Rachel Shechtman

Finding the Perfect Balance at popped.nyc: Where Exclusive Meets Inclusive At popped.nyc, we're all about crafting a unique environment that bridges the gap between exclusivity and inclusivity. We embrace the "IYKYK" mentality, creating a space where insiders and newcomers alike feel valued and engaged. How do we achieve this balance? Open-Access Programming: We host events that are welcoming to all, ensuring that new faces can seamlessly integrate into our community while still offering exclusive experiences that make our regulars feel special. Inclusive Design: Our workshops and events are crafted with everyone in mind. Whether you're a seasoned pro or a curious newcomer, you'll find opportunities to connect and contribute meaningfully. Mentorship and Guidance: Experienced members are encouraged to share their knowledge and guide newcomers. This fosters a collaborative atmosphere where everyone can grow together. Segmented Access: We offer a range of events, from exclusive gatherings to open-access programs, ensuring that there’s something for everyone while maintaining the special touch of our niche community. Transparent Communication: We believe in clear, open communication about the nature of our events and the reasons behind any exclusivity, helping manage expectations and ensure inclusivity. Interactive Elements: Our events are designed to spark curiosity and engagement, providing newcomers with a glimpse into what makes our community unique. Respectful Boundaries: We balance privacy with openness, ensuring sensitive topics are handled respectfully while still fostering an inclusive dialogue. By focusing on these principles, we create a vibrant, dynamic space where the "IYKYK" mentality enhances our community while ensuring that everyone feels welcomed and involved. Join us at popped.nyc and be part of a community that celebrates both exclusivity and inclusivity. Let’s make connections and build something special together! #CommunityBuilding #InclusiveCulture #Networking #PoppedNYC #Events #ProfessionalGrowth

7

🚀 Calling All Founders! I’m thrilled to host a series of free, intimate networking events for founders—hosted in NYC. These gatherings are designed to foster an environment where we can connect, learn from each other, grow together, and build meaningful, lucrative partnerships through collaboration. Whether you're based in NYC or beyond, if you’re looking for an opportunity to exchange ideas, share insights, and spark new business opportunities, these events are for you. Interested? Or know someone who might be? Drop a comment below, and I’ll share the details. Let’s grow together! 🌟 #Networking #Founders #BusinessGrowth 

15

4 Comments

Everybody needs a place to put their love. - Karina Dresses tagline, circa 2012 In 2012 I made my first investment in a #femalefounder who also happened to be 50+. At the time I had no idea how unusual these founder traits were. I just knew the founder was passionate, authentic, experienced, perfectly aligned with both the product and the market. Most importantly there was a strong emotional bond between the product and the customers who bought it. 🤷🏾‍♂️- it just seemed like the smart thing to do. Not a lot of my investor buddies agreed at the time- probably not so surprising. Fast forward 10+ years and the value of my investment is ~20x & the amount of free cash flow distributed to equity holders is substantial & still increasing YOY. My takeaways: ✅Invest in authenticity, passion and intimacy (customer)- no matter what the founder profile looks like relative to others. ✅Follow your gut. ✅Not every deal is venture scale worthy. But there’s a potential investor for every deal. ✅Be the best version of you, not a lame version of someone else. Works for both investors & founders. :) Congratulations to Karina and the team at Karina Dresses! Proud as punch to be on this journey with you all🚀

10

5 Comments

Wow, The Boston Globe! So honored to be profiled this week in the editorial content of the Gobe's Sunday magazine supplement, Thrive: Redefining Retirement. The article, "Encore: The Path To A Rewarding Career In Your Second Act," is about exploring vibrant new careers fueled by passion and purpose in life's 'second half'. Here's my hot take on that idea: As a midlife entrepreneur, some days I feel like Agatha Christie's Miss Marple—just a plump, non-descript older lady nosing aroud on the periphery in a large cast of glamorous young go-getters who catch the eye of eager investors. But just like Miss Marple, older ladies like me have an unfair (and unsuspected) advantage. We can listen, observe, and learn unnoticed. We know how to ignore the distraction of flashy ideas that don't add long-term value. And we quietly leverage our decades of experience and ability to connect facts to arrive at the (obvious) solution. Many times, we can see what others have not yet seen, because the longer lens of our past allows us to see further into the future. So here's the thing to remember about second acts. Second acts are where all the good stuff happens. The plot comes together, the loose ends tie up, and the exciting conclusions take your breath away. Trust me, you *don't* want to leave at intermission!

