Lee Rotenberg has exited not one, but TWO companies.

Want to know the secret to her genius? Quick decision-making. If you’ve got an idea, get it out there, perfection be damned. Pivot and edit until you have that perfect market fit.

In this episode, Lee shares her experience of starting and selling two businesses with her partner, Alex Schinasi: Ivy (business management software for interior design firms) and Clay (early childhood AI-powered learning).

You’ll hear a behind-the-scenes look at both ventures from beginning to end, along with great advice about co-founder relationships, productivity, and the importance of just taking the leap and being fluid with what comes next.

If you take anything away from today’s conversation, don’t “kill the idea” by limiting yourself to launching ventures about only what you know.

With Ivy, Lee and Alex infiltrated the interior design market even though they didn’t know anything about interior design!

IN THIS EPISODE:

• The importance of speed in the early stage of start-ups, particularly when it comes to pivoting and finding the perfect market fit
• Building to sell vs. building for the sake of building a great company (which Lee says is kind of similar to finding a life partner!)
• A perfect co-founder recipe: respect, trust, equity, and the ability to think creativity and move fluidly
• The process of creating, pivoting, and eventually selling both Ivy and Clay, and the lessons Lee and Alex are taking with them on their next venture
• “If you’re waiting for something to be perfect, you’re killing the idea” – and other thoughts from Lee about the power of action in building a business

LINKS/RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Sarina is a consultant who works with startup leaders and entrepreneurs. Connect with her on her website, on Instagram, and on LinkedIn, and check out more episodes of the Career Memos podcast.

Have you ever been intrigued about angel investing, but unsure where to begin?

The path to getting started can feel incredibly daunting. How much money do you need? How can you “break in”?

Jaclyn Johnson is an inspirational trailblazer in the world of entrepreneurship and angel investing, and she’s here to demystify it all, while giving you a behind-the-scenes look at the process.

With a portfolio that includes 25 companies (!), Jaclyn is also the founder of Cherub, a platform that uses dating app mechanics to connect angel investors with entrepreneurs.

The investing world can be fragmented, but Jaclyn breaks it all down with beginner tips from the average check size, to safe notes, what special purpose vehicles are, and how to get started.

You’ll also hear about angel investing from her perspective: what captures her attention as an investor, and the power of having a unique marketplace advantage, plus a truly compelling story – one that speaks to the heart of why your amazing product needs to exist in the world.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• Jaclyn’s inspiring founder journey, and why she launched Cherub to bridge the gap between angel investors and entrepreneurs
• What angel investing is: who does it, what it looks like, and the benefits of angel investing as opposed to venture capital
• What to look for if you’re an angel investor, including founder credibility, unique marketplace advantages, and the potential for long-term returns
• Jaclyn’s experience with angel investing: why she does it (and it’s not just to make money!) and how her approach has evolved
• Tips for entrepreneurs funding through angel investing (be wary of taking little checks from lots of people!) and how to find investors who provide strategic value beyond just financial support

LINKS/RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Check out Cherub and sign up for their newsletter. Also, be sure to take Jaclyn’s fundraising masterclass if you’re a founder raising capital.

Sarina is a consultant who works with startup leaders and entrepreneurs. Connect with her on her website, on Instagram, and on LinkedIn, and check out more episodes of the Career Memos podcast.

Seven years ago, Cherie Hoeger saw a real need for better reusable period care products – and after starting Saalt in 2018, it became clear how big that need really was.

In their second year, Saalt products were stocked in all Target stores nationwide. By their third, Saalt had reached eight figures in revenue! Their company has since donated more than 100,000 products to help women and girls worldwide and has funded 600,000 days of school for girls.

What’s noteworthy about Cherie’s story is that her background wasn’t in business. It was in writing. But she did have five daughters, and the news from relatives in Venezuela – that political instability was causing a pad and tampon shortage – kept her up at night. Wasn’t there a reusable product that could prevent girls in developing countries from missing school?

In this episode, Cherie takes us behind the scenes of starting this very successful company with her husband. For them, conducting the research and pinpointing their mission has been crucial, offering them fuel while navigating the ups and downs of entrepreneurship and helping them effectively create something that consumers wanted.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• Cherie’s background as an English major, writer, and editor, and the conversation with her husband’s aunt in Venezuela that kept her up at night and provoked her to start Saalt
• The beginnings of the company, starting with the creation of a 3D CAD model of their first period cup, and how they differentiated themselves in a saturated market
• Their first years of business, which included a product recall and a buyer from Target who changed everything, helping them reach 8 figures in year three
• Becoming a B Corp-certified business: how to get certified, the impact it can have socially and environmentally, and the importance of mission for Gen Z/Millennial consumers
• Using market research to literally create a company that consumers wanted and the importance of surrounding yourself with other entrepreneurs

LINKS/RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Learn more about Saalt and the story of how the company came to be.

Sarina is a career coach and consultant who works with startup leaders and entrepreneurs. Connect with her on her website, on Instagram, via email, and check out more episodes of the Career Memos podcast.