Christina-Lauren Pollack

🚀Exciting News! AGS LABS / ALES GREY™ has been invited to pitch at FoundersBoost LA’s spring cohort and the Alliance for Southern California Innovation SoCal Venture Pipeline program at Google! If you’re an investor, please join us on June 4th for an exclusive joint Demo Day by FoundersBoost LA & the Alliance for SoCal Innovation! 🌟 The Alliance and FoundersBoost are joining forces to showcase some of the top young companies in LA! In addition to hearing the amazing pitches, you’ll be able to network with other investors, incredible mentors, supporting partners, program leaders, and the startup founders. Refreshments will be served. 🍹 📌 IMPORTANT NOTE: This is a private invite event due to capacity constraints and to maintain a value-add atmosphere. Sign Up Link Below. https://lu.ma/lademoday Don’t miss this opportunity to discover and support the next big thing in innovation! 🌐 #FoundersBoost #DemoDay #Innovation #Startups #Investors #Networking #PitchEvent #AGSLABS #ALESGREY #SoCalInnovation #GoogleEvents

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Awesome new initiative Aviel Ginzburg!! When Sean Sternbach and I launched Venture Out, Aviel and Pablo Brown-Rodriguez were silent cofounders. Aviel freely shared his words of wisdom from years of building community in Seattle. He and Chris DeVore were the first money into our community, followed quickly by Flying Fish Partners, Liquid 2 Ventures, M12, Microsoft's Venture Fund, and a huge list of Seattle angels. After growing to 1200+ members in <3 years, running multiple pre-preseed accelerators, a few learnings about building great community and the Seattle Founder Ecosystem: In the early days, no one knows what they are doing. Seek outside advice and guidance from people just ahead of you. Unicorn founders and tech moguls have great stories, but the woman who left amazon six months ago, launched an MVP, and crashed through her first 2 dozen investor discussions will have golden advice. Be open, honest, and vulnerable. Our best events and discussions happened when people let their guard down. No one will spend their life (which a startup requires) to build your idea. They might build something similar and tackle the same problem, but only your life experience and decision-making will make the difference. Share ideas often. Give first. As a ~10 year Techstars mentor, I saw this as the best part of the community. In my opinion, they have lost this completely. Don't come into a community and take. Give all you can, even when it feels counterproductive. Something might eventually come back that changes your life and direction. Even if it never does, you will 1000% feel great about the decision. Play long-term games with long-term people. Naval Ravikant was the first person I heard say this. Surround yourself with committed doers, makers, and visionaries. There are a lot of want-entrepreneurs in the world (which is a good thing; we need more people to take risks), but spend the most time with people in the ring, putting their time behind what they are doing. Learn how to give advice and direction without being evangelical, condescending, or a jerk. Learn to be direct but helpful. It's what you want on your journey, so invest in being a great thought partner for others. A final few notes: 1) No, you likely will never get paid the same amount or make as much money as a founder as you would as an L7/L8 at Amazon. If that is why you are starting a company, you're already in trouble. But knowing Aviel, he is already filtering for this 😂 2) You will likely learn in 6-18 months in the ring as a founder, than the rest of your life combined. Start to write, share your experience, find a therapist, and get ready to unpack a LOT as you go. The only way to make space for new information is to process it, store it, and then let it go. 3) The relationships are the most important part of the journey. I will always remember meetings with Matt Ehrlichman, Asha Sharma, Kyle Sandburg, and Matthew Neagle and the rest of the Porch Group team. Go Aviel!!!

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Thanks Chinenye. I couldn't agree with you more. However while we work on this, we also have to be mindful of the fact that bias isn't just the problem in this data rather a combination of poor economy and bias. Of all these regions mentioned, Africa is the least performing market. therefore Davidson, naturally you would expect investors to do less there. They are not charity organisations but a venture set up for outsized returns.Therefore the major issue we should be discussing is, which sectors are receiving this funding in Africa? Are the investments coming to sectors that will lift the other sectors up fundamentally or to sectors that will window dress the issues? or Worst still the ones that will reap-off on the people and distort rather than disrupt the system. (eg Nigeria POS fintech and the real banking system. a discussion for another day). Until strong investments are made in the technology sectors powering manufacturing strong job growth in Africa be it REAL B2B eCommerce not repeating what is already being done, or B2C eCommerce that is truly efficient and cost effective. Equally important is the improvement in the purchasing power of the consumers via credit card system. in as much as Sub-Sahara Africa lacks good credit system that captures the average citizens and residents, B2C will continue to struggle. in as much as our logistics investments are predominantly in the last mile delivery rather than efficient crosborder logistics, both B2B abd B2C eCommerce will struggle to scale efficiently and profitability. So, it's time for the investors to do away with the low hanging fruits and start tackling the real issues that will empower and propel Africa economies. That's where the main bias lies.

