small business owners, Majic [formerly known as Hype Club]Female Startup Club's InstagramDoone's InstagramDoone's TikTokSay hello to Doone: hello@femalestartupclub.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we are learning from Rowena Bird, Co-Founder of Lush Cosmetics. A business that started 27 years ago in Poole, the UK.Since 1995, Lush has been a trailblazer in the cosmetics industry. From inventing bath bombs and creating new, innovative products to fighting animal testing and ethical campaigning, it’s come a long way since its humble beginnings. Lush’s journey is ongoing. And as it continues to grow and evolve in ways that keep breaking new ground in the cosmetics industry, it’s a journey that is so interesting to dig into.In this episode we chat about the importance of hiring people smarter than you, building organic growth and word-of-mouth into the business, and what led LUSH to make the drastic decision to come off social media, as well as a golden tip when it comes to the financial side of things. When it gets to the people piece, Rowena shared some real wisdom. Talking about the people you’re building this with, the people you’re facing every day, it’s important to genuinely like and respect them. Not just for your sake, but for all parties involved. At the end of the day, if you’re not looking forward to talking to someone you might not be opening up to issues in the business. And that’s obviously an issue. In everything from your co-founders, to your investor relations and the people you hire, business continues to be all about relationships and people. I know you’re going to absolutely LOVE this episode.LINKS WE MENTION:Lush’s WebsiteLush's TwitterTED WebsiteJoin thousands of small business owners who are reading our newsletter every Monday at: www.femalestartupclub.comJoin our tool and private community for small business owners, Majic [formerly known as Hype Club]Female Startup Club's InstagramDoone's InstagramDoone's TikTokSay hello to Doone: hello@femalestartupclub.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.