Issue Highlights

THIS WEEKS MANTRAS

1. It is the best for myself & the company that I rest...REST is NECESSARY. 

I have been seeing many founders talking about taking some time off and scaling back, from myself, to my clients, to the founder of SELFMADE and I love that we are finally seeing a cultural shift in the business landscape that truly invites and promotes rest & wellness at the forefront of your business journey. One thing I always ask my clients is “yes…you want to achieve X…but how do you want to FEEL doing it”.

2. It takes 10 Minutes in the right room, taking a breath of fresh air or getting the right perspectives to change your life.

One thing my clients always leave saying and feeling is that they can’t believe ONE conversation with me absolutely opens up possibilities for success and growth that they never imagined possible. 10 Minute conversations with me have led founders to deploy strategies that 30x their growth or increase revenues by 600% in 3 months.

And I see the same results with my support system or even doing something as simple as getting away to achieve clarity and being in a place where I can zoom out on my business and reflect.

The greatest breakthroughs happen from the SIMPLEST of tasks and conversations. Never forget that.

Mood….

THIS WEEKS QUESTIONS:

1. What changes can I make to my work schedule this week which will allow for more creativity & freedom? ( PS. I have been working from the pool every day that weather permits, I have been switching 4am wakeups straight into work, for hanging out with the kids in the morning + working in the arvo and it has been such an awesome shift )

2. Am I spending my time on the activities that truly matter to me, or am I getting lost in busy work?

NEWSLETTER ROUNDUP:

 👉🏼WE LAUNCHED AN IN-KIND GRANT WORTH $500K  HERE.

👉🏼 VENTURA LISTINGS: Ready to Buy or Sell a Company? Subscribe to the Ventura Newsletter HERE.

👉🏼 HEADLINES TO WATCH: Listen to the Audio Headline Update HERE. 

👉🏼 STARTUPS TO WATCH: The AI-powered Wellness Apps we are loving + The Fashion Startup changing the way we shop forever.

👉🏼 STARTUP EDIT: Choosing ONE ICP is non-negotiable if you want to grow…and grow quickly.

👉🏼VENTURA EDIT: Maximising your Valuation Pre-Sale

PORTFOLIO UPDATES 

🦄 Upcoming Portfolio Company MyBum is FUNDRAISING!!! When 70% of the population struggle with this problem…and there is SEVERE need for disruption in the space…you would be KICKING yourself for missing out on this deal.

🦄 Upcoming Portfolio Company OISHOPP is also fundraising again!!! They are reaching the end of their runway from their initial raise and after being featured in Instyle, Yahoo, Brides & AOL + receiving insane initial traction ~ they are ready to go bigger and need your help to make it happen.

Respond back to this email with “PORTFOLIO” if you want more details!

🦄 We launched a $500,000 In-Kind Grant for Female Founders Industry Agnostically!!!! Super Super Excited to Announce this Grant. Read HERE. For More Info! 

🦄 VENTURA LISTINGS™ Has Moved!!! We have created your own dedicated Dealflow Newsletter & Now Offer a dedicated listings space in our SBA™ Community with more robust access and profiling options. Join the New Ventura Listings Space HERE. FOR FREE!!

Startup Edit: You MUST choose ONE ICP if you want to scale to $1M QUICKLY & SIMPLY.

Quickly & Simply are the keywords here…you do not HAVE to do anything you do not want to do in business…HOWEVER…if you want daily sales and inquiries to feel simple and have customers convert quickly… You need to choose ONE ICP till you hit the $1M mark and have established STRONG product market fit.

Most of you THINK you have a clearly defined ICP but then come to me wondering why you are not making as many sales as you would like, as quickly as you would like and 8/10 times it is because you STILL have 2 - 3 ICPs instead of one ONE.

There's also a common misconception that ICPs are about creating these profiles with names and pictures and what they eat for breakfast each morning…or it is primarily about demographics—age, income, location, and so forth.

However, this is NOT a clearly defined ICP at all and unfortunately, you have been lied to by today’s latest marketing gurus…

What Truly Drives a Strong ICP 👉🏼

A robust ICP is not defined by demographics but by a deep understanding of the psychological and emotional factors that drive your ideal customers' behaviour. To build a strong ICP, you MUST go beyond superficial characteristics and dive into the core transformations your target customers need, their frustrations, desires, and the kind of content and language that resonates with them.

Key Elements of a Strong ICP 👇🏼

1. CORE TRANSFORMATIONS:

   The VERY first thing you need to do is to Identify the key transformations your product or service enables. What significant changes do your customers want to see in their lives or business? Alot of founders we talk to have a list of 100 different transformations that their offers provide which is great to have…but what now need to do is choose the top 3 - 5 that matter MOST to your consumer.

2. CORE FRUSTRATIONS:

   There WILL BE shared frustrations across your entire ICP…if there are not…something has gone severely wrong. WHAT are those shared frustrations? What are the KEY pain points your customers face that your product or service can alleviate? What are they experiencing? How do these frustrations manifest in their life, business or relationship? Of course, there could be 100 things your ideal customers are experiencing, but what are the CORE and most important ones for you to tap into?

