Social Currency with Sammi Cohen

Today Sammi unpacks the silent spectacle of The Row—Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen’s luxury label. Known for its “no logos, no advertising” ethos and a fiercely minimalist aesthetic, The Row has built its brand on mystique. But when a chaotic, viral sample sale hit New York this past October—drawing TikTok influencers and 9 hour+ lines—the brand’s carefully curated image suddenly looked less refined and more chaotic. Sammi breaks down The Row’s evolution from fashion-insider secret to full-blown cultural moment, dissects the breakup between The Row and their biggest fan, and asks: Can a brand built on exclusivity still grow without losing its identity? Or has The Row’s quiet luxury finally reached a volume it can’t turn down? Follow Sammi on Instagram  Subscribe to the Social Currency newsletter  Here’s what Sammi covers today: 00:00 The Row's Unique Luxury Approach 01:37 Early Days of The Row 04:21 The Row's Pricing Strategy and Market Impact 05:43 Sample Sale Insanity and 9 Hour Lines 07:22 The Breakup with Neelam Ahooja 10:05 The Future of The Row 12:27 How to Show Social Currency Some Love Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today, Sammi sits down with Jaclyn Johnson and Marina Middleton—the powerhouse duo behind Create & Cultivate. Long before every brand wanted a “community,” Jaclyn and Marina built one that actually mattered: a movement where founders, Fortune 500 leaders, and creators came together to build what’s next. After selling the company in 2021, Jaclyn stunned the industry when she bought it back—this time with Marina stepping in as CEO. In this episode, they share what it’s really like to sell and then reclaim your life’s work, how they divide power and make decisions as co-leaders, and the tightrope walk of balancing exclusivity at scale. They also get candid about the future of community, what makes people actually show up in a post-pandemic world, and whether virtual events are officially over.  Follow Sammi on Instagram  Subscribe to the Social Currency newsletter  Explore all Create & Cultivate events like their Supper Clubs (ATX on 3/13/2026 and LA 9/17/2026), ATX ATX Future Summit on 3/15/26 The World's Largest Festival for Women in Business 9/19/26 & 9/20/26 Here’s what Sammi covers with Jacyln and Marina: 00:00 Jaclyn and Marina’s Social Currency 02:25 The Evolution of Create & Cultivate Events 03:22 The Importance of Providing Value 06:05 How to Scale Intimacy  09:29 Monetization Strategies and Balancing Accessibility and Profitability 13:55 Marina’s Secret Sauce for Pitching Brands 18:30 BTS of the Create and Cultivate Sale 23:09 Reacquiring Create and Cultivate 25:29 Marina's Origin Story as CEO  27:04 The Secret Weapon of Being the Face of Your Brand 33:10 How Marina and Jaclyn Lead Together 37:20 Social Currency Corner 40:33 How to Show Social Currency Some Love Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today, Sammi uncovers one of the most iconic origin stories in tech: how a scrappy, chaotic startup from the late ’90s — PayPal — became the launchpad for a generation of founders who went on to build Tesla, LinkedIn, Yelp, Affirm, Palantir, SpaceX, and more.  Before they were billionaires or household names, Elon Musk, Peter Thiel, Reid Hoffman, Max Levchin, and the rest of the now-famous “PayPal Mafia” were just a band of stubborn twenty- and thirty-somethings coding through the night, fighting fraud in real time, burning millions a month, and trying to stay alive as the dot-com bubble exploded around them.  From a bitter rivalry between X.com and Confinity, to the explosive merger that created PayPal, to the legendary coup that ousted Musk while he was on his honeymoon, this episode charts the near-death moments, the brutal decisions, and the relentless ambition that forged Silicon Valley’s most influential alumni network. Sammi breaks down how their survival tactics became the blueprint for today’s startup culture — contrarian thinking, founder myth-making — and why the ripple effects of PayPal still shape tech more than two decades later.  