Emma Bates had the idea for Diem while seeking answers on the internet about her health – and unable to find the kind of advice she wanted right then.

The company she started with her co-founder Divia Singh, Diem, aims to make conversations about women’s health more discoverable through a female-centric search engine akin to ChatGPT and Reddit.

As it turns out, Emma wasn’t the only woman struggling to find what she needed on the internet. Before the company even went public, Diem amassed a wait list of 20,000 and raised $3 million dollars!

In this episode, Emma shares the secrets behind their success and incredible growth trajectory, from TechStars and a viral marketing campaign to their fundraising and extensive beta testing.

What’s helped her most is stepping into confidence and surrounding herself with supportive peers and mentors, which has been more beneficial than ANY professional experience she’s ever had.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• How Diem is like ChatGPT meets Reddit, focused on female-centric experiences that she says are like the kinds of information you’ll get in the girl’s bathroom at 1 a.m.
• Emma’s background studying war studies at King College, starting her blog, her work and how Diem was inspired by the morning after pill
• The confidence-building techniques Emma used (including power posing!) to secure funding and get Diem off the ground
• Diem’s trajectory from newsletter to platform, and why looking at market and user data is more important than consumer feedback
• Leaning into community, including the magic of working with an experienced mentor

LINKS/RESOURCES MENTIONED

Learn about Emma’s company, Diem and follow them on Instagram.

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.

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.