36

13 Comments

Join us for an insightful conversation with Malindi Mwangi and Zacky, the founders of The Florienta App, a groundbreaking platform connecting Black hair stylists with clients. In "Moving on from MVP," we discuss their journey beyond the Minimum Viable Product, exploring the challenges, lessons learned, and future plans for this innovative startup. Discover how The Florienta App is revolutionizing the Black hair care industry by fostering community, increasing visibility, and empowering both stylists and clients. #TheFlorientaApp #BlackHairCare #HairStylists #BlackOwnedBusiness #StartupStory #MVP #Entrepreneurship #Community #Innovation #UKBusiness #BlackBeauty #NaturalHair #HairCommunity

4

Culture is code. What does it mean to you? Comment below! In my latest #podcast episode with Brian R. Yurachek, CEO of New York Culture Club™ and new addition to the Beyond Form portfolio, we discuss the how fashion IoT and the experiences wrapped around the tech can create a new way of connecting between consumers and brands: 1️⃣ The Power of Authentic Self-Expression: success is rooted in the ability to authentically express passions and ideas, even when facing challenges. By being genuine, Brian has been able to connect with people and build strong relationships within the #fashion industry. Not an easy task as Brian tell us how he left his job in banking on Wall Street to enter this very opaque industry. 2️⃣ The Value of Continuous Learning: Brian emphasises the importance of ongoing learning and research. He actively seeks out new information and trends, which has allowed him to stay ahead of the curve and develop innovative solutions to foster human connection. 3️⃣ The Potential of Technology to Enhance Experiences: NYCC's IoT and #blockchain #technology, can be used to enhance consumer experiences and create new value propositions. This means improving product authentication, storytelling, and customer engagement. 🎧 Listen here https://lnkd.in/eayMQ4V9 or on your fave podcast platform. #FashionTech

9

2 Comments

Love these high-level takeaways from my due diligence discussion with Cherub today! So many actionable insights for both founders and investors.

15

2 Comments

In my article for the fall issue of Elan Vitae Magazine, I highlight some of the bright spots that come with getting more intentional about life. . . https://lnkd.in/g43Zm8R2

12

1 Comment

Discussion topics I’m most excited about at the upcoming Dealmakers Summit in NYC on 17-18 June 🛀**Bodycare and men’s grooming** have shown steady growth and are full of innovative entrants that could be poised for the next round of exciting exits…I’ll be on the panel with Rebecca Zhou, CEO at Soft Services, Rom Ginzburg, CEO at Maelys and Ashleigh Barker, Head of Beusty at Lincoln International. ♾️**Longevity brands** - consumer interest and investment activity in wellness and a focus on less superficial benefits has been growing steadily for years. What is a longevity brand and are they they a gold mine of financial potential? 🛍️**The retail landscape** - has transformed the past three years alongside rising DTC costs. What and who is the future looking like? 👧🏼👵🏾**Alpha to boomers** - Gen Alpha may be the buzziest cohort of consumers, but in reality, each generation drives the industry forward in varying ways. A holistic look at what the opportunities are in each generation and the value each of these groups specifically brings to beauty and value creation. Beyond this, it’s the best event to genuinely connect with friends + make new in the beauty space, bc if you know him Nader Naeymi-Rad knows how to throw a party. As such, it always sells out, link to final remaining tickets in comments below 👇 Beauty Independent | Nader Naeymi-Rad | Claire McCormack | Paris Farsad-Roche | Taylor Bryant

126

14 Comments

NYC bars and restaurants are struggling and one of the reasons is legal cannab*s, according to this new report. Bars and restaurants should be able to sell weed, especially at events. These small business owners are relying on the OCM to expedite the events license so they can stop being harmed by legal cannab*s and start being apart of the market. https://lnkd.in/eSbFmtA6

