#9 The Female Consumer as Muse – How She Guides Susan Lyne at BBG Ventures

Broadmic Startup Shortcuts

Our guest today has a “golden” resume, notably for the ease with which she crossed the Internet 2.0 digital divide, while at the helm of some of the largest brands in media, commerce and consumer products – Disney, ABC, Gilt and AOL. Susan Lyne is now founder and president of Built by Girls Ventures, aka BBG Ventures, a corporate VC fund investing in early stage, female-led businesses with consumer, tech-enabled products.

In this fireside chat, Susan talks about “why the time is now” to invest in female founders, a conviction born out of decades of observing women’s powerful role as consumers, yet she points to a disturbing disconnect: the still “shockingly low” amount of VC $$s being invested in female-led companies. You’ll hear what she has to say about… how to look for mentors, whether it makes sense to go for VC $$s or not, and why you may be shooting yourself in the foot if you are a solo founder. Listen if you want to hear Susan Lyne’s unique blend of inspiration and practical wisdom for today’s “happy warrior.”

Notes

Female Founders Outperform Their Male Peers First Round

Lola Tampons

Media Redef

NYT Morning Briefing

Re/code

theSkimm

The Wright Brothers by David McCullough, iBooks

Cheerful Money by Tad Friend, iBooks

Additional Reading

Why Women Entrepreneurs Need to Be More Cocky by Susan Lyne, Inc.

The F-Word: What Chelsea Handler and I Have in Common by Susan Lyne, LinkedIn

Why The Force Will Be With Women Entrepreneurs In 2016 by Geri Stengel, Forbes

Two Women Bosses Reveal the Most Insane Things Said to Them at Work by Betty Lui, Inc.

The Growing Trend of Firms Investing Only in Women Founders by Steven Loeb, Vator

Female founders grab record VC deal share—but still just 18% by Joanna Nolasco, Pitch Book

Guest bios & transcripts are available on www.broadmic.com.