Follow Sammi on Instagram  Subscribe to the Social Currency newsletter  Here’s what Sammi covers today: 00:00 The PayPal Origin Story 01:03 The X.com and Cofinity Rivalry  02:07 The PayPal Merger and Growth 02:38 16 Hour Work Days and Sleeping Under Decks 03:50 The Infamous Honeymoon Coup and Aftermath05:29 The PayPal Mafia Feature 08:23 The Legacy of the PayPal Mafia 11:33 How to Show Social Currency Some Love Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When the world shut down, Marina and Ricardo Larroudé hit go. Out of their Manhattan apartment, the former Teen Vogue fashion director and her financier husband built Larroudé—a shoe brand that went from zero to millions in sales in just a few years. In this episode, Sammi dives into how they turned job loss into rocket fuel, built their own factory in Brazil, and reinvented the luxury e-commerce playbook with a direct-to-demand model that’s shaking up the mid-tier market. The Larroudés also talk about the wild world of RTV (return to vendor), the innovative way they’re using pre-orders to keep prices low, and why they’re bullish on Brazil. Follow Sammi on Instagram  Subscribe to the Social Currency newsletter  Follow Larroudé Check out the Candy Pratts Price collab 00:00 Marina and Ricardo Larroudé’s Social Currency 02:05 Losing Their Jobs and Starting a Shoe Brand 04:47 Making Product Development Personal 08:48 Quality and Customer Satisfaction in D2C 13:05 Bootstrapping Then Friends and Family Rounds  27:28 Wholesale Pre-Payment Financing Strategies  29:21 The Wild World of Return to Vendor (RTV) 36:11 Being Bullish on Brazil 39:49 The Innovative “Direct-to-Demand” Model 43:34 Defining the Mid-Tier Shoe Market 51:11 Managing High Return Rates in the Shoe Industry 53:04 How to Show Social Currency Some Love Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hollywood is changing—and its future might be vertical. Today, Sammi dives into the explosive rise of “microdramas,” the ultra-short, ultra-addictive scripted shows that are pulling in billions and leaving traditional studios scrambling to survive. From Chinese-backed apps like ReelShort to Hollywood execs betting on AI-powered storytelling, this is the story of how 90-second episodes are out-earning blockbuster films and redefining what it means to be a creator. Sammi breaks down the psychology, the business model, and what this all says about our shrinking attention spans and the algorithmic future of storytelling. Follow Sammi on Instagram  Subscribe to the Social Currency newsletter  00:00 Microdramas, Big Plots 01:37 Microdramas vs. Traditional Hollywood 02:09 The Data Behind the Craze 05:14 YouTube vs. TikTok 07:22 The Business Model of Microdramas 10:30 Hollywood's Response  12:49 The Role of AI  17:07 Predictions on the Future of Entertainment 19:43 How to Show Social Currency Some Love Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gwen Whiting co-founded The Laundress, the luxury laundry brand that transformed washing clothes into a lifestyle statement. What started as a passion project funded by credit cards became a cult favorite—and eventually caught the attention of Unilever, which acquired the company for a reported $100 million. But the dream deal didn’t go as planned. In this episode, Sammi sits down with Gwen to unpack what happens after the acquisition headlines fade. They discuss the culture clash between indie entrepreneurship and corporate ownership, the painful unraveling of the brand following a massive product recall, and the gender dynamics that often shape who wins and who loses in big business. Gwen opens up about what it was like to watch her life’s work become a public crisis—and how she found the strength to start again. Today, she’s building her next act: The Fill, a home wellness company that blends her love of design, sustainability, and self-care. It’s a conversation about reinvention, resilience, and the real cost of success—and one that every founder, dreamer, or brand-builder needs to hear. Follow Sammi on Instagram  Subscribe to the Social Currency newsletter  Learn more about The Fill Here’s what Sammi covers with Gwen: 00:00 Gwen Whiting’s Social Currency  00:45 The Birth of a Premium Laundry Brand  02:42 Early Challenges of Scaling The Laundress  04:29 Innovating in a Stale Market  15:24 Scaling and Funding the Business  20:44 The Unilever Acquisition  28:27 Gender Bias in Acquisitions  29:04 Corporate Culture Clash  32:52 Product Recall and Acquisition Nightmares  42:22 Rebuilding and Innovating with The Fill  51:08 Kris Jenner’s Cleaning Line and Advice for Founders 55:24 How to Show Social Currency Some Love  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s episode is all about the billion dollar business built on a business model that defies every rule of traditional retail; they occupy buildings for just three months a year, hire around 50,000 seasonal workers, carry zero inventory for nine months, and somehow they're not just surviving— they are thriving. The business? Spirit Halloween, of course.  