- If you close your eyes and
think about your future,
what do you really want?
- I'm just so excited about
this.
Side Hustlers.
- I am a corporate compliance
officer.
It's just not where my passion
lies.
to be multi-million dollar
companies.
- Navigating through the
difficult times is what business
is all about.
- This is business, baby.
- Oh, yeah. It's tough.
- I love seeing women come
together and execute a plan
and a vision, especially when
it's helping other women.
- Everything is on the line
right now.
- I just can't let it die.
I'm, I'm too emotionally
invested.
I'm too financially invested.
- You're actually doing it.
You're gonna turn your side
hustle into your main hustle.
- I have landed in New York
City.
- The first thing I'm gonna need
to do is crisis management.
- I just don't see this
partnership
working out right now.
- I would like to invest
$100,000.
- Everything is fine. -
Everything is not fine.
You're in a comfort zone
that's k*lling your business.
The only thing you can't do is
just give up.
♪ You better do it like a girl.
♪
Side Hustlers.
♪ I've been waiting for this
moment ♪
♪ The time is now ♪
♪ I'm feeling new ♪
BOTH: Hi!
- Ashley. It's so nice to meet
you.
- Hi, how are you? Nice outfit.
- Thank you. - I love you today.
My name is Emma Grede, and I'm a
serial entrepreneur.
I've set up numerous businesses,
so I know
running your own business or
being an entrepreneur
is very challenging and very,
very competitive.
- I'm Kristian. - So nice to
meet you. Kristian.
How are you?
And that's why we need to
surround ourselves
with the best people possible.
♪ Our time is now. ♪
- You can put your bag outside.
Let's go back to the buffet.
We've got food and drinks.
[festive music playing]
Hi, hustlers.
My name is Ashley Graham.
I am a mama.
I'm a model, an investor,
an author just to name a few.
If these businesses and founders
have the potential that we think
they do,
Emma and I are willing to put up
a serious investment to make
that happen.
- There's nothing better than a
group of women
getting together to talk about
business.
I love it.
made a name for herself as a
powerhouse entrepreneur.
And I admire that so much out of
her.
She is an amazing woman.
- This is so cool.
I'm excited to get into
everybody's business today.
Literally and figuratively.
I have been obsessed with Ashley
Graham
She actually invested in a
company called Knix,
which is worth, like, half a
billion dollars.
- I was working on a book and I
was, like, trying to write the
chapters.
I'm like, "I'm not a book writer
person."
So I said, "You know what, I'm
just gonna get my message out
by building a brand."
If the investors choose Holy
Water,
I've had a million crazy ideas
and different brand ideas and
business ideas.
I've always, like, kind of knew
there was something in me
and a little bit of pixie dust.
- [laughs]
- Tell me what, what do you do?
- I own a food truck.
- Oh, that's awesome.
- And you came so that we all
know exactly who you are, no
messing around.
- Yep.
- It's the sign of a girl with a
real side hustle.
- That's me.
This is stepping out of my
comfort zone 100%.
or they know more, so it's
intimidating.
[indistinct chatter]
What do you both do for your day
job and how
do you manage just everything?
- I don't go to sleep. - And
there you go.
- Tell us about your business. -
Yes.
- Premium pre-washed undies
for emergency or every day.
- Smart.
Right?
And getting their feedback.
It's such an amazing
opportunity.
- Welcome to
- [all cheering]
- Wow. I have to say, it is so
exciting
to be in a room with so much
incredible entrepreneurial
talent.
I can just feel the energy.
- [all cheering]
- All of you have a side hustle
that you are
passionate about growing and
making it into
your main hustle so you can go
and quit your day job.
- Did you know that less than
two percent of women-owned
businesses
get VC funding?
And even less if you look at
Black-owned businesses
or those founded by women of
color.
- Well, it is time to change
that stat.
- [all cheering] - Yes.
That part.
ASHLEY: And we are really
passionate
about supporting women
entrepreneurs and helping more
female founder companies
grow to be multimillion dollar
companies.
Can I get an amen?
- Amen. - Amen.
EMMA: So today
you guys are gonna get to pitch
your side hustle to us.
- And we are gonna choose
some of you to mentor.
But not all of you.
ASHLEY: We really want to feel
the full potential of your
hustle
and see what all the
opportunities are for your
growth.
And at the end of this process,
we will all have some important
decisions to make.
- We have to decide if we're
going to make an investment in
your company.
- And you have to decide if
you're going to quit your day
job.
- If you're gonna turn your side
hustle into your main hustle.
We're looking for ideas,
clear vision, innovation,
and potential for huge growth.
- We're also looking for
partners that have
the willingness to learn.
EMMA: And, ladies, what you have
to remember is, it's not just
about the numbers for us.
We are investing in you.
ASHLEY: And we've teamed up with
Ally,
a leading digital financial
service company
to provide resources as you work
on your relationship
with money and your customer
strategy.
- So Ashley and I are gonna be
just over there in the living
room
and we're going to meet with
each of you one by one.
- [all cheering]
- I am getting so nervous right
now, to be completely honest.
- Kind of how I'm feeling, also.
This moment's finally here.
- I'm, like, nervous for them.
I remember pitching. - The first
time
I, uh, asked someone for money,
they laughed at me.