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ILIA Beauty was started in Laguna Beach, California, not too far from where I grew up. I actually met the founder many years ago at my niece's 4th birthday. Now? ILIA Beauty makes well over $100mil a year, is one of the top brands in Sephora, and popular all around the world. They are growing like crazy. I've always wanted ILIA to use Octane AI to personalize their ecommerce marketing, but I didn't want them to do it because I had met the founder at a children's birthday party. I wanted ILIA to decide to partner with Octane AI all on their own, organically. I needed our product to be chosen for it's merit. This year this finally happened. The ILIA team spent MONTHS deciding what platform they wanted to build their product quizzes with and they decided on Octane AI. "We spent months evaluating vendors and we decided on Octane AI. We really wanted to build an experience that was custom, and unique, and seamless to our brand. We really treated this project with a lot of care." - Cherene Aubert, VP of Ecommerce at ILIA ILIA uses an Octane AI quiz to help customers determine which of their products they should purchase, and then another Octane AI quiz to determine which of their 42 shades matches the customer's skin. In a business where consultations lead to more purchases, ILIA uses Octane AI to offer a guided experience to 100% of their online shoppers. What is their quiz strategy? Why did they decided to partner with Octane AI? How do their quizzes work? How does their quiz integrate with Klaviyo, Attentive, and Shopify? Cherene is going to walk you through it right now.

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The C2M model represents what I think is the single largest white space opportunity in the creator economy ShopMy.us, LTK, Shopify Collabs etc have put commerce power in creators' hands, but they're constrained by traditional inventory / wholesale models…. There’s been a 226% increase in people creating videos on #dropshipping in the last 2 months… something I think is worth paying attention to The C2M model could revolutionize the creator economy by: Allowing for hyper-personalized product lines Enabling rapid testing and iteration of product ideas Providing a more authentic connection between creators and their audience through custom products And democratizing product creation and distribution But it's got to be the right product and this is where we have the most work to do We need not only AI-driven trend analysis to inform product decisions but most importantly AI that connects it to community The real power lies in transforming communities from reactive entities into proactive, self-sustaining ecosystems that generate their own demand It shifts power from brands that buy products up to 18 months in advance of any known consumer demand to real time communities of engaged individuals, potentially leading to more diverse, responsive, and innovative products lines that don't create waste because the demand is attached directly to a network of high quality / direct response suppliers capable of all lifestyle categories How can you be consumer centric when your product takes 18 months and your content takes 6 the potential for disruption and value creation is enormous when you attach this model to real time media and entertainment and generative ai capabilities This shift doesn't just change how products are made and sold—it revolutionizes entire industries esp when you apply shared profit models The true C2M model, powered by engaged communities and real-time production capabilities will rewrite not only commerce, but creativity, and community engagement It's not just an evolution of existing models, but a revolution that could reshape our economic landscape We desperately need to do something because fashion is the second-largest CULTURE RELATED industry after film and television And its dominant business model is from last century Design products to sell a year later -> advertise to create demand -> hope for revenue it no longer works in a world of AI-assisted user-generated cinema level content and commerce #thegreatfashionreset #communitytomanufacturer #communitycommerce #contentistheproduct #creatorsarethestore

