Female Startup Club

Today we are learning from a dear friend of mine, Mimi Ikonn. She is a woman of many talents and has founded multiple successful businesses such as Luxy Hair which she bootstrapped through to an exit a few years ago, Love Hair, and in more recent years Intelligent Change. A company that creates products to enrich your life like daily gratitude planners and productivity planners. You might be famil...

Today on the show we are chatting with Alyssa, the founder of Donni. Rooted in comfort and born out of the need of a creative outlet to cope with grief, Alyssa founded the Los Angeles-based brand DONNI in 2009 after the death of her father, Donald. Established first as a brand that created oversized scarves designed to be worn in countless ways, DONNI has now grown into a lifestyle brand offering...

Today on the show we are learning from Vanessa, one of the co-founders behind Omsom. We chat through how she validated and landed on what their product was going to be, what made them sell out in 72 hours after launch (and multiple times since then) as well as some of her key pieces of advice peppered throughout.  If you haven’t met Omsom yet, they bring proud, loud Asian flavors into your home ki...

We’ve got Michelle Cordeiro Grant, the founder of LIVELY, talking us through how she founded and sold her company within 3 quick years for 105 million dollars. I. know. It’s crazy but the story is even crazier. I don’t want to give too much away but we talk through her unique launch that was a combination of strategy and luck, generating 130k emails in 48 hours.  LIVELY is a brand that empowers wo...

In this new mini series within the FSC podcast, I’m taking you on the journey while I develop my non alc wine brand and build it in public. Everything from money stuff, to how you divide the company, learnings as we go and the ups & downs of building a CPG brand.  If you have something you want me to cover, reach out on Twitter or Instagram. In partnership with Klaviyo, the best email marketing to...

Today we are learning from Shai, the founder of Bubble. We’re talking through the approach they took with community and a specific blueprint for how they actually got 5000 teens involved before launch, they use gene pap too btw - which I thought was really cool - and a few thoughts on fundraising and why we should question what’s being celebrated in the media. If you haven’t heard of it just yet,...

Today we’re learning from Sarah, the founder of Curie. Launched in 2018, Curie is a female-owned direct-to-consumer brand that sells clean, performance-based body care products.  They are on a mission to make clean, safe, and effective products for people who move. We’re chatting through the bootstrap to funding model, how to get on QVC and why you should prioritise building your network - which o...

Today we are learning from Brianna Bitton, Founder of Flo, the first ever PMS gummy vitamin. We’re chatting about investment, we are chatting about Tiktok and what she would have done earlier in the biz if she were to start again tomorrow.  If you’ve missed the memo, we’re giving away $1000 to small biz owners at the moment in partnership with flowium, head to fsc.com/1000-cash-giveaway to get in...

In this new mini series within the FSC podcast, I’m taking you on the journey while I develop my non alc wine brand and build it in public. Everything from money stuff, to how you divide the company, learnings as we go and the ups & downs of building a CPG brand.  If you have something you want me to cover, reach out on Twitter or Instagram. In partnership with Klaviyo, the best email marketing to...

It has been a hot minute! But I am back in action after 2 weeks of not recording any eps for the first time in 18 months and holy frikken moly. But I’m so proud to be bringing you this episode. It’s with a friend of mine, who you probably have seen on the likes of Instagram doing her super cool things. Lil is Australia’s favourite woman. Truly.  It’s a big call, I know, but she’s definitely one of...

Joining me on the show today is Isabel Aagaard, one of the co-founders behind sustainable startup LastObject.  LastObject is creating sustainable reusable alternatives to replace single use items in your bathroom like the Q tip, tissues and cotton pads with many more to come.  A big part of this episode is talking about the incredible kickstarter campaign that put them on the map, reaching their g...

Joining me today is Carly Stein, the founder behind Beekeepers Naturals. Founded by Carly Stein in 2017, Beekeeper's Naturals is an innovative company on a mission to reinvent the medicine cabinet. Using unique remedies from the beehive (like royal jelly and propolis), the beekeeper-led team is committed to providing the cleanest, most powerful solutions to modern health issues—like brain fog, chr...

Joining me on the show today is CEO and Founder of Kinfield, Nichole Powell.  Launched in 2019, Kinfield makes Great Essentials for the Great Outdoors—effective, plant-powered skincare and body products made from ingredients that are safe for both people and planet. They believe in a happier, healthier tomorrow through more time in the great outdoors, and are creating products you actually need to...

