Lead Tribe by Blume

Learning & networking program for early stage female founders by @blumeventures |

[Lead Tribe by Blume @Lead_Tribe]

Last week we kicked off Lead Tribe cohort 2, our annual program for rockstar early stage women founders. This year we have 29🔥founders across 10 sectors & a power-packed speaker line-up💪

To spread the❤️we're sharing 3 learnings from all sessions below👇

👀this space for more!

[Blume Ventures @BlumeVentures]

LeadTribe 2022 cohort results are out! After weeks of going through an overwhelming quantity of high quality applications, we present to you the companies breaking new ground in female entrepreneurship
@sanjaynath @BKartRed @sajithpai @radhika_agar
https://t.co/0tR0UILwzi

[Blume Ventures @BlumeVentures]

Two years ago, we at @BlumeVentures launched LeadTribe - a tribe for rockstar women founders to build amazing institutions at the back of a super-charged network. We’re thrilled to be launching Cohort III this year!

[nandiniv @nandiniv]

You're super tired after a day full of interviews and then you meet this one young woman from a small town who spent a year learning about personal finance and saved money, so she can be independent to plunge into building a startup. Brightens up the evening :)

[Lead Tribe by Blume @Lead_Tribe]

Finally, @KhannaDheeraj_ closes by saying: Early stage termsheets (especially in well structured institutional rounds) become the precedence for future rounds.

So don’t be penny-wise & pound-foolish while negotiating clauses. If you're unsure of what to negotiate, bring in help!

[Lead Tribe by Blume @Lead_Tribe]

As we come towards the end of #LeadTribe 2🔜 @SadashivaNT & @KhannaDheeraj_ of @urConstellation spoke to the cohort about all things legal, finance, taxation, and cap table management📑

Here are our key takeaways from their session👇

@BlumeVentures

[Lead Tribe by Blume @Lead_Tribe]

4/ Board seats:

➡️Typically anyone > 8-10% gets a board seat.
➡️Often giving 'observer seats' (non-voting) is beneficial since it reduces operational steps.
➡️Early stage founders should aim to have a majority on the board. Solo founders can do this by appointing directors.

[Lead Tribe by Blume @Lead_Tribe]

@C82024464 @vinaykrsinghal 🙏🤗

[Lead Tribe by Blume @Lead_Tribe]

Last weekend @vinaykrsinghal left the #LeadTribe cohort teary eyed as he spoke about his journey from WittyFeed, through unparalleled lows, & now building @STAGEdotin: How he managed his relationships, mental health, & kept his eye on the prize; in a 🔥chat moderated by @arpiit👇

[Isha Sapra @Sapraise]

'When truth hits the hardest'. This could have been the theme of the session by @vinaykrsinghal. Candid, honest, inspiring - something you can feel in your bones, and so brutal that one can only laugh at the sincerity!
Thank you @Lead_Tribe for making this happen.

[sarita raichura @saritaraichu]

As they say, vast majority of us prefer to do business with those we like and we trust….I’ve learnt a lot from @sanjaynath. It was indeed a fun session with @sanjaynath and @DikshaLahoti and the energizing #LeadTribe cohort @BlumeVentures

[Vinay Singhal (stage.in) @vinaykrsinghal]

One of the best sessions that I have been part of till date. @arpiit did an amazing job bringing out the best in our story and the audience of Lead Tribe was just brilliant.

Kudos to Blume and @radhika_agar for running this amazing initiative. 🙌🏽🚀

[Arpit Agarwal @arpiit]

Really enjoyed my interaction with the one and only @vinaykrsinghal, a person who embodies a never-say-die spirit. What he shared with everyone were real gems of advice.

Thanks @Lead_Tribe for having me over. Hoping this session was of value to all cohort participants.

[Lead Tribe by Blume @Lead_Tribe]

Finally, @AshishFafadia closes by advising founders to not modify their businesses to suit specific investors or competitors.

Instead, make your business NIMBLE and be ready to suit SITUATIONS. Eg: Reducing marketing spend without compromising on growth when cash is low.

FIN.

[Lead Tribe by Blume @Lead_Tribe]

There's been a lot of conversation recently around crisis & recession management. But the best businesses are built sustainably to stand the test of time & crisis.

In this #LeadTribe session, @AshishFafadia talks about how founders can manage cash & biz sustainably from Day 1👇

[Lead Tribe by Blume @Lead_Tribe]

3/ Most M&As take 4-12 months + high integrity & intent to pull off. If you go too late, the acquirer knows you have no $ left & you’re not helping yourself negotiate for more.

Make sure you either have enough runway or a 2nd option/offer, and that de-growth hasn't started yet.

[Lead Tribe by Blume @Lead_Tribe]

Finally, @vinaykrsinghal says: make time for your family. As an early stage founder you may not always be able to give your family the best material things, but you can give them your time.

✅Be present. Be communicative. Be transparent.

[Lead Tribe by Blume @Lead_Tribe]

3/ Therapy can help EVERYONE. It’s the best life & productivity hack.

Founders tend to associate their sense of self w/ their biz. So if things go bad, it causes an identity crisis. You need to build YOUR OWN sense of self. Give your🧠time to recharge. Stay active, stay healthy.