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Have you ever noticed that the word Uber is both a noun and a verb? I have spent years studying shared economy, supply chain and logistics. The first and last mile space has proven profitable and lucrative but also fickle and unpredictable. And I love it. In the world of Yahoos and Googles, Ubers and AirBnBs, a person could argue that branding has very minimal impact on the potential success of a company. I have also spent years studying branding, marketing, product management and customer experience. People love all-inclusive. Sometimes when you're dealing with consumers, a little bit more goes a long way. In WebVans defense, while I'm sure they had the most advanced inventory management system, at the time, I'm sure they didn't have automated storage and retrieval, they didn't have the 5G ecosystem, they didn't have RFID and IOT, they didn't have shared economy and they obviously believed, like Jeff Bezos, that because they had figured out how to deliver a book to your door, they could innovate the entire supply chain. And I love the tenacity. They tried to create an all inclusive customer experience. But like, what happens when the name just kinda sucks? Is it possible that the plateau is being caused by a crappy name? Why would people think Cost Plus is a company that would give them a discount on pharmaceuticals? Why would people think WebVan or GoPuff is the best solution for getting things delivered? Branding is part of the customer experience. It's where the brand loyalty begins and creates the potential for evangelism. Don't forget that part.

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🌟Innovative VC Firm Overcomes Exits Drought with Secondary Sales🌟 ⛵Navigating a challenging landscape where exits are scarce, Santa Barbara Venture Partners (SBVP) has pioneered a novel approach to sustain its growth and attract investors for its second fund: secondary sales. Instead of waiting for traditional exits like IPOs or acquisitions, SBVP opted to sell shares of its portfolio companies, demonstrating its ability to generate returns for investors and stand out in a competitive market. 🎤According to Dan Engel, founder and managing partner of SBVP, these secondary transactions have been a game-changer, sparking investor interest and bolstering the firm's credibility. By leveraging its recent successes, including a lucrative stake in sports-betting company DraftKings Inc.' acquisition of digital lottery app Jackpocket, SBVP seized the opportunity to return profits to its limited partners (LPs) and pave the way for its second fund. 💡Engel highlighted the challenges faced by young VC firms in raising subsequent funds, particularly amid a downturn in exit activity and heightened investor scrutiny. With traditional exit routes becoming increasingly elusive, the pressure is on for firms to demonstrate tangible returns and establish a track record of success. ✨"For us, secondary sales have been a game-changer. They've helped us return profits to our LPs and attract investors for our second fund," said Dan Engel. 💰For SBVP, the decision to pursue secondary sales was driven by the need to provide liquidity to LPs and validate its investment thesis in the eyes of prospective investors. By strategically offloading portions of its holdings in high-performing portfolio companies like Bark Technologies and Rad AI, SBVP not only generated substantial returns but also bolstered investor confidence in its ability to deliver results. ⚠Despite the complexities and potential stigma associated with early share sales, Engel emphasized the importance of prioritizing investor returns and seizing opportunities to unlock value for stakeholders. With a focus on profitability and transparency, SBVP remains committed to its mission of delivering sustainable growth and maximizing returns for its LPs. 🔍 "Returning profits to our investors is our top priority. By strategically selling shares, we're proving our commitment to delivering results and driving value for our stakeholders," added Engel. As SBVP continues to explore secondary transactions and expand its investor base, the firm stands as a testament to innovation and resilience in the face of market challenges. 🚀 ✅ Looking to raise capital for your #fund and increase the international pool of your LP #investors?   🤝 Need warm #LP introductions?   📝 Selling #secondaries to increase liquidity?   🧐 Looking for co-investments?   ▶ G+QUANT's link for inquiries and fund decks: https://lnkd.in/gjC_EuTE #VCInnovation #SecondarySalesSuccess #InvestorReturns #ValueCreation 

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A stroll through San Diego led me to Geppetto's, where a life-sized puppet and friendly staff turned me into an unexpected customer. 🌟This IS the magic of independent retail. 🌟 With consumer spending down, small businesses need innovative strategies beyond discounting to thrive without sacrificing profitability. Curious about how #indieretailers are navigating these challenges? Check out my latest article in Total Retail. #Retail #SmallBusiness #CustomerExperience #Innovation #IndependentRetail #SMB #boutiqueowner #retailer #fashion