[laughs]
- How long have you had the
truck for?
- Uh, we started well, we
started as a pop-up in 2019.
Seven days out of the month on
the truck.
It's like I get off of one job
and I'm in my car changing,
taking off my shirt and
changing, get to the next event.
They're like, "How you do it?"
I'm like, "I don't know."
[laughs] But I've been doing it.
I brought food.
- We love to eat! - Oh!
We got some food, thank you. -
Some food.
And an amazing sauce.
- The menu. - Amazing.
I love that.
ASHLEY: "Chicken Chops N' Kool
Aid."
My side hustle is Chicken Chops
N' Kool Aid.
We still have to make that other
Kool-Aid, too.
I would want to do the blue
raspberry, but
I don't know if that one came in
yet.
I am co-owner with my children's
father,
Uh, we need to make the kids
something to eat
'cause they're hungry. - All
right.
Soraya, London?
Don't forget to take your
homework.
And get all you guys' stuff
together.
so I have to get them to school
and ready and so that I can get
to work on time.
And it's just not cutting it for
me anymore.
- Yes. How can I help you?
My kids are looking at me to
give them the world and be able
Growing up, my mom was a young
mom,
and she lost her mom at 16.
And she had a one-month-old
baby.
So my mom she got lost.
I remember my mom would tell me,
like, her house got raided.
She said, I used to have to take
you in the bathroom with me
just to get high because you
wouldn't stop crying.
And I'm like, that was enough.
Having kids, I couldn't imagine
leaving my kids.
And being in that environment.
We're around drugs.
We were set up for failure,
but
I'm not gonna fail my kids.
ASHLEY: So what did we order
today?
- So today I brought
Southern fried chicken with our
sweet fire sauce.
- I'm getting in there.
- Uh, can you make me one, too,
Emma?
I am listening. I'm actively
listening.
We're Southern fried chicken
with a twist.
- I'm telling you, that twist is
good.
- We have special recipes that
go back from
years and years, family recipes
from, uh, Ma Dukes.
from stage four lung cancer. -
I'm sorry.
- We got to keep the memory
alive, you know?
She wanted to leave this to her
grandchildren,
which are my children and I'm
gonna I want to leave that to
my grandchildren.
- Are you making the sauce at
home?
- Yeah. Yes. ASHLEY: In your own
kitchen?
- So wait a minute, do you want
to create
a brand with the sauce or do you
want to scale the food truck?
- So I want to do both.
I don't know about you, but I
like making money while I sleep.
You know, getting it put in
stores
and put in that retail and
every
being shipped all around the
world is a no-brainer.
EMMA: Do you have an idea of
where you would even start?
LESHEKA: I don't come from a
background of people that
invested.
There's no one in my life right
now that I can
go to and mentor me to help me
to get to that next step that I
need to take.
And I know with one of you being
my mentor, it'll get me there.
- I'm really excited. I need
some of that in my fridge.
- Thank you so much. - It was
amazing to meet you.
- Thank you. You, too. - So good
to meet you. - Good luck to you.
- Thank you. EMMA: Thank you,
love.
- I think we need that chicken♪.
- Yeah, can you put some extra
sauce?
- I just like it a little
spicier.
- I'm gonna do this for you.
- Ah, mm.
Seriously. Mm-hmm. - That's some
nice chicken.
- This really is so good. - Her
sauce is good.
But there's still a little heat,
no?
- Mmm, I ate it. I ate it just
fine.
- [laughs]
KRISTYN: I'm nervous,
honestly, because I feel like
it's more conversational-based.
If you're nervous, they can
sniff it off of you.
that I've done in the past.
I've already done it once, and
it was not good.
ASHLEY: How are you? -
in what I'm doing.
EMMA: "Crate Away."
So, your business is a crate.
- We have reinvented the pet
crate.
I partnered with biomedical
engineers as well as aerospace
engineers.
We are the lightest-weight, most
compact pet crate in the market.
- Is it easy to assemble?
ASHLEY: Wow. Whoa. - Oh, that is
easy.
This is the prototype. So
where's the real deal?
- So that's where I need your
help. [chuckles]
- You haven't sold this yet.
- So, no, we're preproduction.
So we only debuted three months
ago.
- Whoa.
- You haven't sold this yet?
- So, no, we're preproduction.
So we only debuted three months
ago.
- Whoa. - Yeah.
EMMA: How much money do you need
to get this going?
- To get the injection molds, I
need $150,000.
We have the manufacturers lined
up, ready to go.
I just need that check to push
this forward.
- Okay, just tell me, how much
are you gonna sell it for?
- We are going to sell it for
$250.
The competitors are $700
to $1,300 for a size-large
crate.
- Really? Wow. - But you're that
much lower.
- That much lower, that much
more innovative and that much
better.
- What are you gonna do if you
don't get the money?
- I'll get the money.
- Right answer. - I like that.
- Me, too. - I really do.
- You did a really good pitch. -
Yeah.
KRISTYN: Thank you very much. -
I want to get a dog now.
- [laughs]
ANGEL: So, how are you feeling?
- We don't have all the answers
in the world,
but, like, we know our sh*t.
- You did so many retail orders
this week,
and it kind of makes me think
that
we do need to pick up more
product, for sure.
