|
Read Time: 5 minutes
Welcome to The Founders Edit, the weekly newsletter where female founders get the latest trends, opportunities, and advice.
This week, we're spotlighting the $7,500 Halstead Grant, female-focused accelerator programs from Google and Amazon, and some inspiring female entrepreneur businesses.
Let's leap right into what’s brewing in the business world!
Inside This Edition:
đź’° Funding Focus: Unlock $7,500 for your business with The Halstead Grant.
đź“° Industry Insights: 2024 Pinterest trends, Google and Amazon accelerator programs, and more.
​
🛍️ Lessons From Female Founders: Apply these unique qualities to your own business.
đź‘ Founder Networking 7th - 17th Feb: Mark your calendars for these networking events
🛠️ From The Vendor List: An all-in-one influencer marketing discovery platform.
|
Funding Focus: The Halstead Grant
​The Halstead Grant offers emerging silver jewelry artists a chance to boost their careers with a $7,500 cash prize, $1,000 in Halstead merchandise, and industry exposure. Designed to foster new talent, this annual award requires entrants to address 15 business questions and present their design work by 1st May.
🙋‍♀️ Application Tips for Success:
- Showcase Originality in Your Designs: Ensure your portfolio highlights your unique design perspective, emphasizing innovation and creativity in silver jewelry.
- Highlight Your Commitment to the Jewelry Industry: Share your vision for contributing to the industry's future, underscoring the importance of new talent and design creativity in your application.
|
Industry Insights: Latest weekly news
Stay up to date with the latest trends and news in the business world. Here are three stories that caught our eye this week and what you can learn from them:
​Pinterest Predicts 2024: Trends to Watch and Use
Pinterest released their 2024 prediction guide, which is worth a read considering 80% of their past predictions have come true!
Key Predictions:
- Eclectic Grandpa Takes Over From Coastal Grandma: In 2024, Gen Z and Boomers will embrace "grandpacore", dressing in retro wool vests, loose fitting trousers and chunky flats.
- Move Over Facecare: In 2024 and beyond it will be all about the body. Gen Z and Millennials are ready to invest in luxury body lotions, in-home spa experiences, and some serious SPF.
- Bring The Cafe to Your Kitchen: In 2024, aesthetic at-home coffee stations will become the new way to espresso yourself.
👩‍🏫 Rebecca's Take: Don't snooze on these trends. They are typically seen earlier on Pinterest than other sources, so start now and consider how they can influence your next season's product designs, your packaging, and social media strategy. If you are just getting started and thinking of what business to create, look into what's getting more attention so you can serve a customer base that will be growing in the coming years.
Empowering Female Founders with Accelerator Programs
To combat the low percentage of venture capital going to women-led startups, major companies like Google and Amazon are launching accelerator programs aimed at leveling the playing field for female entrepreneurs.
Key Insights:
- Funding Disparity: Only 1.9% of venture capital supports female-founded companies, and as a result, about 80% of female tech startup leaders use their own personal savings to start a new business.
- Valuable Support: Google's 10-week program offers women entrepreneurs a comprehensive crash course on essential startup skills along with $100,000 in Google Cloud credits, while Amazon's initiative provides up to $225,000 in cash and AWS credits, alongside training, mentorship, and access to a network of investors.
👩‍🏫 Rebecca's Take: It’s worth taking the time to explore accelerator programs tailored for women in tech and business. Their mentorship and resources can be invaluable for scaling your startup, breaking into new markets, and securing funding!
Cash Flow: The Business Lifeline
Forbes recently outlined some tips on how you can master your cash flow management in your business for smoother operations and growth.
- Negotiate Your Terms: Remember that you have the power with your vendors, so don’t be afraid to negotiate more favorable payment terms (especially once you have built a history of paying on schedule) to help smooth out your cash flow.
- Smart Tools: There are a lot of automated accounting tools that can forecast and simplify financial tracking, offering insights into future financial positions and enabling strategic decision-making.
