Hi Female Founders,
Whether you were able to dial in last Friday or were busy running your empire, the energy from our latest Quarterly Catch-Up was too good not to share!!
First off, a quick apology that our call was cut a little short by the Google Meet timer. We’ve learned our lesson…next time, we will meet on Zoom so we can keep the conversation flowing without the "impending doom" countdown hehe:)
Here is a detailed recap of the major takeaways and the resources you can tap into right now.
The Big Vision: Turning FemaleFounders.Pet into a Nonprofit
We are officially moving toward becoming a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
The Goal: Secure grant funding to "bridge the gap" for early-stage founders.
The Impact: We want to provide scholarships and financial support for women to attend or exhibit at major trade shows like Global Pet Expo and SuperZoo.
The Progress: We are looking for "bootstrap-friendly" ways to file. Jolanta (Pet Pro Media) shared a lead on a specialist who can help us navigate this transition affordably.
AI Corner
We spent a good portion of the call discussing how AI is helping us move faster with fewer resources.
The $20 Website: Andrea H. shared how she used AI to build a new site for just $20 - a project that would have historically cost $20k+.
Marketing & AI: Jolanta and Andrea H. are both open to brainstorming how you can use AI for content marketing and automation.
Join the AI Community: During the call, Emily B. shared a fantastic external resource for those wanting to dive deeper: 👉 Join the Female Founders AI LinkedIn Group here
State of the Industry: The "Fundraising Bar" is Rising
Michelle (Shopdot) shared some vital insights on the current venture landscape:
The Shift: Revenue requirements for Seed and Series A rounds have nearly doubled. What used to require $1M in ARR may now require $2.5M – $3M.
The Strategy: Founders are encouraged to lean into angel groups and local networks. If you are currently fundraising, reach out to the group - several members have experience navigating these rounds.
Meet Your Fellow Founders (The Ask & Offer Matrix)
The names below are the founders we caught up with live this week. I hope we didn't forget anyone:)!
If you haven’t already please make sure to fill in your info in the 👉Member Directory so we can all stay connected.
Andrea Huspeni (This Dog's Life)
Email: [email protected]
Give: AI for lean web development; PR & Content strategy.
Ask: Introductions to premium/elevated retailers (e.g., Polka Dog).
Andrea Vaughan (Pet Travel Feeder)
Email: [email protected]
Give: Creative brainstorming; navigating the utility patent process.
Ask: Contacts for licensing agreements; USA manufacturing advice.
Ashley Quincey (Fureelz)
Email: [email protected]
Give: Short-form video engagement for brands on a safe, vetted platform.
Ask: Awareness for the app launch and niche community feedback.
Emily Breslin / Em (The Dog Who Asked for More)
Email: [email protected]
Give: Web building & content creation.
Ask: Partners/brands for her 50-state RV tour & rescue events.
Ina (Ava’s Pet Palace)
Email: [email protected]
Give: 10 years of retail experience; scaling from home to co-packers.
Ask: Strategic networking with founders in the growth/scaling stage.
Jolanta Smulski (Pet Pro Media)
Email: [email protected]
Give: Marketing strategy & AI implementation.
Ask: Join/share the Network Growth Summit (virtual) this June.
Lisa Kamer (Knots of Fun)
Email: [email protected]
Give: Sourcing & USA manufacturing (15 years in Whole Foods).
Ask: Strategy for the cat market; advice on business transition/exit.
Lisbeth Merrill (Virtuous Vittles)
Email: [email protected]
Give: IP/Startup law experience & plant-based nutrition science.
Ask: Help spreading the word on healthy meat-alternative options.
Michelle Hewey (Shopdot)
Email: [email protected]
Give: Fundraising insights & launching e-commerce without inventory.
Ask: Connections to groomers, trainers, and creators.
Valerie Baker (Canine Advocates)
Email: [email protected]
Give: Animal welfare partnerships & Brooklyn networking.
Ask: Website support & local NYC brand connections.
Erin (Wildcat)
Email: [email protected]
Give: High-level PR & Silicon Valley communications strategy.
Ask: Best practices for inventory management & e-commerce engines.
Immediate Action Items
Make sure you're in the directory!👉Fill out the Form Here (Your info will flow into our shared networking sheet automatically)
👉Fill out the Feature Form Here We’d love to learn more about you and your journey as a founder. This helps us better highlight and support members of our community in the future.
PS: We discussed moving our community "chat" to Discord or WhatsApp for real-time troubleshooting. We’ll be sending out a poll on this soon.
SO proud of this community!!
Warmly,
The Female Founders Team