- I'm Rebecca. - I'm Valerie,
And the name, it stands for
Regenerative International
Female.
We have super comfortable,
high-performing
We were best friends at first
sight.
It was like partners in crime.
Bonnie and Clyde.
She's definitely Bonnie, I'm
definitely Clyde.
We're actually having an event
on August 12th.
We're gonna get influencers
together and other brand
founders.
- Rif is very personal to us
because it's like a reflection
of our both of our wellness
journeys.
I've experienced miscarriage in
my life, and I've experienced
hormone imbalances.
I think that's such a huge
problem in the feminine care
space.
They're saying, "Oh, yeah, 100%
organic cotton," but, like, with
an asterisk
where it's like polyethylene,
that's microplastics.
You know, 100 billion
nanoplastics can get shed into
my uterus every cycle,
you know, and, like, there's no
research
on, like, what that long-term
effect is gonna have.
I'm not okay with that, and I
think that there's, like, a
better way to do it
that's more holistic, that's
better for the planet,
that, you know, is better for
our bodies.
you know, her reproductive
cycle, like, that
game-changing.
EMMA: Look at that packaging.
Beautiful.
- So, we launched with our
period care.
- There are so many other things
like this in the market right
now.
What makes you guys different?
- So we're the first company to
make period care out of hemp
fiber.
And we really started this brand
because five years ago, I had a
miscarriage,
and I was in my 20s and just
wondering, like,
"Why am I going through all
these hormone imbalances and all
these issues?"
and I started to think about my
reproductive health.
So what we do at Rif is we go
beyond organic.
Sustainable, regenerative and
really just focused
on the entire reproductive
health cycle.
I think that we're also gonna be
pushing forward
an evolution in period care.
- Amazing. ASHLEY: This was a
great pitch.
EMMA: Your product is really
great.
All right, so let's actually,
like, get down to brass tacks.
How much are you selling at the
moment?
Give us an idea of the business.
- In the first year, we made
$200,000.
So we were able to generate
that, and then, are projecting
double that
by the end of the year, and
hopefully, we'll be
- That's some great growth
there.
- Yeah, like we're our
month-over-month growth is about
30%.
ASHLEY: What's been the problem
from taking it
from where you are now to mass
market?
- I think it's just having to
split our time between, like,
you know, our main hustles and
our side hustles.
It's difficult, you know, we
both have kids.
So we were pregnant, actually,
at the same time.
And then, I'm having another
one, so I'm like,
"Let's just do it all." [laughs]
- Thank you, Rebecca. Thank you,
Val.
I love the hemp. - I love that.
They really, really
have a plan. - Mm-hmm.
- They know what they want to
do.
- I think it went really well.
As soon as I got up there, all
of my nerves went away.
And they asked really good
questions. ALUNA: All right.
Good for you guys. - Thank you.
GRACEANN: Cheers.
Ugh, okay. This is so exciting.
- Yeah. - So, we're ready.
We're gonna show them.
- Okay.
There you go. - Ooh.
[laughs] That's fun.
- And we are the cofounders
of
BOTH: Alta Gracia Holy Water.
- These just came in today. -
What?
- Okay. One, two and - And
BOTH: Ooh.
- I was at this festival in
Mexico,
and so, I just kind of, like,
had like, this little epiphany.
- Billion-dollar brand idea
just, like, plopped into my
head,
and I think, "You want holy
water."
- Hi.
- We brought some vibe with us.
This is not our product, but we
just like to have high vibe.
- I'm loving your two's vibes.
Look at this.
- Well, we are making Holy
Water, so if you didn't get
the message.
Aww. - Is it blessed?
- No, no, you bless your own
water.
We want to send a positive
message with every can,
and to remind people of their
own divinity
and they have everything that
they need within them.
- What is your background?
- 30 years working on the
biggest brands on the planet.
- In marketing? - In marketing.
We met a year ago dancing.
We'd go to all these music
festivals,
and we'd have all this really
boring,
uninspired water that would
completely hijack the vibe.
Like this. - Like this. So I'm
wearing this.
This is what I wore to
Coachella. I'm given a bottle
like this.
Just, like, they didn't dress up
the bottle.
Vibe check denied.
It's bringing me down. -
Everything down. [imitates whir]
- So we decided to build
something that would fit our
vibe.
So these are our prototypes.
- How much does it cost to make
a can of Holy Water?
- Well, we have our water source
that can dropship with Amazon,
has deals with Walmart.
They sell cases, not cans.
This would cost two dollars at
7-Eleven.
- Where's the water? I need to
taste this.
- It's the water is coming
from the Great Lakes,
an aquifer in the Great Lakes.
[whimsical music plays]
- So this is like, uh, just as
you two came in.
This is like a fancy outfit.
So that what goes inside is just
regular water. - Yes.
It's a fancy outfit for water. -
And it's got a fancy can.
- And then we have a message on
each can because we're-we're
trying to send
a message of hope, strength and
renewal to everybody because a
lot of times,
you-you drink water, no one's
talking to you when you drink
the water,
they just talk about their
water.
- Have you had any pushback over
the-the naming?
- It's a fine line.
And then the message on the can
has really pure intentions.
We're spiritual people.
- What I worry about with you
guys is that you're stepping
into a minefield,
and all I can keep thinking
about is the first thing
I'm gonna need to do is crisis
management.
