🤰🏽Mom-led startup action, exit trends, pivots, raises, top accelerators, funding, and more
This is a bi-weekly newsletter of curated actionable insights and resources for over 20,000 underestimated founders, funders, and friends.
Happy Mother’s Day! Did you know that moms in the United States control a mind-blowing 85% of household purchases and have a spending power of $2.4 trillion? Moms also make great founders but are often overlooked. Let’s change that by recognizing mom founders (like the small sample listed below), buying their products and services, and backing them.
Jessica Alba's brainchild, The Honest Company, raised over $500 million across multiple funding rounds, achieved unicorn status (a company with a billion-plus dollar valuation), and went public
Melanie Perkins co-founded Canva, raised over $500 million, and got her company to unicorn status
Toyin Ajayi co-founded Cityblock Health, raised over $800 million, and got her company to unicorn status
Whitney Wolf founded Bumble, raised over $300 million, got her company to unicorn status, and took it public
It's time to realize the sheer potential of mom-led startups. These incredible examples show that they can secure big investments, reach high valuations, and achieve successful exits. So, let's rally behind the mom founder community, support their journeys, and be a part of the exciting future they're creating!
✨ Lolita Taub, GP at Ganas Ventures | twitter | luma
Recently in Forbes, Nasdaq, Techcrunch, Thrive Global
Congrats
Deena Shakir and team for raising $1.15B for the 8th fund at Lux Capital. Babba Rivera for raising $10M for Ceremonia's (port co) Series A. Lisa Cuesta and Viktor Bunin for raising $5.5M for Credibly Neutral Fund I. Suzanne Sinatra for getting Private Packs onto Target's shelves. Adeyemi Ajao, Mary Meeker, Ann Miura-Ko, Kirsten Green, and Lauren Kolodny for making Forbes's 2023 Midas List. Yehong Zhu of Zette (port co) for making Fast Company's World Changing Ideas 2023 List. Paige Buckner for being named CEO at AllRaise.
Sponsored | Underestimated founders, funders & friends: welcome to the Ganas Ventures Expert Series show, where we aim to help you on your startup-investor journey to success! RSVP and join talks with industry experts whose backgrounds include Gitlab, Republic, Didi, Nubank, Spin by Oxxo, VISA, and more!
Funders
Moonlight | Explore programs and tools that can help you on your VC journey
Crunchbase | Learn about Latin America's Q1'23 VC deal volume
Technopoly | Get the inside scoop on why Latin American startups fail
Startup-Investor Matching Tool | VCs: meet thesis-aligned underrepresented founders
Sponsored | Founders looking for effective habits to help you find success: read this Thrive Global article to find inspiration.
Founders
Asking for a founder | Find out when to pivot, fundraise, or shut down your company
Asking for a founder | Learn how to keep up progress in your startup, while needing funding
Asking for a founder | Get a list of the best accelerators for founders in Latin America
LaaS | Underrepresented founders: get resources made for you
Sponsored | Did you hear?! You can collab with Ganas Ventures as a scout via the Ganas Deal Partner program. Perks include: building an investor track record, getting compensated & repping our community! Learn more and apply.
Money
Builders Backers | Founders: apply for $5K by 5/22
PepsiCo | Latinx founders: apply for a $20K grant by 5/15
Techstars | San Diego founders: apply for $120K by 6/14
Fearless Fund | Black women founders: apply for a $20K grant by 8/31
CCWC | BIPOC women: apply for a $5K grant by 8/1
Ganas Ventures | Community-driven founders: apply for $100K
Workers Lab | BIPOC women: apply for $200K
Amber | Women founders: apply for <$10K grants
Z Fellow | Technical tinkerers: apply for a $10K grant
TechRise | Chicago founders: apply to win $50K
Olgas | Michigan women founders: apply for $10K grants
MEDA | SF women founders: apply for <$5K grants
SoGal Foundation | Black women founders: apply for $5-$10K in grants
1863 Ventures | Black founders: apply to get a 3Rs $5K grants
Non-dilutive capital | Create a profile to find non-dilutive capital
Equity Crowdfunding | Raise up to $5 million
Startup-Investor Matching Tool | Founders: get intros to investors
Want more? Follow me @lolitataub, and let me know how I can help. Want to support our newsletter and get featured? Become a sponsor.
This post was originally posted on May 14, 2023 on lu.ma by Lolita Taub.