Joining me on the show today is Maeva Heim, founder of Bread Beauty Supply. Or Bread for short.  Now, I Actually met Maeva by chance last year when I was in Melbourne visiting a friend and I recognised her voice from a podcast I’d listened to her speak on before and the rest is history - now she’s here with us sharing her story.  But, back to the episode - Bread is the best shampoo alternative and...

Joining me on the show today is Melanie Masarin, Founder of the spirited booze free brand, Ghia. A Glossier alum, Melanie launched her brand earlier this year during the pandemic and it’s been on the tip of everyone’s tongue ever since.  We talk about the lightbulb moment she decided she was going to launch an aperitif, what actually happens in the lead up to the launch, the steps to doing a frien...

Joining me on the show today is Ann McFerran, the LA based founder behind Glamnetic - the go-to magnetic lash company. Glamnetic is committed to providing the highest quality products and experience to customers and finding ways to continually make your beauty routine easier!  Ann launched her brand a year ago from her bedroom and within no time at all was doing 7 figures a month in sales! In this...

On the show today we’re chatting with Kristin from Nomadica wine. We’re discussing some of the tough stuff that happened early on in her journey including the moment they had to throw away $25,000 worth of wine because it wasn’t good enough and what she’d do differently if she started this biz tomorrow. Kristin is a Sommelier by trade and the Founder + CEO of Nomadica wine, where she thoughtfully...

Today we’re learning from Charlotte Chen Pienaar, the founder behind one of the coolest bootstrapped companies around right now. We’re talking about how she approaches money and the old school tips to funding a CPG brand, why retailers like Ulta and Sephora came knocking on her door and the pros and cons to creating a truly sustainable brand.  Everyday Humans make next-generation sunscreens that a...

Today we’re learning some serious stuff about the beauty industry from Remi, the founder of Freck. Let me ask you something… Do you know what a blanket order is? I’ve done over 200 episodes and this has never come up!!!! So if you don’t know. Welcome to the club. Prepare to pick up some nifty tips to reducing your unit costs. We also cover negotiating your margins and some know-how around fill rat...

In this new mini series within the FSC podcast, I’m taking you on the journey while I develop my non alc wine brand and build it in public. Everything from money stuff, to how you divide the company, learnings as we go and the ups & downs of building a CPG brand.  If you have something you want me to cover, reach out on Twitter or Instagram. In partnership with Klaviyo, the best email marketing to...

On today’s episode we’re learning from Allison Ellsworth, the founder of Poppi.  There’s some seriously cool insights in this episode... We talk through her approach to raising money in the early days and why you shouldn’t take stupid money. Her recent moment of partnering with jlo. Mind blowing stuff. And her explosive growth after going on shark tank plus everything in between. This is an episod...

In this episode we’re chatting with Kailey from Sacred Serve and there’s some serious hustle in this story! Her first 2 years were spent doing hundreds of local events and making the product herself.... We hear her tactical tips when it comes to labelling and also chat about why it’s important to talk about your exit strategy - especially as women. Sacred Serve is a plant-powered line of gelato br...

In this new mini series within the FSC podcast, I’m taking you on the journey while I develop my non alc wine brand and build it in public. Everything from money stuff, to how you divide the company, learnings as we go and the ups & downs of building a CPG brand.  If you have something you want me to cover, reach out on Twitter or Instagram. In partnership with Klaviyo, the best email marketing to...

Today on the show I’m chatting with Azora Zoe Paknad, the Founder of Goldune - and yes I love the name.  We’re talking in depth about her launch and the brands she’s on the lookout for at the moment - hint: it could be you.  Goldune is a new ecommerce retailer making sustainability less beige. Get everything you need for home and life, always sustainable-- but never granola. LINKS WE MENTION: Gold...

Today I’m chatting to Katina Mountanos, the founder of Kosterina Olive oil. We’re talking about the gap she saw in the market that also happened to be in her backyard, literally. Why she thinks you shouldn’t quit your day job. And some pointers when it comes to building the DTC side of the business shipping heavy, glass products.  Kosterina is the pioneering Greek Extra Virgin Olive Oil Brand dedi...