3. INTEREST, ASPIRATIONS & DESIRES:

   What are your ideal customer core aspirations and desires that you can lean into authentically? Who are you trying to call in? What do they care about? What do they like? What are your shared interests? What cultural interests do they have? What areas of culture can you link into your content to speak to them in a way they care about and understand?

4. BUYERS TYPES:

   Now typically you have ONE core ICP & Target Buyers Type HOWEVER…where your segmentation occurs is in the different business types because different customers although they all fit your ICP will likely buy differently. So you need to understand their Motivations, buyer types and purchasing behaviours so that you can rotate your messaging accordingly.

5. CONTENT & NATIVE LANGUAGE:

   The content your ICP consumes and the language they use… are critical in shaping your communication strategy. Do they prefer technical jargon or simple, straightforward language? ( key hint* everyone prefers simple language when consumer content but there are KEY ways to lean into jargon effectively ) Are they drawn to in-depth case studies, or do they engage more with bite-sized tips and quick wins? What LANGUAGE do they use? Do you also use that same language in your content and sales scenarios?

For startups aiming to scale to the million-dollar mark, having a single, well-defined ICP is crucial. Spreading your focus across multiple market segments too early can lead to diluted efforts, making it challenging to gain traction in any one area which is of course a problem when you are trying to make sales. ( It is entirely counterintuitive )

Instead, focusing on one core ICP allows you to tailor your messaging, product development, and marketing strategies more effectively which means more sales more quickly and more simply than ever before.

SO WHY…Do you still want to hit multiple target market segments EVEN THOUGH you know you shouldn’t….

• Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) “If I sell multiple offers & speak to multiple people…then I will make more sales because I am speaking to more people”: Many founders worry that by narrowing their focus, they'll miss out on potential customers in other segments. However, it is a tale as old as time…if you sell to everyone, you sell to no one. YOU WILL be able to sell to that market and sell that serve or product you want to sell SOON! Stop trying to do everything today! You could be building this business for decades…make decisions that allow you to stay around that long!

• “My market is too small, there is no one else to sell to”: Bull shit… I have NEVVERRR met a single female founder that has truly hit market saturation. There are ALWAYS other factors at play which is why you are seeing stagnant sales. You have a TAM of $2B and you are telling me you are barely making 50k - 100k months…no ~ we need to figure out what the underlying problem is and I can almost guarantee that if you refined your ICP and went all in on them…you would 100x your sales.

• “I need to scale quickly and Investors are telling me I need to go faster + diversify…”: I absolutely understand the pressure and temptation to scale quickly by targeting multiple segments, but this often leads to scattered resources and inconsistent brand identity, unclear messaging etc which ultimately leads to SLOWER growth. You cannot fall prey to the pressure and you have to laser focus on doing the things that you know drive sales + market share.

• "I’m concerned that by narrowing my focus, I’ll end up alienating other potential customers who might have been interested in my product." Narrowing your focus doesn't mean alienating potential customers; it means attracting the right customers with a tailored message that resonates with them DEEPLY ie. hello raving & loyal fans + advocates.

• “Choosing one segment feels like putting all my eggs in one basket, and I’m not sure that’s the safest strategy." While it may feel risky to focus on a single segment, it’s actually a more efficient strategy for growth at least in the beginning. When you concentrate on one target market, you can refine your product, marketing, and messaging to serve that segment exceptionally well, leading to a stronger market presence and customer base. Once you've achieved success and a solid foundation with your primary ICP, you can then explore expanding into other segments. Diversifying too early can dilute your efforts and hinder your ability to gain traction in ANY market which will be the biggest risk you take.

Before diversifying into new markets or expanding your ICP, it's essential to establish a strong foothold with your primary target audience. Once you've built a million-dollar company by deeply serving one ICP, then—and only then—should you consider expanding. Even then, the focus should be on how to serve your core ICP longer and more deeply, perhaps by diversifying your product or service offerings to meet their evolving needs.

Alot of the time founders don’t know where to start when it comes to figuring all of this out & often times need help refining their profile from 3 to 1 and if that is you…

Join SBA™ Today or Respond Back to this email to find out how you can work with me this week!

Startups On Our Radar

These startups are rewriting the way we approach accessible mental wellness as entrepreneurs and we are all here for it.

Let’s face it—building a business is ALOT and mental wellness often takes a back seat. But fear not, because two startups, MyndAI and Eve Coach, are here to help entrepreneurs not just survive but thrive.

MyndAI: Your Pocket Therapist with a Tech Twist

Imagine having a “therapist” in your pocket, who doesn’t judge you for binge-watching a season of Succession instead of working on your pitch deck...and INSTEAD helps you overcome the mental blocks you are experiencing. MyndAI, the app that’s taking mental health support to the next level. MyndAI uses artificial intelligence to provide personalized mental wellness support. It’s like having a chat with a wise friend who always knows the right thing to say. Whether you’re feeling the pressure of startup life or just need a quick pep talk, MyndAI is there to guide you through your day, one mindful moment at a time.