While most retailers are bleeding cash or shuttering entirely, Spirit has cracked the code on how to win in the age of e-commerce — by being deliberately temporary. Sammi unpacks how the brand turns ghost-town real estate into an asset, runs on a gig economy workforce, and creates an IRL experience that even Amazon can’t compete with. You’ll hear how Spirit’s seasonal strategy defies every traditional retail rule — and yet, earns over $1 billion annually. Plus, Sammi looks into the company’s bold new experiment: Spirit Christmas. Is it nostalgia or novelty fueling this growth? And what can other brands learn from Spirit’s spooky-smart playbook? Follow Sammi on Instagram  Subscribe to the Social Currency newsletter  Today, Sammi covers: 00:00 The Origin Story of Spirit Halloween 02:01 The Business Model Behind Spirit Halloween 02:36 The Seasonal Operations of Spirit Halloween 03:05 Real Estate Strategy 04:28 Inventory Management 04:53 The Workforce and Tear Down 05:53 The Billion Dollar Success 08:07 Spirit Christmas: A New Experiment 09:05 Lessons from Spirit Halloween 12:31 How to Show Social Currency Some Love Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In part two of her Restoration Hardware deep dive, Sammi pulls back the curtain on what’s really at the top of “Luxury Mountain.”  From the troubled Aspen expansion and RH’s sky-high ambitions in Europe, to eyebrow-raising governance decisions, failed ventures, and Warren Buffett’s very public goodbye— you have to wonder: is the RH foundation starting to crack? Sammi explores whether RH is still building the “LVMH of America” or if it’s become a masterclass in overreach, vanity projects, and vibes over fundamentals. Follow Sammi on Instagram  Subscribe to the Social Currency newsletter  Today, Sammi covers: 00:00 RH's Luxury Journey  01:11 Unveiling the Cracks in RH's Luxury Facade  03:10 International Expansion: A Grand Vision with Flaws  07:52 Warren Buffett's Exit: A Signal of Trouble  09:56 Legal Battles and Creative Controversies  12:20 Aspen Project: The Dream vs. Reality  14:13 Luxury Assets and Governance Issues  19:58 How to Show Social Currency Some Love The following content is based on publicly available information and includes personal opinions and analysis. It should not be interpreted as fact beyond what has been publicly reported, and it does not constitute investment advice. This podcast is not affiliated with or sponsored by any company mentioned. While all information is accurate to the best of the show’s knowledge at the time of recording, details may change after publication. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today, Sammi delivers the most requested episode topic yet: the lore of Restoration Hardware and its CEO, Gary Friedman. Gary Friedman is part visionary, part provocateur and part illusionist. He is the CEO who took a nearly bankrupt furniture company and convinced Wall Street that it was building the LVMH of America. And for a while everyone believed him. In this first installment of her two-part deep dive, Sammi covers the brand's quirky beginnings in 1979, Gary's journey from folding jeans at The Gap to turning around Restoration Hardware, to his ambitious plans of positioning Restoration Hardware as a luxury powerhouse. What followed was an internal relationship at the company, a resignation, an IPO, and more. In the second episode, coming next week, Sammi pulls back the curtain on how the view from “Luxury Mountain” may not be what it seems. Follow Sammi on Instagram  Subscribe to the Social Currency newsletter  00:00 Introduction to Restoration Hardware Lore 00:51 Disclaimer  02:35 The Origins of Restoration Hardware 03:46 Gary Friedman's Rise in Retail 05:54 Transforming Restoration Hardware 06:27 The True Crime Interlude 07:28 Rebranding and Supply Chain Innovations 10:22 The Gallery Store Concept 16:44 Operational Challenges and Solutions 20:43 Expanding Beyond Furniture 22:26 Financial Moves and Future Plans 25:04 What’s Next The following content is based on publicly available information and includes personal opinions and analysis. It should not be interpreted as fact beyond what has been publicly reported, and it does not constitute investment advice. This podcast is not affiliated with or sponsored by any company mentioned. While all information is accurate to the best of the show’s knowledge at the time of recording, details may change after publication. Restoration Hardware was not contacted for this piece. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Building something that lasts is rare. Building something that rewires an entire industry? That’s almost unheard of. But that’s exactly what Jim McKelvey did when he co-founded Square (now Block) with Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey.  