ASHLEY: Hmm. - "Holy Water."
I don't like the packaging, I
don't like the brand.
Like, that's the bit I'm
struggling with.
- Coming from church and the
Midwest, where I'm from,
to have something called "holy
water," this could be really
offensive.
- You don't have a business
right now.
What you have is a business
idea.
You don't know what you need
because you haven't even
started.
You haven't got out of the
gates.
All the wonderful marketing in
the world can't shift a mediocre
product.
This feels a little bit style
over substance.
I'm a gut-instinct person I
think most women in business
are
and this is getting my gut in
the wrong way.
- I don't see enough of a game
plan here
for me to be able to invest my
own money into you guys right
now,
especially because this is an
oversaturated market,
but I wish you the best of luck.
- Mm. Okay.
- Graceann and Aluna, thank you
so much.
We really appreciate you guys
coming and pitching.
Good luck, ladies. - Okay, thank
you so much.
- I see so many holes. - This is
the thing.
They didn't come with a
distribution plan.
I'm just like, "No."
- No. This is a no.
- So, wait, how did it go with
the investors?
- Oh, my gosh, they're like,
"You're crazy." [chuckles]
We're, like, cut.
- Wait, are you serious? - Yes.
- What? Really?
- We're we're like, one down.
We're the first down.
- Oh, wow. - Yes.
Yeah. - Wow.
That's definitely a plot twist.
ALUNA: Well, silver lining: we
can go to Burning Man.
- Yes. There we go. - [laughs]
- We can go to Burning Man.
That's true.
And that makes me a little
anxious and a little nervous.
[upbeat music playing]
- You don't ever shed the
identity of being a founder.
It's not like a nine-to-five
where after 5:00 p.m.,
you can just get up and you're
done.
- In the beginning, I was so
like, you know, like, "Oh,
please love me."
And then one day I just was
like,
"You are lucky that I'm even
taking this meeting,
"because, like, I know my sh*t's
good.
Like, begone."
[upbeat music playing]
My name's Dominique, I'm 33
years old,
in Hollywood.
See you next time.
my own side hustle,
I try to, like, accumulate X
amount of boxes
before I do a drop-off.
If my side hustle doesn't become
a success,
it would be a tremendous blow on
us financially.
to be a global powerhouse brand.
The sky's the limit, and I'm
going for it.
Just so you're aware of what
Lightly is, we're an elevated
travel brand,
and we supply premium baby care
products
to full-service hotels and other
travel partners.
- Okay, I think I used this
recently.
- No way. Are you serious?
- Are you in the Private Suite?
- I am.
- I that's I literally used
this on the weekend.
It's like a little bit of
everything that you need
if you have little babies and
you're on the go.
- Well, I'm so happy that you
used it.
- I'm your unofficial PR. Who
knew? [laughs]
ASHLEY: Tell me about your
business.
How did you come up with this
idea?
- The genesis of Lightly is
actually my own travel trauma.
Very first flight with my
firstborn,
we're delayed five hours, I ran
out of diapers at LAX.
- There's not little diapers in
the, like, vanity, like, drug
store section?
- I can get Chanel, I can get
liquor, I can get K-Y Jelly, but
not diapers.
That was really the catalyst.
- And how much are the kits?
- I don't sell directly to
parents.
It's how the hotel offers it to
you is up to them.
So we sell this to the hotel for
$115.
- Oh, wow. Spendy.
- Yeah, I need the best products
because I don't think we should
have to compromise on quality.
- But you have a box full of
niche brands, essentially.
- Exactly.
- Have you thought about the
expansion
into something like the things
that a toddler might need?
- So, the thing that's super
interesting about it is
there's so much that we can do.
We'll learn from the market when
we keep our ear to the ground.
- So what are your sales?
- We've done $58,000 in revenue
to date.
- $58,000 in one year?
- Yeah, and now I just put
everybody on a wait list
because I'm also, like, doing
this out of my house.
- Have you invested a lot of
your own money in this?
- Oh, my gosh. Don't talk to my
husband. Yes.
- Really? - How much money have
you put
into your business? - I've put
in over $100,000.
- From, like, your savings? -
Out of my paycheck.
- Your life savings? - Yeah.
Yeah.
This is, like, everything.
It's a lot of up-front capital,
and so
You know, there were times when
we were like
"Are we gonna lose our home?"
You know?
And, like, this could be it for
us.
There are things that I did
and mistakes that I made that
I'm not proud of,
but I was just, like, no, this
is it, you know?
I'm so sorry.
- No, that's all right, it's
emotional. It's hard.
ASHLEY: This is your baby. -
Yeah.
ASHLEY: This is your other baby.
- My other baby. And I was
like
it lights me up when moms are
like,
"I use that, I needed that,
I got off the plane and I was
stressed." Like, that is the
real thing, you know?
And I'm like, "How do we not
have this yet?"
- It's so nice to meet you. -
Thank you.
- Congratulations. Well done. -
I appreciate it.
- Thank you, my dear.
- Okay. Emma?
I'm fighting you for her.
- Hello.
- I can't wait to hear about
this. A sommelier who makes
perfume.
- Yes, I have been spending the
last decade working on
techniques
to create a better natural
perfume from fruit and flowers.