14

6 Comments

Although female founders are typically in the minority compared to male founders, we do our best to include them for MELT in NY! Allow me to introduce some remarkable and innovative female founders 🙋‍♀️ ☞ Co-Founder & CEO @ Blanka Stage: Seed Blanka is a platform that automates the process of launching a branded beauty line. With high-quality products manufactured in North America and with no minimums or upfront costs, our technology unifies the process of launching a brand - from product selection through order fulfillment. ☞ Founder & CEO @ FemiSpace Co. Stage: Pre-seed AI doctors for women’s health. ☞ CEO / Founder @ Parrot Finance Stage: Seed Copy trading platform. ☞ Founder and CEO @ InstantReplay Stage: Pre-seed The in-store “cookies” for retail. ☞ Founding Product Manager @ Stealth Stage: Seed Payment management with AI. ☞ Founder @ Copy trading consumer investing platform Stage: Seed Copy trading consumer investing platform. ☞ CEO/Founder @ Bonde Stage: Seed Member-only platform to support the advancement of professional women. ☞ Co-founder @ usebeams com Stage: Seed The next-gen productivity and automation platform for meaningful insights and seamless workflows. ☞ CEO/Founder @ LinSha Techworks Stage: Pre-seed We are improving the speed and safety of flanged pipeline maintenance by bolting/unbolting flanges autonomously. ☞ Co-founder @ Poldit Stage: Pre-seed Poldit is a community for sharing knowledge through interactive livestreams and Q&A, aimed at fostering human connections and reducing misinformation. ☞ CEO @ NaviGuide Stage: Pre-seed Equitable AI guidance counselor. ☞ CEO & Founder @ Transformers Academy Stage: Pre-seed AI-Driven LMS that transforms BORING manuals into ready-to-study employee or client courses in minutes. ☞ Co-founder @ Index Network Stage: Pre-seed Index allows you to create truly personalized and autonomous discovery experiences across the web. ☞ Founder and CEO @ TAMMIRA, INC. Stage: Pre-seed An evidence-based livestreamed health, wellness & beauty programming for kids & young women. ☞ Founder and CEO @ Bridgit Health Stage: Pre-seed Centralized AI-enabled social worker platform for hospitals to reduce delay of discharge. ☞ Chief of Staff (Founding Team) @ Mattermore Stage: Pre-seed Mattermore empowers managers with AI, automating 1:1 call data to boost performance, save time, and reduce stress, productivity loss, and turnover. 【💎 VIP Sponsored by】 ​Bradley Kam ​・Founded 2 companies Unstoppable Domains & Talkable ・Raised over $70M ・Unstoppable Domains recently raised $65M in a Series A round led by Pantera Capital, reaching a $1B valuation. Aquibur Rahman ​Founder of Mailmodo, has received funding from Sequoia and is an alum of Y Combinator S21 ​Nathan Stevenson ​CEO and Founder of ForwardLane Inc. has been featured by Forbes, the World Economic Forum, and American Banker Event link 👉 https://lu.ma/ldbfgkez

24

3 Comments

This article really resonated with me, especially the section below about founders knowing their numbers. What skill set should a founder starting a brand today have?  Drew F.: "Now, more than ever, you have to know your numbers. You have to be able to describe your unit economics, not only certainly to any prospective investor, but also to yourself because the odds that you’re going to get any capital are near zero. If you don’t know your unit economics and cash flow, you won’t have a business. The founder that knows their numbers and how to scale the business in a healthy and efficient way is the founder that will prevail." Scaling a beauty brand has never been easy, but it has gotten increasingly more difficult over the past few years. Capital efficiency and a focus on margins and profitability have also become more important for investors seeking to deploy in the category. True Beauty Ventures Cristina Nuñez Rachel Brown Beauty Independent #beautyinvesting https://lnkd.in/egBiFhPC

33

6 Comments

For your weekend reflection: The generosity of advice deepens relationships. In a fantastic podcast episode, Jennifer Prosek delves into key insights essential for private investors and leaders alike: 1. The necessity of consumer branding for private investors. 2. The significance of crafting a unique narrative. 3. The empowerment that comes from bringing people together. 4. The rising trend of branding within private markets. 5. The democratization of access to alternative investments. 6. How to maximize relationships at conferences. 7. Leadership strategies to inspire and motivate talent. 8. The importance of thought leadership on LinkedIn Narratives are powerful in driving connections, for innovators and investors, everywhere.