Today, Jim and Sammi talk about how Square went head-to-head with Amazon and won, why Jim believes most startups don’t understand what real innovation looks like, and the surprising psychology behind a piece of tech being just difficult enough to capture attention. Plus, they dive into his more recent ventures, Invisibly and Fastrials, and what serving as an independent director at the Federal Reserve taught him about the intersection of policy and entrepreneurship. Plus, his hot take on— and role in— tipping culture. Follow Sammi on Instagram  Subscribe to the Social Currency newsletter  Here’s what Sammi covers with Jim: 00:00 Jim McKelvey’s Social Currency  01:17 How Square Evolved From A Personal Painpoint 02:37 That Time Jim Stripped in a Business Pitch 05:13 The Psychology of Attention in Business 19:50 How Square Beat Amazon 31:21 Understanding Human Behavior and Social Pressure 32:17 Lessons From Jim’s Time as a Federal Reserve Director 38:19 Why Invisibly Failed, Profitably  40:28 Jim’s Newest Venture and Revolutionizing Drug Trials 45:48 Advice for Entrepreneurs in Regulated Industries 53:33 Tipping Culture and FinTech Predictions 58:24 How to Show Social Currency Some Love Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if you never had to click “Buy Now” again—because your AI did the shopping for you? Today, Sammi breaks down the partnership between OpenAI and Stripe that could rewrite the rules of e-commerce. With the launch of the Agentic Commerce Protocol, AI can now recommend, purchase, and process transactions entirely within ChatGPT—no links, no websites, no Google searches. Sammi explains how this changes everything: from how we shop to how companies monetize, and why this might be the biggest existential threat Google has ever faced. Follow Sammi on Instagram  Subscribe to the Social Currency newsletter  Here’s what Sammi covers today: 00:00 Introduction to AI-Driven Shopping 00:46 The Agentic Commerce Protocol Explained 02:28 How AI Changes Shopping Behavior 03:59 The Impact on Google and Traditional Search 06:22 OpenAI's New Monetization Model 07:23 What It Means for Consumers and Merchants 08:49 The Future of AI Commerce Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From small studios to celebrity status, Tracy Anderson has built one of the most influential—and imitated—fitness empires in the world. Today, Sammi sits down with the fitness icon whose method has shaped some of the most famous bodies in Hollywood to peel back the layers of the brand, the science, and the woman behind it. Tracy opens up about the evolution of her signature method, the tension between exclusivity and accessibility, and what it really takes to maintain your signature style in a copycat industry. She also shares her candid thoughts on the rise of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs, the tech takeover of the wellness space, and why protecting intellectual property is the next frontier in fitness. Follow Sammi on Instagram  Subscribe to the Social Currency newsletter  Follow Tracy Anderson on Instagram Here’s what Sammi covers with Tracy: 00:00 Tracy Anderson’s Social Currency 00:22 The Myths Behind the Method 07:45 Spotting the Gap in the Fitness Industry 09:36 The Early Days of the Method 15:42 The Science Behind Her Signature Workouts and Partnering with Gwyneth Paltrow 24:53 Balancing Exclusivity and Accessibility 39:37 Copycats, Copyrights, and IP Protection 51:13 The Rise of Wellness Tech 52:21 Aging, Beauty, and Authenticity 1:01:18 How to Show Social Currency Some Love Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever built a business around something you love—only to realize it’s draining your passion? In this episode, Sammi shares her full founder story: launching a matcha brand during business school, fighting to scale it, surviving the 2020 lockdown, and finally deciding to shut it down. She breaks down the unglamorous side of entrepreneurship, the identity shift that comes with closing a company, and why walking away can sometimes be the ultimate power move. Follow Sammi on Instagram  Subscribe to the Social Currency newsletter  Today Sammi covers: 00:00 The Matcha Business Idea 03:15 Challenges and Lessons Learned 05:31 Pivoting to a New Strategy 07:56 The Impact of the Pandemic 08:48 Balancing a Day Job and a Side Hustle 10:16 Finding a New Passion 11:03 Shutting Down the Business 11:33 Reflections and Lessons 13:52 How to Show Social Currency Some Love Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Neil Parikh disrupted the