And, you know, I'm the only
person in the world that makes
perfume like this.
It's micro-biologically living.
What is in this is living just
like a wine is.
This is from just guava.
So I just wanted to show you
that it's not impossible to
extract things.
- Can you smell it?
- Try this when it's not as hot
out. Heat, the day of the week,
there's all sorts of things that
can make this smell differently
at different times.
ASHLEY: Rachel, thank you so
much. - Thank you so much, you
guys.
ASHLEY: So nice to meet you,
really. - So wonderful to meet
you.
Thank you. - Thank you.
- She really knows her stuff.
But she did say that the heat
was messing with the product.
- I know, but for all the
natural girlies out there,
like, there's something that's
super intriguing about this.
Whenever I'm hearing a pitch,
first and foremost the thing
that impresses me is confidence.
- My company is a stylish,
trendy affordable sunglass line
called Shaded Bliss.
- You like it? EMMA: Yeah, it's
giving everything, it's a lot.
that really just goes to show,
like, how important that product
is to them.
So, how much are these?
- $35.99. - How much does it
cost to make it?
- About four dollars.
- Okay. I like that. - Oh,
hello. Margins.
- Rater is a dating app that I
have founded.
The other user has an experience
with you and they can rate you.
- I came up with a recycled
thermal plastic waistband
which is called a glow band.
I just felt like there was such
a white space in the athleisure
market.
- And is it really a white
space?
- I don't know if that's true.
I swear, I have a pair of pants
that have something like this in
it.
- That's why I asked the
question.
And what are your manufacturing
lead times?
- Manufacturing is a huge hurtle
that we need to really jump
over.
It's actually really hard to,
you know, keep up with, you
know,
a lot of the different standards
for vegan leather.
- I also think that vegan
leather is plastic.
Sustainable, my a*s.
So what I'm always looking for
when it comes to deciding
whether or not
is that they've really already
figured out their biggest
business issues.
- I founded a natural haircare
line specifically for curly,
coily hair.
- That is one saturated space.
Because that's gonna determine
how good they're gonna be with
my money.
- To date, every single year
since we've launched has been a
slight loss.
- You're creating something
really beautiful,
but you're four years in and
you're not making any money.
And it's really up to them what
they're gonna do with it.
- I am Chef Erica, owner of
Aujané's Sweets and founder.
So they're classic sugar
cookies.
- I mean, come on.
- Ow. - What do you think?
- Holy Majolie. - [laughter]
- This tastes exactly what you
want a homemade cookie to taste
like
but that you had to buy at the
store.
- It's homemade-tasting, isn't
it?
Have you thought about how you
could scale your business?
- Absolutely. My goal is to open
the nation's first interactive
bakery
- [gasps] - where we focus on
do-it-yourself themed rooms.
As you step in, you see a
sprinkle floor.
That's going to lead you to the
baking lab.
Then, we're gonna head on over
into the chocolate boom-boom
room,
under a 20-foot chocolate
fountain.
And we're gonna go into our
build-a-sundae room,
where you create your own ice
cream.
- This is a lot. - And we're not
done, honey. We're not done.
For a moment, I want you to
envision the cookie nookie
escape room.
EMMA: Erica, do you have any
sense
of how much money you need to
see
Oh, yes, 1.875. That's what I'm
looking for.
- You what, sorry? - 1.875
million?
- Yes, ma'am, because we're
going to need to build it up
from the ground up.
Right? It's an experience that
we're going to
- Yeah - That, you know,
it's, um
- That is extreme. This is a big
ask.
- Erica, you've come in here as
a chef, right?
Clearly, you understand how to
make delicious-tasting cookies.
If you were coming in here and
saying,
"Hey, I want to scale my
existing business,"
I'd be like, "Take my money,
honey."
- Okay. - Because that's what
you do.
This is like a whole different
level of complexity.
And I can't get my head around
why that's the ambition.
Running an experiential retail
space,
it's a totally, totally
different business.
- I have invested in cookie
companies before.
A big company like Partake
Foods.
And they started as cookies and
now they are everywhere.
They're in Targets, they're in
Whole Foods.
Why not just focus on the
cookies and then maybe do popup
shops?
- If I have to start small and
then scale up,
I am totally fine with that.
- All right, thanks, Erica.
- You're welcome. You guys have
a good one.
- Bye. - Thank you.
- Ain't that just the mistake of
so many people?
They're like, "I'm really good
at this." - I know.
- "And I'd like for you to give
me money for this thing over
here."
- That they have never done
before.
- I think the most important
thing is figuring out where your
strengths are
and playing into those things.
I don't think everybody is
supposed to be an entrepreneur.
But it's really about what you
bring to the table
and being honest about those
skills.
- It's not as bad as I thought
it was gonna be. - Okay, good.
They're literally How we're
sitting here talking,
that's literally how it feels.
ALI: Okay, great.
And I have, like, my mental
outline, but I think I'm just
gonna chuck it.
Welcome to Bonks, we are in the
business of being all up in your
business.
This is our freshman product,
it is a premium, pre-washed
undie.
The intention is for Bonks to be
your emergency underwear.
You know, long day, late night?
How about your locker if you're
in high school?
How many times did I have a
breakthrough bleed in high
school?