👩‍🏫 Rebecca's Take: No matter what stage of business you are at, create a cash flow plan that aligns your expenditure for production, operations, ad spend, agencies, etc. with your seasonal revenue estimates. Inventory order planning is also a critical piece of the puzzle when it comes to timing cash flow, so build that into your cash flow planning.
|
Lessons From Female Founded Brands
Featuring remarkable female entrepreneurs and their products, along with unique qualities that can inspire your own business approach.
This week, we're spotlighting three exceptional women-led brands we love:
​
|
|
|
Dear Brightly: DearBrightly uses technology to provide easy access to prescription-strength retinoids and skincare essentials.
​
Founder: Amy Chiu
​
What makes them stand out? Positive Messaging. DearBrightly rejects the term "anti-aging," focusing on skin health rather than striving for a younger look. Their philosophy promotes a positive skincare journey, encouraging everyone to embrace their natural beauty and challenge traditional beauty norms.
​
|
|
|
BYCHARI: BYCHARI is a unique jewelry brand that combines modern luxury with personal storytelling, offering handmade pieces celebrated by style icons and sustainably crafted in Los Angeles.
​
Founder: Chari Cuthbert
​
What makes them stand out? Sustainable Production. BYCHARI differentiates itself with its commitment to sustainability, handmaking its jewelry in Los Angeles to support local artisans and small businesses. This approach ensures that each piece is not only luxurious but also ethically produced.
​
|
|
|
Grá Chocolates: Founded by award-winning pastry chef Gráinne Mullins, Grá Chocolates offers high-end chocolates in County Galway, Ireland.
​
Founder: Gráinne Mullins
​
What makes them stand out? Seasonal Creativity: Grá Chocolates stands out by using seasonal ingredients for its luxury chocolates from the local area, showcasing Ireland's rich produce and giving each piece a unique flavor and story.
​
|
Do you know of an amazing female-founded brand that should be featured in a future newsletter (or want to see your own business featured)? Reply to this email and let us know! |
Founder Networking: Upcoming Events (7th - 17th February)
Here are some of the best female entrepreneur networking events happening in the next week:
Fashion Entrepreneurs and Professionals Networking Event
- Date and Time: Thursday, 8th February 7:00 PM - 9:30 PM
- Location: Cubanista Bar - 92a Old Brompton Rd London SW7 3LQ
- Price: ÂŁ20 for 2 tickets (bring a friend!)
- Who it’s for: Fashion entrepreneurs, industry professionals, and anyone passionate about fashion, offering networking opportunities, business collaborations, career advancement, creative inspiration, and brand exposure in the fashion industry.
- ​Get more information and sign up here​
Networking Event For Young Entrepreneurs
- Date and Time: Friday, 16th February 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM
- Location: The Listing - 27 Bush Ln, London EC4R 0AA, UK
- Price: ÂŁ17
- Who it’s for: Young entrepreneurs in London looking to build connections and share ideas with like-minded people.
- ​Get more information and sign up here​
Black Female Entrepreneur Greenwich Networking Event
- Date and Time: Saturday, 10th February 12:00 Noon - 4:00 PM
- Location: LALU Catering Restaurant - 7 Leslie Smith Square SE18 4DW
- Price: ÂŁ25
- Who it’s for: This event is perfect for female business owners, entrepreneurs, innovators, and startups looking to connect, collaborate, and empower each other in a supportive and fun-filled environment.
- ​Get more information and sign up here​
|
From The Vendor List: GRIN
​GRIN is a one-stop shop influencer marketing platform designed specifically for e-commerce to help you find and work with the right influencers for your brand.
Why It's Useful:
- Efficient Discovery: GRIN’s Creator Discovery Suite makes it easy to find and connect with the right influencers, overcoming common recruitment challenges.
- Streamlined Integration: Native e-commerce integrations mean the software can seamlessly integrate with your existing e-commerce platforms.Do you know of an amazing female-founded brand that should be featured in a future newsletter (or want to see your own business featured)? Reply to this email and let us know!
|
That’s all from The Founder House this week! Keep pushing boundaries, breaking ceilings, and supporting each other.
See you next week,
Rebecca
​The Founder House​
|
|
|
​