sleep industry with Casper. Now, he’s using tech to disrupt one of the most pressing crises of our time: mental health. As co-founder of Slingshot AI, Neil is building tools to close the care gap in behavioral health, expand access to therapy, and still keep human connection at the heart of it all. He joins Sammi to chat about the buzziest topics in AI: ethics, regulation, job replacement, job creation and AI friends. Neil also shares advice for any founder who is thinking about raising capital; he’s raised VC money, bootstrapped a business, taken a company public, and taken a public company private. He’s seen every side of the table, and shares what he thinks is the best route for most early stage founders. Plus, Sammi and Neil dig into the ethics of AI in wellness, surprising user behavior Slingshot has observed with Ash, and why Neil thinks now is the moment for mission-driven tech. Follow Sammi on Instagram  Subscribe to the Social Currency newsletter  Talk To Ash Today, Sammi and Neil cover… 00:00 Neil Parikh’s Social Currency  01:02 The Rise of Casper and Revolutionizing Sleep 07:55 Challenges and Lessons from Taking a Company Public 12:59 Transition to Mental Health Tech 25:57 AI, Mental Health and Therapy 27:38 AI Friends and Anthropomorphizing AI 31:05 Surprising Insights From Ash 35:51 Monetization Strategy and Funding 37:15 Raising Venture Capital 41:37 Investing in Startups 43:07 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs 44:39 Regulating AI in Mental Health 48:36 Finding the Right Co-Founder 50:33 How to Show Social Currency Some Love Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today, Sammi unpacks the dramatic meltdown of the Jeep brand. Once a cultural symbol that survived world wars and recessions, Jeep’s market share has now plunged to historic lows. Behind the scenes: a billionaire family dynasty, leadership obsessed with margins over customers, and a string of decisions so poor they’ll likely become a business school case study. Sammi traces how Stellantis, the global auto conglomerate that owns Jeep, gutted the brand’s core identity while chasing luxury profits. From discontinuing the Cherokee to launching overpriced SUVs, Jeep alienated loyal fans and opened the door for rivals like Ford’s Bronco to steal market share. Add in trade wars, tariff shocks, executive turnover, and tone-deaf cultural moves, and the result is a corporate implosion of epic proportions. Follow Sammi on Instagram  Subscribe to the Social Currency newsletter 00:00 Super Bowl 2025: A Symbolic Commercial 01:08 The Rise and Fall of Jeep 02:12 Stellantis, the Agnelli Family and Carlos Tavares 05:45 Cultural Impact of Jeep's Decline 08:54 Sammi’s Predictions 11:50 How to Show Social Currency Some Love Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Julia Hartz co-founded Eventbrite in 2006 with a bold vision: make ticketing accessible for anyone creating an event. Nearly two decades later, she’s still at the helm as CEO, having taken the company public in 2018 and steered it through one of the toughest crises imaginable—the pandemic, when live events disappeared overnight. In this episode, Julia takes us behind the scenes of Eventbrite’s rise from scrappy startup to IPO, and the resilience it took to reinvent during COVID. She opens up about being co-founders with her husband, the challenges and rewards of leading as a solo CEO, and why she believes the future of gathering is brighter—and quirkier—than ever. Follow Sammi on Instagram  Subscribe to the Social Currency newsletter Start Sammi’s Eventbrite Challenge Today, Sammi and Julia cover… 00:00 Julia Hartz’s Social Currency  02:09 Julia’s Early Career in TV  05:05 The Meet-Cute That Led to Eventbrite  08:44 Startup Model  25:58 Work-Life Balance?  32:24 Unlocking Productivity by Knowing Yourself  35:19 Transition to Solo CEO  37:49 Taking Eventbrite Public  43:43 Navigating the Pandemic  47:45 The Resurgence of In-Person Events  52:21 Trends and Quirky Subcultures in Events  57:36 Social Currency Corner  01:03:31 Eventbrite Challenge Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why is everything from your Starbucks drink to your popcorn now enhanced with extra protein? With 61% of Americans increasing their protein intake last year, cottage cheese sales skyrocketing 20%, and Starbucks rolling out drinks with 36 grams of protein, it’s clear this isn’t a fad—it’s a seismic shift in how we eat. Sammi explores the cultural, medical, and social factors driving this change, including the influence of GLP-1 weight loss drugs, the “health halo” around protein, and TikTok’s viral food trends. You’ll