What I’ve been up to…

Table Stakes NYC:

I had the best time speaking on a panel along with Jamie Melzer, Hustle Fund and Nina Ohiku, Cap Table Coalition at Table Stakes NYC, the first angel summit of its kind. Topics up for discussion: the framework for thinking about your angel investments, how to be a proud and diversified small-check-writer, and determining ROI for your investments (including the non-financial benefits, like expanding your network, being close to innovation, supporting mission aligned startups that move faster than not-for-profits).

In another edition of Not-Your-Daddy’s-Investor-Events…

Annie Evans, Stacy Huggins and yours truly hosted two investor events this month with legendary fashion cool-girl Yasmine Sewell, who is raising a seed round for her functional fragrance and wellness collection, Vyrao.

We had a smell-along, discovering each fragrance and learning the neuroscience backed principals behind how fragrance can alter your mood and actually invoke emotions. My favorites? The Sixth when I want to feel intuitive and Free 00 when I am feeling saucy (also partial to the Witchy incense). More on the fundraise under Hot Deals👇

Annie Evans and I just wrapped up the Fall Session of the Dream Ventures Accelerator! Last Tuesday, we celebrated by bringing all of the founders together along with a roster of angel investors and early-stage VC funds.

5 founders pitched in our signature “safe-space-shark-tank “format:

A stealth beauty company from industry vet Kirsten Johnson

An Ed-tech platform focused on closing the literacy gap from former educator and founder Nikki Bridges

A memory and legacy preservation app from founder Estrella Quiroz(who shared a voicemail from her late father- the prized asset that inspired her to create Last Farewells)

Nadia Ladak, funder of Marlow, the first lubricated tampon

Maggie Rose Macar, founder of Zant, a mental-health app connecting patients with affordable mental health care

🏆The winner of our pitch competition, coming away with a cash prize and service/consultancy bundle, was Marlow! More on Marlow below- I am so excited for this founder team and how they are revolutionizing period care.

Plug time! Applications are now open for our winter cohort, launching January 9. If you or a founder you know is interested- apply here). We have a great referral program for anyone who sends a founder our way and is accepted into the program- let me know if you want more info!

Hot Deals🔥

🔮Calling all witches and wannabes: We are leading an syndicate for the vibiest fragrance company, Vyrao

Vyrao’s entry point into wellness is a collection of multi-benefit, clean, unisex fragrances, candles and incense with energetic wellbeing at its core. At a time when people are wanting for more meaning and purpose behind their products, Vyrao is delivering.

Estee Lauder’s Incubation fund is the lead investor 

Immediate worldwide traction with placement in Violet Grey, Net-a-Porter, Blue Mercury, GOOP, Ssence, Farfetch, Saks, Kirna Zabete, Revolve, Hotel partnerships with Proper Hotels, Rosewood Hotels and Six Senses.

Stunning, award-winning visuals that bring the brand ethos to life.  Campaign Film: The Sixth 

Headquartered in London, they have achieved an unprecedented global scale with wholesale clients established throughout Europe, US, Australia and Japan. 

Gwyneth Paltrow joined as advisor and has been instrumental as an ambassador 

Fragrance is only the entry point. There is much more to come all with the mission to create products that amplify your energetic field.  

Our SPV is the last remaining allocation for this $4.4million round; now open for angel investors: reach out here to learn more

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Marlow is a Gen Z period care brand that is solving the gender pain gap, starting with the first-ever lubricated tampon for smoother and more comfortable insertion. 1 in 3 women experience vaginal dryness which represents 55 million women in North America. According to Forbes, vaginal pain is one of the top reasons why women seek medical help. Product is FDA approved, and available for purchase across the US and Canada.

Maintained a 5 star product rating with 100+ reviews

Organically grew online community to 60,000 individuals with content strategy, going viral on TikTok with over 100M views

Won Forbes 30 under 30 and featured in Buzzfeed, Well+Good Top Health Trends, The Kit, and more

Growing brand through retail strategy, currently in 40 doors such as The Well, on Amazon, and an upcoming pilot in 2024 with Whole Foods

Won $400,000 in non-dilutive funding proving (resourceful founder alert) and previously raised a $1M pre-seed

Currently raising a seed round of $2.5M: reach out here to learn more

🍰 Shop Women-Founded Brands/Current Obsessions

Finally! AI is here to tackle my chaotic but precious camera role. Launching in early 2024, Mae is your AI digital memory assistant designed to help you tell your stories in digital and physical form via personalized products. Join the waitlist here.

These cake kits by CAKER! I was waiting for boxed mixes to get cool again.

Im 10 years late to the CherryBombe party, but I am craving real mags once again (they are also fundraising)

Related: NYLON is coming back to print in the spring.

🙌 Portfolio Company High Fives

Hearth Display is one of TIME’s Best Inventions of 2023! The last drop sold out FAST- reserve yours for spring here

Another Tomorrow with a incredible feature in Vogue: How This Sustainable New York Label Became a Go-To for Angelina Jolie, Meghan Markle and

📰 News and Food For Thought

SKKY Partners, aka Kim Kardashian and some other guy’s private equity firm has made it’s first investment into…TRUFF! Spicy.

What in the succession is going on with Sam and OpenAI? The on again off again relationship that I have updated 3x before sending this: Sam Altman Is Reinstated as OpenAI’s Chief Executive

Erewhon’s Secrets: The Most Culty Grocer in LA

Sheila Heti (who has had my heart firmly since How Should a Person Be?) takes on creation, humanity and AI in According to Alice (New Yorker)

Your A.I. Companion Will Support You No Matter What Does AI Mitigate Isolation or Exacerbate it?

Why is this such a bummer? Daryl Hall sues and gets restraining order against John Oates in Hall & Oates legal drama

I just read this book and can’t stop thinking about it: Mary Magdalene Revealed: The First Apostle, Her Feminist Gospel & the Christianity We Haven’t Tried

🌈 Founder Resources and Grants

Fifteen Percent Pledge Announces $100,000 Sephora Beauty Grant: deadline December 18

Apply for the $25,000 Amber Grant by November 30

The Bronze Valley Investment Accelerator invests in up to five companies per year ($100k each) led by women entrepreneurs and entrepreneurs of color- apply by November 26

Lenovo Evolve Small $15,000 grant for founders in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Raleigh, Toronto or LA due by November 27 (bonus…Queen Latifah takes you through the application).

GRANT POWER: Katie Dunn and Kat Weaver just launched GRANT POWER– a program giving early stage founders the skills, lessons, and resources to succeed in securing non-dilutive funding (including immediate access to a list of 250+ grants, essentials for winning them, insights on how to find them, and more. Apply here

🍦Other Things No One Asked For

My life algorithm has given me this Rocco refrigerator in my IRL and online content incessantly since early November and it’s working. I absolutely must have this beverage refrigerator (also this art direction is exactly what I need).