How to Get Funding for Your Business, Qualities of Successful Entrepreneurs, and Building the Damn Thing with Kathryn Finney

Black women have been the fastest-growing group of entrepreneurs in the US for the past few years with 17% of us in the process of starting new businesses. But in 2020—a record-breaking year for venture capital investment—less than 100 Black women raised $1 million or more for their businesses, which is very small in the VC world.

In this episode, I’m joined by Kathryn Finney, Founder and Managing General Partner of Genius Guild, a $20 million venture fund that builds and invests in scalable companies led by diverse founders. She's also the founder of the Duni fund, the founder and former CEO of Digital Undivided, the mastermind of the widely acclaimed project Diane Research, the author of Build the Damn Thing, and a Yale-trained epidemiologist.

Together, we discuss the ins and outs of Venture Capital and business funding as well as Kathryn’s expertise as a successful entrepreneur and her favorite wellness practices.

We Also Talk About…

• Seeing entrepreneurship as a tool that lets you live a creative life
• Focusing on executing an idea, not just the idea itself
• How not to waste $30k on a business
• The importance of knowing yourself and having a solid foundation as a leader
• Not waiting for permission from the entitled
• The differences between startups, small businesses, and hobbies

Resources:

• Black women are the fastest growing group of entrepreneurs. But the job isn’t easy— JP Morgan
• Build The Damn Thing: How to Start a Successful Business if You're Not a Rich White Guy by Kathryn Finney
• Visit Kathryn’s Website
• Submit Your Pitch to the Genius Guild
• Listen to the Build the Damn Thing! Podcast
• Follow Kathryn on Instagram
• Connect with Kathryn on LinkedIn

Sponsor:

• Open | If you’re looking for a mindful meditation, breath work, and movement app I can’t recommend Open enough. They have a beautifully curated collection of guided meditation, breath work, and movement exercises to support you in your practice. Try Open for 30 Days free. Visit open-together.com/**BALANCED.**

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