This isn’t just an app—it’s a revolution in how we approach mental wellness. MyndAI is accessible, intuitive, and designed with the busy entrepreneur in mind. So, when you’re knee-deep in spreadsheets and your brain is screaming for a break, MyndAI is the friendly nudge you need to keep your cool.

CHECK OUT MYND HERE.

Eve Coach: Your AI Stress Whisperer

If MyndAI is your go-to for general mental wellness, Eve Coach is the specialist you turn to when work stress hits hard. Eve is an AI stress coach, designed to guide you through those intense, anxiety-inducing situations that crop up in your professional life. Whether you're dealing with a tough client, a challenging project, or just the daily stress of running a business, Eve offers practical advice and support to help you stay calm and collected.

Think of Eve as that calm, collected mentor who knows exactly what to say when you’re on the verge of a meltdown. She’s not just about managing stress; she’s about helping you understand and navigate it, so you can emerge stronger and more resilient.

CHECK OUT EVE HERE.

Both MyndAI and Eve Coach are changing the game when it comes to balancing work and mental wellness. They understand that while entrepreneurship is demanding, your mental well-being is non-negotiable.

So whether you need a daily dose of mindfulness or specialized stress management, these startups have got your back, ensuring you can build your business without burning out.

Ready to prioritize your mental wellness? These two are the tools you need to keep your mind as sharp as your business acumen.

OUISHOPP is absolutely CHANGING THE GAME when it comes to the way we shop online! There have been reports after reports talking about how consumer behaviour is leaning more and more toward social shopping experiences, but whilst we have the in person elements of those locked down…digital shopping still leads majority of the way we shop…and yet there is no solution.

Gone are the days of endless, lonely scrolling through online stores. OuiShopp allows you to create or join live shopping sprees with up to 10 friends, where you can explore different stores, suggest items, and share recommendations in real-time. It’s like having your friends right next to you, even if they’re miles away. The app’s screen-sharing feature lets you see exactly what your friends are shopping for, making the experience as interactive as an in-person shopping spree.

How many times have you paused mid-checkout, unsure if that dress really suits you or if those shoes are worth the splurge? With OuiShopp, you can send items into your spree chat to get instant feedback from your friends. No more second-guessing or regretting purchases—get the advice you need, when you need it.

BUT as much as I am OBSESSED with these guys from the consumer lens…this app is ALSO another amazing tool for creators to revolutionise the way they connect with and sell to their audiences!! Think Shopmy or LTKI buy on steroids and far more personal.

The platform allows influencers to host live shopping events with their followers, showcase products in real-time, and even get featured on the Discovery Feed to attract new audiences. It’s a win-win: influencers get more visibility and higher commissions, while followers enjoy an engaging, interactive shopping experience.

So, next time you’re gearing up for an online shopping spree, why not invite your friends along? With OuiShopp, you’re never shopping alone.

HEADLINERS TO KEEP TABS ON:

• Call her Daddy Leaves Spotify for an $125M deal with SiriusXM HERE.

• Acqui-hire is more Lucrative than you think ~ Getting acquired and being hired is much more advantageous and outright a better option than shutting down and needing to find a role elsewhere. Read more HERE.

• Linktree Acquires Aussie Social Media Scheduling Startup “Plan” HERE 

• Education Industries as we know it is getting an upgrade & I have been pushing for this for years. HERE. We start here & the next development will be Hy-Brid Daycare centres where centres will have all of the bonuses of daycares ie. playgrounds, certified carers, chefs, education programs, socialising etc BUT with the ability for Parents to be involved in the fun!

• From CCO to CO-CEO…Emma Chamberlain is moving up…but is this the move she wanted to make? We will see HERE.

• Learn more about navigating IP & Company Valuations for Consumer Brands HERE.

• Allbright acquires Everywoman HERE.

• What female founders can do to raise money now & forever more HERE.

LISTEN TO THIS WEEKS EPISODE OF THE NEW EDIT OVER ON SPOTIFY HERE.

M&A Edit: Maximising your Business Value before the Sale.

As you consider selling your business, one of the most critical steps you can take is to maximize its value before you put it on the market. The good news? It’s never too late OR too early to start. By making strategic improvements now, you can significantly increase the attractiveness of your business to potential buyers—and, ultimately, secure a higher sale price SO…Let’s dive into some actionable steps you can take to ensure you’re getting the most out of your exit.

Want to read the rest of this Edit? Join the Ventura™ Deal Maker Newsletter HERE. where we democratise and demystify the process of acquisitions from start to finish ~ making purchasing your first company, easier and more straightforward than ever before.

.Disclaimer:

This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or legal advice. Always consult with a professional advisor before making any financial or legal decisions related to mergers and acquisitions. 

JOIN SBA™ TO PREPARE YOUR COMPANY FOR ACQUISITION ( WHETHER YOU ARE A BUYER OR A SELLER )