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I’m not here to sugarcoat or sell dreams. We don’t do that at D'chica. We’re not the brand that’s going to give you some “everything is rosy” nonsense. We’re the brand that owns our craziness, wears our unconventional choices like a badge of honor, and isn’t afraid to lay the truth out. So, let’s get real, let’s get raw, and let’s talk business. Let’s be clear: this isn’t about advice or shortcuts. You can choose to skip it, but if you’re curious about the failures, fears, and chaos that built D'chica, stick around for the real story: 1️⃣ We don’t cater to all women. We cater to women who are young at heart (and if that’s crazy, then so be it). 2️⃣ We threw out 2,000 panties over one tiny flaw. Yeah, that happened. 3️⃣ We’re not scared of financial numbers—we’ve seen the reds and the greens. 4️⃣ We don’t hire all men. We hire women. We are biased when hiring. 5️⃣ Hiring the wrong agency? Oh yeah, been there, done that. 6️⃣ We don’t use celebrity faces. But do we have Celebs associated ? Hell Yeah, Its You. 7️⃣ People? They keep complaining—and no, we don’t always listen. 8️⃣ We got negative reviews on one of our best products, and we didn’t hide from it. 9️⃣ And yes, we’re sometimes lazy at customer service. I’ve stumbled, I’ve fallen, I’ve made mistakes that could have knocked us down for good. It’s been chaotic, crazy, and at times, utterly exhausting. But I’ve learned one thing: I want to run, I want to fly, I even want to fall….I just don’t want to stop. (Oh, look at me, channeling my inner Bunny from Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani! 😅) And you know what? I haven’t stopped. I won’t. And neither should you. If you’re ready to see the real, messy side of entrepreneurship—the side no one talks about—then hit that follow and stick around. Trust me, you won’t want to miss what’s coming next.

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I really enjoyed recording this episode of The Digital Industrial Podcast with Ty Findley. We talked about common misconceptions for deep tech, the "Why Now" for the category, and differences between investor diligence for deep tech and traditional tech. https://lnkd.in/eKtwjauu

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Founder Pro Tip: As you come up with your initial napkin idea...and before you invest a dime in prototyping a finished product... ...stop. Spend two days doing market research on Instacart, Walmart.com, Amazon.com, etc. to see if a major consumer brand (e.g. Starbucks, ConAgra, etc.) has already scaled your thing. ...Did they? ...Look again. Be honest... ...If so, just stop now (unless you are worth $100M+) because you are way too late to the market. Find another idea...work harder. I just watched someone on LinkedIn with a large national media platform proclaim he invented something that Starbucks spent millions developing 15 years ago, an innovation they already own. Oops. I feel bad, but nothing I can do now. The odds of independently originating a late idea are massive in today's over-supplied market. #business #startup #entrepreneurship

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Over the last four years, Act+Acre, Inc. has grown its subscription base from 15% to 60% with a mind-boggling 83% retention rate, all while expanding the business into 300 Sephora stores. We’re unbelievably stoked to kick off Season 3 of the Turning Pro Podcast with co-founder and CEO Colm Mackin to hear how he transitioned from a 14-year career in tax law to co-founding a multimillion-dollar brand disrupting the $90 billion global haircare industry. It all started at Paris Fashion Week when Colm’s wife, Helen Reavey - a hairstylist to stars like Alicia Keys and Harry Styles - noticed models struggling with damaged scalps. That ‘aha moment’ sparked a life-changing decision: Colm quit his job, raised $2.5M, and dove headfirst into building Act+Acre, a brand redefining beauty and wellness. In this episode, Colm reveals how: - Act+Acre scaled to being sold in 300 Sephora stores - They grew subscriptions from 15% to 60% of revenue in just one year - And why staying focused on a single venture is the ultimate power move - He also talks about the role of coaching and personal growth in managing a leadership team Key takeaways: Invest in Consumer Education: Since scalp care is still a relatively unknown concept, Act+Acre prioritizes educating its customers. Colm believes that raising awareness of scalp health’s impact on hair quality empowers consumers to make informed choices. Commit to the Main Thing: Colm had ideas for launching two other businesses but chose to double down on Act+Acre. “Even if those ideas did well, they’d only be where Act+Acre is now. Why not put everything into this one thing?” Invest in Coaching: Colm’s coach works with his entire leadership team, providing personalized support and fostering better communication. “It’s been a game changer for us,” he said. Listen to the latest episode here: YouTube: https://lnkd.in/e6EX6NZ6 Apple Podcasts: https://lnkd.in/eu_j8Hgs Spotify: https://lnkd.in/escg46uc Don't forget to subscribe to the pod to get notified when a new episode drops.

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The future of #commerce is already here! #socialcommerce and #C2M are the ways that younger generation prefer to shop! Super insightful breakdown below👇🏼

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Turn one event into 2.8+ million impressions? New case study w/ Vin Matano 🐝 and Demandbase out now! - Follow our DICE framework to maximize your event ROI so you don’t have to roll the dice with in-person content. D-esign I-deate C-apture E-dit - DESIGN your event content plan before the event. Factor the RSVP list, influencer partners, and key marketing messaging before the start time. This will inform the topic selection and shot planning during the event. The more homework you do upfront, the easier it is to hit a home run at the event. IDEATE on content topics and thoroughly prepare. Be intentional and formulate a concrete shooting plan. This can include video topics, storyboarding, branding, and questions for the participants. You want to focus primarily on execution during the event, so it’s key to get the preparation in order. CAPTURE your event in a versatile manner. Now that you have your content plan, you can focus on 1) DOCUMENTING the event and 2) CREATING original content at the event. You want a fair balance of both so you can produce versatile videos (short form, interviews, hype video, recap, long form) with original b-roll. EDIT your raw assets into usable content. Think carefully about how you want to distribute the content. Fast-paced short form is great for organic social while more cinematic shots can serve as promotional reel for future events and sponsor activation. DO NOT post anything raw. Create with audience enjoyment top of mind. - Watch the full video for a detailed breakdown. Hosting an event and interested in turning it into a content factory? Hit up EventShark 🦈

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Having a Cars and Capital event tomorrow in Southern California with Oren Klaff. If you want to join message me. https://lnkd.in/gDQ4D39u Oren Klaff Bridger Pennington #InvestorEvent #FamilyOffice #InvestmentOpportunity #CarlsbadEvent #PrivateEquity #WealthManagement #InvestmentConference #CapitalRaising #NetworkingEvent #IndustryLeaders #FinancialGrowth #InvestorsMeetup #WealthBuilding #BusinessGrowth #InvestmentForum

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For my Investors, Family Offices, and Film Entrepreneurs in Los Angeles: We're heading to Los Angeles October 11th -13th for a meetup and birthday celebration of one of our producers. You're welcome to come. Here's the link to RSVP: https://lu.ma/sc6plybi Hollywood Birthday Bash & Exclusive Film Investment Meetup ​I’m excited to announce a special two-day celebration in Hollywood for a dear friend whose team has produced over 100 films and TV shows, including the iconic Fast and Furious franchise. ​But this event is more than just a birthday party! We’re inviting investors and family offices for an exclusive opportunity to discuss our Film Investment Fund and the unique benefits of investing in the entertainment industry. ​Why Attend? ​Networking: Build meaningful relationships with top investors, producers, and key industry players. ​Investment Opportunities: Learn how our fund focuses on smaller-budget films that maximize equity returns while minimizing risk. ​Industry Insights: Hear firsthand from those who have successfully navigated the film business and discover why film and entertainment can be a smart investment choice. ​Creative Control & Financial Gains: Understand how to leverage tax incentives, distribution channels, and the digital landscape to boost returns. ​Join us for a celebration filled with Hollywood flair, great conversations, and the potential for exciting new collaboration

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Fuzzballs: A Proven, Sustainable Success in a Competitive Market. Fuzzballs is not just another cute brand—it's a thriving, sustainable, and rapidly growing brand that continues to outlast the competition. Over the years, we've had conversations with some of the biggest names in licensing. Interestingly, many of these potential partners initially passed on us, only to launch their own cute brands—only to see them land in bargain bins, forgotten within a year. The reasons behind their failures are clear. Despite the marketing efforts and industry resources poured into these projects, they missed what truly matters: understanding the market, the consumers, and the demand that Fuzzballs has cultivated. Our growth, our dedicated fan base, and our presence in retailers all speak to our staying power. While others struggled to make their mark, Fuzzballs has continued to thrive. We may move at a more deliberate pace with our micro team, but that’s exactly why we’ve been sustainable for years—because we grow with intention and insight. And the best is yet to come. As we look toward 2025, we are gearing up for our biggest product launches yet. Fuzzballs isn’t just a brand; it’s a proven formula for long-term success. Partner with us, and you'll join a brand that’s here to stay, with untapped potential waiting to be unlocked.

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