In partnership with

Estimated reading time: 9 Minutes

Hey Fearless Friend!

Today on Stay Fearless or Die Trying:

1. I asked Alex Snider, entrepreneurial advisor and Be Fearless Summit attendee her thoughts on the current landscape.

2. I have been using Grammarly for years now and want you to sound much better perfectly professional. Get 20% off Grammarly Pro here!

3. I need a favor! I’ve been working so hard to grow the Chief Swag Officer Instagram and would love for you to follow us here!

The Daily Newsletter for Intellectually Curious Readers

Join over 4 million Americans who start their day with 1440 – your daily digest for unbiased, fact-centric news. From politics to sports, we cover it all by analyzing over 100 sources. Our concise, 5-minute read lands in your inbox each morning at no cost. Experience news without the noise; let 1440 help you make up your own mind. Sign up now and invite your friends and family to be part of the informed.

Join for free today!

Meet Alex Snider

Alex Snider is a keynote speaker, strategic advisor, and podcast host. 

She advises founders, executives, and accelerators, and she’s the host of the Builders podcast. A consummate builder herself, Alex has worked across 4 continents, leading strategic planning and operational improvements for multinationals, multi-billion dollar divestments, and startup growth and exits.

Today, she leverages the connections, insight, and experiences she has gained to advise impact-driven business leaders and executive teams on building world-class companies with best-in-category performance and teams.

We connected after the Be Fearless Summit in 2024. Many emails and catch-up chats later, I was able to ask her about her experience and immediately knew I needed to share it with all of you.

Q: Raising money sounds like a huge deal for founders—what should we really know before giving away equity?

A: I think it is really important to be aware of options other than straight equity fundraising, especially in the early days. Until you’ve proven an idea in the market, investors are buying into you and an idea, which unfortunately isn’t worth much, so you end up giving away A LOT of your company for a LITTLE cash (diluting your ownership early and often). You take on complexity and more stakeholders which can be a lot of added work and stress, and puts you in a spotlight. Plus, it sucks, but as a female founder, you statistically will have a harder time raising capital. Not to mention, fundraising is a lengthy and heavy process for an unknown outcome that can take your time, energy and focus away from what your company needs to grow and flourish.

Of course, I’m not against equity. I advise founders on raises and pitches when the time is right and collaborate with accelerators. My point is, explore the different ways you can access the capital you need—there are a lot of great options that are less risky and leave your ownership intact.

Q: Managing money and keeping up with finances can be overwhelming—what are some go-to tools that actually make it easier?

A: Cash flow is the lifeblood of your company. And compliance is pretty important too! The right setup can make financial management and revenue tracking easier. Here are some great platforms tailored for startups:

• Mercury Bank: A fully online bank designed for startups, offering financial tools, credit-building options, and digital SAFEs (Secure Agreement for Future Equity).

• Plooto: A one-stop shop for accounts payable and receivable, built for fast-growing businesses.

• North One: A business banking app that integrates cash flow, payments, and budgeting.

• Stripe: A fast and simple way to accept credit card payments with integrations for most web platforms.

• Shopify: A household name for a reason—its platform is designed for easy and quick e-commerce setup.

Q: Not everyone is cut out for the startup grind. How can someone figure out if entrepreneurship is really the right path for them?

A: Entrepreneurship isn’t a ‘one size fits all’ journey. It’s an incredible rollercoaster, but building something from nothing isn’t the only alternative to traditional employment. I wish I’d known more about the options earlier in my career. Here are a few discussions that provide valuable perspective:

• The Financial Canvas with Boris Blum on The Entrepreneurs Forum Speaker Series, where we discuss the realities of entrepreneurship and overlooked alternatives.

• "So You Want to Be an Entrepreneur"—a PDF resource I shared with attendees of that talk.

• "Entrepreneurship Is Less Sexy & More Lonely Than The Internet Would Have You Believe…", a conversation I had with Karla, Outsourcing Guru and host of the None of Your Business Podcast.

Q: Networking can feel intimidating, but it’s so important. What’s the best way for founders to build real connections that actually help?

A: Connection is key, and Be Fearless is an incredible start. Find others who are doing or have done what you want and get in the mix! They might inspire you, guide you, hire you, or save you from some big hard lessons. Some major events offer great deals to support women in business, so always look for those opportunities.

Examples:

• Freelancing? Freelancing Females is a great community and resource on all things finding and managing freelance work

• Techie? WebSummit and Collision Conference both offer Women in Tech Tickets at 85% discount

Any final thoughts?

I hold two strong beliefs:

1. Entrepreneurship is a lot less sexy and often more lonely than we're led to believe.

2. Strategy and leadership work hand in hand to scale great organizations. You can have the best strategy in the world, but without leadership skills to execute it, you’ll fall short. Conversely, great leadership without a strategic roadmap produces equally underwhelming outcomes.

If you’re interested in hearing the adventures of real entrepreneurs (mixed in with some pragmatic expert advice), you can tune into my podcast BUILDERS with Alex Snider on Spotify, Apple, or YouTube. Each episode, I am joined by a guest to explore leadership beyond business acumen, diving into key concepts and tools as well as the personal transformation that comes with pursuing dreams and becoming a leader. You could also join The BUILDERS Club to get value, insights, tools, and new announcements straight to your inbox (No Spam, I promise!)

It was such a pleasure getting to pick Alex’s brain about her experience at the Be Fearless Summit and her thoughts on entrepreneurship as a whole. If you’re new here and you want to learn more about the Be Fearless Summit, check it out here. One of my favorite things about Be Fearless is that it continues to open my world up to new opportunities and amazing people!

^{SPONSORED BY}

Hey there, Trailblazers!

Navigating the world of entrepreneurship is no small feat, and effective communication can set you apart. That's where Grammarly comes in! Whether you’re crafting a pitch, drafting emails, or writing professional documents, Grammarly ensures your message is clear, confident, and credible. With real-time feedback and suggestions, you’ll polish your writing and impress managers and clients alike. Plus, you'll save precious time with seamless editing, allowing you to focus on what matters most—growing your business! Don't leave your writing to chance. Try Grammarly today and watch your business communication soar!

Click here for 20% off on Grammarly Pro!

Shop media lists + media kits here.

I have room to take on 2-3 more coaching clients this quarter. What does that entail?

I love working with aspiring or current founders who are struggling with tasks like how to start a podcast, how to find their niche, or how to find product market fit.

Reply to this email to get a one-on-one call with me to go over your ideas.

P.S. if you upgrade to premium below, you get a free media list in your inbox to email all of the producers and people in media you could ever dream of.

Subscribe to Premium to read the rest.