9

1 Comment

What do you want to ask Adam Kitchen 🪖? Adam: → Started his entrepreneurial path with a £1,000 overdraft → Grew Magnet Monster to £1.5 million in annual revenue within five years. → Worked with 150+ DTC brands including big shots such as BodyBuilding. com, Waterdrop, Wild, Spotlight Oral Care and more. →  Now building his second agency Content Army™ 🪖. We’ll talk about how to: → Build a self-sustainable agency business → Replace yourself with a CEO → Develop a high-performance marketing team → Grow an industry-recognised personal brand Do you want me to ask Adam your question? Throw them in the comments!

19

10 Comments

I said it, so here's my take on today's Outdoor Retailer show. There is something new (and old) happening. IMO, they should lean in and position it as the place to discover tomorrow's brands, and the buyers will follow. I love Grassroots Outdoor Alliance but for completely separate reasons. At Grasscon, we see our extended family (our retailers) for a reunion twice a year. It's amazing and helps us build real relationships. But we also need to meet some new people, you know. We're still young! The industry needs a place for the next generation to make their mark. Maybe that's OR again? “We met retailers that are brand new, and they’re going to buy their first assortment and are looking for smaller, newer brands that everybody else doesn’t have. And that’s something that you don’t find at the other shows we attend – retailers are looking for new brands here,” said Andrew Gibbs-Dabney, founder of LIVSN, an exhibitor at Outdoor Retailer. “I love seeing people that I only see once or twice a year. When we’re in our little bubble back in Arkansas designing, we’re not out in the world. This is our chance to go out and test the things that we think are great, get feedback, meet people that we haven’t seen in a long time, and really just be a part of the industry.” #tradeshow #outdoorindustry #outdoors https://lnkd.in/gY-fzkGG

54

6 Comments

What is game changing about Twig Ventures model? Levi Reed and their team gives *hands on* fractional support for a few months before helping you bring your baby to investors. As a first generation college student, WOC founder, that generous act of service speaks volumes as I've really had to build my network from the ground up and that access to top quality support is PRICELESS! 👉🏽 Investors - fill out their typeform to learn more 👉🏽 Founders - DM their Twig Ventures page on LI directly You rock Levi!

11

2 Comments

🌟 Big News: We’re Live on UrbanOutfitters.com! 🌟 When we launched this year, we set out to push a new narrative that embraces the dualities in so much of what we care about. To explore the paradox between individuality and shared identity, self-expression and connection, and what our bodies mean to us versus what they can do. Instead of keeping it simple or following the usual path, we chose to go after everything we believed in—refusing to settle for doing just one thing or fitting into a single box. For us, the magic lies in embracing it all—the 'and' instead of the 'or.' Today, I’m beyond thrilled to share that this vision has found a home on Urban Outfitters—a brand that champions individuality and serves as a major launchpad for beauty brands. This moment reflects the power of staying true to our vision: ambition, doing it all, and showing that you don’t have to choose between your ideas to make an impact. Thank you to everyone who supported this mission, believed in our vision, and helped us bring it to life. To our early supporters and the URBN (Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie Group, Free People & Nuuly) team, we couldn’t have done this without you. Check us out on Urban Outfitters here: https://lnkd.in/d5utDbpK Let’s keep redefining what’s possible. ✨ #Entrepreneurship #StartupJourney #Creativity #BeautyWithoutLimits #UrbanOutfitters

103

15 Comments

Beyonce uses a laundromat🫧? And LVMH was feeling spendy last week 💸. These are my top stories from last week: ♡ Women’s Health & Beauty ♡ • Perelel acquires Loom • Paul Schiraldi appointed as CEO of ILIA Beauty • 4am Skin is officially in Bloomingdale’s • Love x Money Ventures invests in Marlow • Lili Reinhart’s new brand aims to start the conversation about acne • The fertility revolution: How Dandi is transforming patient care ♡ E-Commerce, Retail & Social ♡ • Beyoncé launches Levi’s Reimagine campaign • Luxury fashion’s power sourcer, Gab Waller, is reinventing the job with AI • Off-White sold by LVMH to Bluestar Alliance • Laundromat bars are trending ♡ Tech, Business, & Investing ♡ • Port workers’ strike delayed • Eva, the entertainment booking platform, raises $2M and expands to more cities • LVMH and Formula 1 sign a 10-year global partnership • LVMH invests in non-alcoholic brand French Bloom • Adam Neumann’s new startup is reworking WeWork’s old business model You can read more in this week's issue of ICYMI: https://lnkd.in/gpEiANhM #consumernews #litrendingtopics

38

1 Comment