You should always have a spare
pair of underwear on you,
particularly when you're
traveling.
It boasts a super stretchy
technical fabric.
This is a one-size-fits-many
product.
- Do you think my hips would fit
that?
- You know me, it's like I like
sizes.
I like extra-large, 2X, 3X, 4X.
- You like sizes,
I am the extra size.
I'm just looking for durability.
EMMA: I think you might be okay.
- [laughs] Well, that is
fashion.
- You know, in a pinch.
- Right? - How much is one
package?
- So, these retail for $12.
It only takes up this much shelf
space.
It is a really easy product for
brick and mortars. - 100%.
On an annual basis, how much
have you sold?
- I've made 14 grand in the last
year.
- How much money have you put
into this business?
- I put in about 75.
EMMA: Where's that money gone?
- Production costs. - Got it.
Are you sitting on a lot of
inventory?
- I am at the moment. - How
much?
- I'm sitting on 14,000 units,
but I did just sign up with a
distributor.
- Are you in, um, airports yet?
- I'm trying really hard to get
into airports ASHLEY: Yes.
- Vending machines ASHLEY:
Yes.
- I feel like it's all there,
it's all in your head. - Yes.
- And you've just got to get a
little bit of mentorship. - Yes.
EMMA: And some finance behind
you so that you can realize all
your dreams.
Well done. Congratulations.
- I could've used Bonks many a
time. - [laughter]
- Many, many a time. So, thank
you, Ali.
I'm putting this in my purse.
EMMA: We're keeping our Bonks.
ASHLEY: And maybe we can do in
XL sizes, all?
- With more financing, I
absolutely hope to expand the
range.
- Let's go.
- Thank you so much. - Thanks,
Ali.
- Bye, Ali, see you later. - See
you.
- I want this. I want all of
this.
Bonks has so much potential.
If we can lower the price and
find a distribution partner,
this is a moneymaker.
I can't just take an idea
and turn it into a
multimillion-dollar company.
There has to be a little bit
more that comes with that.
Everything happens because of
the person and the team behind
it.
ALI: I did it.
- It sounded like it went well.
- Mwah. - Really?
- Hello. - Here she comes.
- I come bearing gifts. - We
love a gift.
- I know my business.
But it's always intimidating to
know that
I'm like, "Wow, I have to make
an impression."
These are some of our
bestsellers from my retailer AMP
Beauty LA.
- Oh, I love a scrub. - Oh, wow.
- Yes.
We carry 250 SKUs on our shop,
ampbeautyla.com.
And then last month, we opened
our first retail space in
Downtown Los Angeles.
- Wow, that's exciting. - Bravo,
I love that. - Yes.
- That's so cool.
- We're really about making a
space
that bolsters these emerging
beauty brands
that don't have access or higher
barriers of breaking into
retail.
So, AMP Beauty LA is the
solution to that problem.
- This is so niche. There's
nothing literally like you guys.
How much money have you put into
marketing?
- Right now, very little.
We do a lot of organic and
email, but marketing is one
point, um,
that's an opportunity for us to
expand in our business.
What I'm worried about is the
bandwidth.
We were a team of three.
Unfortunately, earlier this
year,
she unexpectedly passed away.
- Oh, gosh, I'm so sorry.
- So, we went from a team of
three to now a team of two.
- Oh, I'm so sorry. - And
because I work full-time,
Montré does consulting work on
the side,
we are stretched to our
capacity.
Montré is actually working at
our store today,
holding down the fort, and I
think that
we could be in such a better
place,
in a bigger place, in a grander
space,
if we weren't over-indexed and
overworked.
We owe it to ourselves
and to each other, and her and
her legacy,
to sort of continue on and build
out what we set out to.
- Good for you, because that can
be crippling for a startup.
You know, something so seismic
like that happening.
- Absolutely. - I'm really proud
of you guys,
- that you were able to just
- Thank you.
- you know, keep going and do
it for her.
- That's amazing. - Yeah. Thank
you so much.
- It's a whole other reason to
be in business.
- Absolutely. We have to carry
on for her.
- There you go. - Thank you all
so much.
- She just needs a little push.
- Like, if you can get up from
that,
that shows so much tenacity.
- I'm excited about her. - Me,
too.
- I think there's something
really big there.
- Me, too. Me, too. - Don't get
excited.
- Mm-hmm. - Don't get too
excited, Emma.
- [laughs] - Who's next?
♪ We do it ♪
♪ Dance time, waltz time ♪
- This was an amazing encounter.
Just meeting all of you and
being able to hear your pitches
and have all of your passion
come out
was incredible. EMMA: And there
is no way
that this would come from anyone
but a group of brilliant female
founders.
There's a lot of due diligence
that goes into
- making the decision - Yes.
- and I feel like Ashley and
I really want to make sure
that we choose the businesses
where we can be most impactful.
So, we will be in touch tomorrow
to let you know
if we're going to be able to
mentor you or not.
- We'll see you guys later.
- We cannot wait. Well done,
guys.
ALL: Thank you. [applause]
being chosen because there were
such amazing companies
- So, let's talk about AMP.
I loved Angel so much. Did you
like her?
- I like Angel. I think that
it's a necessary business.
- This is exact literally,
you took the words out of my
mouth.
If there's one thing I know,
is that people that like
chicken,
like a little sauce to go with
the chicken.
That was some good chicken and
sauce.
- I love her. I love her story.
The passion and the drive that
she has
to be the best mother for her
daughters
- This girl, she has a great
product,
she's got so much ambition, and
guess what?
When you really, really need it,
sometimes you can make magic
happen.
- Can you believe I used that
four days ago?
- I think that I'll be able to
help her
put laser focus on getting to
her goal.
- I get it, but don't you worry
that this is, like, such a niche
offering? Because it's like,
I understand this whole, like,
I'm going to solve a problem,
but I'm going to solve a
problem, like, for the one
percent
- that can afford 150 bucks on a
thing. - Yes. I hear you.
I mean, I love hemp. I think
hemp is great.
- They created something from
scratch.
They're innovating in their
space.
I get it that it's saturated.
- Very saturated.
They're going to have to put a
lot of money into marketing.
- I think we're going to fight
over Crate Away.
She was one of the only women
who came in and said, "This is
what I have,
this is how much I'm going to
make,
this is my business model."
But the problem is she has no
products.
- Can I tell you, I wish it was
not called Crate Away.
That's a mistake for a name.
Just, you know, a one-product
thing.
We have some really tough
decisions to make.
[uplifting music plays]
are following up with a smaller
group of side hustlers
and for some others, we're going
to need to see more from them
- Hello. - [screams]
- Oh, my God! ASHLEY: Hi,
ladies.
We are here. - In my house.
- Your pitch yesterday, it was
good. I liked it.
I'm really into this hemp
product that they've created.
We need products for that time
of the month
was, like, so intriguing.
I have a lot of questions.
- Okay. - First of all,
take me to a bathroom that has
Rif.
- Yeah. - Okay? And then let's
sit down.
Ooh, what size panties do you
have?
I see an XL.
- Oh, we have all of the period
underwear here.
ASHLEY: Perfect. That's my size.
Where's the potty? - Uh, down
the hall to the right.
- Okay. BRB.
- [exhales sharply] I'm cool.
[both giggling]
ASHLEY: Girls?
- Yes. - [gasps]
REBECCA: Oh, my God!
- They look so good on you. -
Those look so good!
- Why-why am I obsessed with
these?
- They look amazing. - Okay,
first of all,
they're not digging in anywhere.
And you know what else I like?
Is that the pad
goes up the back a bit. - Yeah.
- You know, for you guys to take
me a little bit more seriously,
I should put on my pants.
- You know, we could all just
take our pants off.
- Yeah, we could - [laughter]
- Sex sells.
Where did hemp come from?
- Hemp is naturally, like,
antibacterial, antimicrobial,
right?
So it doesn't have to grow with
any of the pesticides.
So, inherently, just, like, the
plant itself
is very sustainable. It also,
like, sequesters carbon.
- And that's just environmental.
Like, when you actually talk
about how it feels, it's
extremely soft.
Like, most people say that our
pads feel like
wearing underwear in comparison
to wearing a pad.
- Okay, so here's the thing.
I totally did a deep dive on
social media
with you guys, and there is a
lack there.
And I think people like to know
the people behind the brand.
VALERIE: Yeah.
- That's really where you're
going to grow.
- I think the biggest thing with
digital marketing strategy
is, like, that's something that
I know that I need support on.
- I know this space. I know it
so well.
So, I want to help you guys.
I'm going to mentor you guys.
[upbeat music plays]
- [laughs] - Oh, my God.
- I literally could not have
ever imagined this was gonna
happen.
I feel like she's the number one
person I would think of.
- I think that this is, like,
really important.
I can see where we can scale,
I see the products that we could
go into,
and I also know that you guys
just need a little push.
- Like, you have so many doubts.
When you see someone who's done
it before,
and they believe you can do it
as well,
I mean, it's-it's very
validating.
- Okay, so a few benchmark
things
that I need you guys to get
through. - Write this down.
- Hone in on who you're
marketing to
and what a marketing strategy
would look like.
I also want to see numbers,
and I have set up a $15,000 fund
that you can only use for your
business.
Okay? - Amazing.
So, $15,000 I know, will go a
long way for you guys.
- We make it stretch. - Great.
- But let's talk about how
you're going to use it.
- Yeah. - Yeah.
- Okay. - Literally, we'll get
it.
- I'm going to set you guys up
with Jack Howard.
She's head of money wellness at
Ally.
She's going to help you with
your money trauma.
This is going to be very
helpful.
Okay, girls, I'm really excited
about this.
- We are, too. - Like, who knew
that periods
could be so exciting.
- [both laugh]
[upbeat music plays]
- Oh, hi!
[upbeat music plays]
- Oh, hi!
- [laughs] - It's me! [laughs]
How are you?
I'm so happy. This is the best
reaction ever.
- I'm so sorry. I can't even
talk.
- Ah!
I'm Kristyn Rose Berland.
as a founder and CEO of Crate
Away.
In regards to quality assurance,
we can have them
do 50 collapses of the crate
before we can put that on a
pallet.
- I'm married a little less than
a year.
On the board. Yeah.
after a really frustrating
consumer experience.
create a company from scratch,
- So how long are you going to
be gone again?
- Two days. It's going to be a
quick,
hectic trip.
It's tough to constantly be up
and on the go.
- Say, "Bye, Mommy." - Bye, Bo.
Love you.
Hey, did you get the documents?
I have put $50,000 of my own
money
from the ground up, you have
doubts.
I put myself on the line
and my back is against the wall,
and there's no other way than
success.
- Today, I really wanted to take
the opportunity
to try and get down to, like,
the fundamentals
of what this business can
potentially be.
And also, what is it going to
take to get us there?
- Yeah. - All right, so,
you haven't launched anything
yet.
- Yeah. - The other thing is you
haven't
made any product yet,
so we don't know if there's
going to be
manufacturing complexities.
What does this look like when
you try to
get 5,000 of them off of the
production lines?
- Yeah. - That's the bit that we
need to
try to work on. - Yeah.
- So, I want to understand where
you are
in the lifecycle of actually
getting this made.
- So, I spent the past year
talking to multiple
manufacturers,
and then we found
this amazing, uh, plant in
China.
- So, how much do you think that
you can actually make these for?
- Inclusive of the crate and the
bag,
that is going to cost us $100.
- Is the idea that you're going
to bundle
the whole thing together? - Yes.
- Okay, so you'll sell the bag
along with the crate.
I'm just wondering if you can
uncouple the two things.
Have you got another opportunity
to bring the customer back in
the door?
- Yeah, yeah. - Maybe that's
another way
to think about it. - And
customize the bag, right?
- Exactly, there's a l - You
can put the pet's name on it
- There's a little bit more that
you could do with that,
which is another thing I want to
talk to you about.
The thing that's bugging me
around Crate Away
is it's very limiting,
and so I just thought about
creating a brand
that could be more encapsulating
of what this brand
- ends up being. - Yeah.
- How married to the name are
you?
is you've got to be willing to
listen to people
and take advice well,
and that's what I'm going to be
looking for.
Are they aware of the things
that are going to be most
problematic for them in their
business,
and are they actually going to
let me help them?
You've created an innovation,
right?
- Right. - At the heart of your
company,
you're solving a problem.
You've created an innovative
solution,
and there might be more
innovations up your sleeve.
I'm pretty sure there would be.
So I really want to mentor you.
I think you are really
impressive,
and I'm all in. If you want to
try and do this together,
I would absolutely love to.
- Let's do this. Let's get this
rolling.
Let's work on every single thing
that she wants to work on.
- In the meantime, what I'd
really love to do
is help you out, because I think
that there's so much
that we can be doing in
preparation for a launch,
and so we want to be able to
give you
$15,000.
- I'll take it. [laughs] I'll
take it. - Let's do it.
So, the question is, are you in?
- I am - Because I'd love to
help you.
- all, all, all, all in.
I am elated.
This is really life-changing.
- Oh. Well, it could be.
- Could be. - It could be.
- Well, no, just like the
knowledge, too, like, that's
life-changing.
I've been so tired
trying to work a full-time job.
Like, years of hard work
are finally being recognized.
- Let's do this. - [sighs]
- I cannot wait. - [laughs] This
is amazing.
- Let's do it.
♪ With your hand in my hand ♪
♪ And we drive, that's when we
come alive ♪
♪ That's when we come alive ♪ -
What?
- Oh, hello.
- It's Emma.
Yes. - [laughs]
["Feeling Lucky" by BB St. Clair
plays]
♪ Step aside ♪
♪ 'Cause I'm in lace ♪
♪ Play to win but want to see
your poker face ♪
♪ Pink champagne ♪
♪ It's already on ice ♪
♪ Superstitions, there's no need
to blow the dice ♪
♪ Spent the rent money ♪
♪ Spin, I'm feeling, feeling
lucky ♪
♪ Feeling, feeling lucky ♪
♪ Know it in my bones ♪
♪ Going big or going home ♪
♪ I'm feeling lucky, lucky,
lucky ♪
♪ Let's get down like dominoes ♪
♪ Another round until the
glasses overflow ♪
♪ Overflow ♪
♪ Got no shame, we own the night
♪
♪ It seems the stars already
know my future's bright ♪
♪ Spent the rent money ♪
♪ Spin, I'm feeling, feeling
lucky ♪
♪ Feeling, feeling lucky ♪
♪ Know it in my bones ♪
♪ Going big or going home ♪
♪ I'm feeling lucky, lucky,
lucky ♪
♪ Lucky ♪
♪ Know it in my bones ♪
♪ Going big or going home ♪
♪ I'm feeling lucky. ♪
Welcome to our World! Where we serve you cookies to ensure you get the best viewing experience on our site.
Did you know that you can remove censorship board-wide, use our advanced search functions, be notified when new content is posted, join our memberships, set episodes to show in any order you want & more if you are logged into your account?
Register or sign in here: ucp.php?mode=register
Did you know that you can remove censorship board-wide, use our advanced search functions, be notified when new content is posted, join our memberships, set episodes to show in any order you want & more if you are logged into your account?
Register or sign in here: ucp.php?mode=register
01x01 - The First Pitch
Watch/Buy Amazon
A competition that follows the mentoring of female entrepreneurs to grow their side hustles into potential full-time businesses.
A competition that follows the mentoring of female entrepreneurs to grow their side hustles into potential full-time businesses.