hear how food companies are scrambling to keep up with demand, why Chobani is investing $1.2 billion into new facilities, and how celebrities like Khloé Kardashian and Zac Efron are cashing in on the craze. Follow Sammi on Instagram  Subscribe to the Social Currency newsletter  Here’s what Sammi covers today: 00:00 Why Protein is Everywhere 01:09 Stats That Prove the Craze 03:08 Medical + Social Drivers 05:00 Cottage Cheese Goes Viral 06:35 Starbucks Bets Big on Protein 08:20 Celebrity Influence and Innovation 10:55 Sammi’s Predictions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Maria Davidson is making construction procurement cool— and a billion-dollar business. After studying philosophy, politics, and economics at Oxford and a stint in venture capital, Maria set her sights on one of the least “sexy” industries imaginable: construction. What started with her hustling for meetings by showing up at job sites with pizza has grown into Kojo, a platform processing over $4 billion in material orders annually—and has broken fundraising records along the way. Since she spoke with Sammi, she’s raised an additional $10 million, for a total of $94 million raised, the most ever raised by a female founder in construction tech. In this conversation, Maria shares how her immigrant upbringing shaped her entrepreneurial drive, the scrappy tactics that got Kojo off the ground, and the leadership lessons that helped her scale in one of the most male-dominated industries. Whether you’ve never thought twice about procurement or you’re hungry for scaling lessons from a record-breaking founder, Maria will have you hooked. Follow Sammi on Instagram  Subscribe to the Social Currency newsletter  Keep up with Kojo Read the fundraising news since Sammi and Maria spoke Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From London’s 17th-century gentleman’s clubs to the meteoric rise of Soho House, private membership clubs have always been about more than cocktails and couches—they’re cultural status symbols. But as Soho House goes private again in a $2.7 billion deal, the playbook for exclusivity is being rewritten.  Today, Sammi unpacks the cracks in the traditional model and explores what’s next: hyper-niche communities, the luxury third-space economy, and the rise of the anti-club prioritizing privacy over paparazzi. Whether you’re eyeing a $10,000 waitlist or curious about how exclusivity itself is evolving, this episode reveals how the future of belonging is shifting from velvet ropes to invisible threads. Follow Sammi on Instagram  Subscribe to the Social Currency newsletter  Here’s what Sammi covers today: 00:00 What Is the Ultimate Status Symbol? 00:48 From Coffee Houses to Soho House 02:21 The $2.7B Soho House Pivot 04:14 Cracks in the Exclusive Club Model 07:36 Hyper-Niche Clubs, Luxury Third Spaces, and the Anti-Club Movement 07:59 Sammi’s Predictions  08:18 How to Show Social Currency Some Love Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From hand-bottling kombucha in an apartment kitchen to building a $500 million brand sold in tens of thousands of stores across the country, Vanessa Dew didn’t just build a company— she built a movement. As the co-founder of Health-Ade Kombucha, Vanessa turned a niche wellness drink into a household name, all while keeping true to the company’s artisanal roots. When Health-Ade was acquired in 2021, she had to redefine what success means in her second act as an advisor and investor. In this conversation, Vanessa opens up about the company’s scrappy beginnings, the hardest decisions she had to make while building her business, what it really feels like to exit, and how she’s now paying it forward by backing the next generation of founders.  Follow Sammi on Instagram  Subscribe to the Social Currency newsletter  Follow Vanessa  Here’s what Sammi and Vanessa cover today: 00:00 Vanessa Dew’s Social Currency 00:34 The Businesses Vanessa Almost Built 01:53 Kombucha Beginnings: Health-Ade’s First Batches 02:52 The Scrappy Startup Phase 04:33 From Farmers’ Markets to Grocery Shelves 09:52 Raising the First Round of Capital 13:22 The Rollercoaster of Funding Rounds 17:50 Co-Founders: Dividing Roles and Responsibilities 21:08 Scaling Without Losing Quality 23:44 Navigating Relationships Between Investors and Partners 25:58 Taking Health-Ade Nationwide 26:43 The Emotional Reality of Acquisition 28:21 Life After Exit and Redefining Success 35:49 Investing in Women Founders 38:48 Building Systems for Work-Life Balance 41:24 Where CPG Acquisitions Are Headed + Vanessa’s Advice Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices