Some Girl

DRAPER UNIVERSITY CHANGED MY LIFE

2017-07-13T15:29:00.000-07:00

Wow, it's been a few years since I completed Draper University and I can't believe it. My entire life has changed and for the better.

Before I attended Draper University, I had a pretty successful career as a commercial and music video director, but I just wasn't satisfied. I couldn't figure out how to use the influence that I had, working with major label artists, to help improve people's lives directly and that was something that I knew that I was extremely passionate about. Now the strange thing is, I always had projects that had motivating messages in them, but I wanted to impact change on a deeper level.

Through a series of extremely unforeseen events, I was sick and hospitalized. Not knowing if I would actually make it out to see another day, I decided to make some life changing decisions. After reflecting heavily, I went into some deep self-talk. I thought to myself, “If I were to die today, would I be happy with what I’ve accomplished?” The answer to that was a no. Although I had been successful in my professional career. There was a huge void in my personal life. I wanted to create an app, that allowed people to improve their personal intimate relationships. A friend recommended that I check out Draper University.

When I got to Draper, I was clueless about starting a business, but I had two things: passion and hustle. I was one of six working female music video directors at the time, so I knew that if I could break down those barriers within the film industry, I would be able to break into entrepreneurship.

When I first conceptualized the company that I wanted to build, it had everything to do with relationship advice. I was struggling in that department and I found that a lot of other people were too. I felt like there were a ton of apps, putting people together, but nothing keeping them together. While I started working on that idea, things took a bit of a turn.

A week before I arrived at DU, a very close friend of mine committed suicide. The devastation behind the event changed the direction of my narrative quite a bit and I started focusing on mental health. When all was said and done, I had a product going in different directions because I didn't want to give up the relationship component.

I went through the program as a complete beginner in entrepreneurship and learned so much during my journey. Fast forward to the end of the program. With a lot of diligence, I ended up getting an investment from Tim Draper, the founder of Draper University and that sent my head spinning. I think a lot of that had to do with my drive and passion because what you will understand is, in the beginning, an investor is hedging his bet on the entrepreneur, not the product.

There was stuff that I had to learn extremely fast. I had a pretty solid looking prototype that I wheeled out three days before pitch day, (thank goodness for my background as a creative), and I now had an outside investment in my company. I had to learn how to incorporate the company, get a trademark, and market to the customer base, which I knew existed. There was a bulk of influencers trying to address the problems that I was trying to solve on a very fragmented level and they had millions of followers looking for answers.

Tim lent me his lawyer to get all of the legal out the way and then it was time to get to work. Eventually, I settled on my platform being a preventative measure, a one stop shop where you can go to deal with all areas of personal growth: relationships, fitness, wellness, and finances, kind of like what Tony Robbins does, but for Millennials in a cool unique way. Sidenote: Tony Robbins is my idol and I had the pleasure of attending one of his seminars thanks to one of Draper's speakers, Gina Kloes.

I spent the next year working at Draper University as an Entrepreneur-in-Residence, which subsequently came with the opportunity to be on a reality show called, “Startup U” on ABC Family. In addition to that, I focused on building and testing my product.

At one point, I had a pretty solid platform called 7AM, which had close to 1,000 users in the first couple of months and was growing and generating revenue daily. After a bit of soul-searching, I came to the conclusion that because of Draper, I now had the foundation for starting a company but, I still wanted a deeper understanding of actually running a company, so I decided to join another media tech company to find out the inner workings.

Well, that decision led to so much more than I could have imagined. I am now the Tech Editor for Black Enterprise. I fly all over the world and I get to share the stories of other executives, founders and investors in my community, which may not otherwise have been told. The ironic part about this is, the relationship with BE was fostered when Tim and I spoke on a panel at their first annual Tech ConneXt conference when I founded 7AM. Who knew I would be working for them two years later.

You never know where opportunities will lead you. It is my understanding that Fall Applications are out now. If you are interested, apply. Don’t have tunnel vision and don’t be afraid to take the leap. You miss 100% of the shots that you don’t take.

If you have specific questions, feel free to tweet me: @Sequoiab

Sequoia

EVENT: RECESS TOUR W/ LIL DICKY AND BJ THE CHICAGO KID

2016-04-21T09:52:00.002-07:00

Judges: Juan Suarez (Southwest Airlines), Tom Szaky (Terracycle) Blair Brandt (Next Step Realty), Me, Ty Danco (Techstars)

Earlier this week, I flew to Boston to judge the Recess Ideas + Music Festival. Recess is an interesting concept. It brings musicians and entrepreneurs together to pitch, followed by an incredible concert when all is said and done.

When I got to Boston, I was dropped into the middle of the Boston marathon... noooooo!! There were so many people, it was unbelievable. I got picked up from the airport an hour behind schedule and basically had two hours to get to my hotel, get dressed and arrive at the event... ON TIME - I hate being late and in this case, the show would have definitely gone on. At some point, it dawned on me that we were going nowhere fast so, I decided to start my makeup application in the car. 50 minutes later, I arrive at my hotel. After dodging traffic barriers and going in the opposite direction for 20 of those minutes, I now had an hour to spare.

My driver from one of those disruptive taxi services, which will remain nameless due to the details to follow, was supposed to drop me off and be on his way, as he had reached his final destination as per our pre determined booking. As I was getting out of the car, I pleaded with him not to leave. I'll pay you cash to wait, so he obliged. I ran into the hotel, checked in, got dressed in rapid speed, never have you seen such, and went back outside with a little doubt in my mind that he may have bounced because of his concern for legality and being paid under the table BUT, he was there when I arrived. Whhheeeww!!! Onward!

Or not. The traffic was barely moving. The House of Blues was literally 10 mins away. We were edging around 7:20 at this point, we left at 6:30ish, still with several blocks to go. I deeply contemplated walking, but I was also banking on Jesus taking the wheel and getting me there on time. I was suppose to be there between 7:00pm and 7:30pm. When I arrived it was 7:36, and the line was around the corner. Daaammmnnnnn!!!!

Now, I must be honest. I use to be totally in the loop when I was knee deep in directing music videos, but I had no idea who these two artists were but apparently the rest of Boston did. It was PACKED!!

Lil' Dicky during the show performance

BJ The Chicago Kid

I was met downstairs and whisked away by Emily, who works for Recess, being the last to arrive. They were minutes away from hitting the stage.

After catching the last of the debrief, we were introduced by the host and it was showtime!

Check out the live feed on Recess' Facebook page for pitches, performances and goodies from the show. Congrats to team Xperii from Boston College who took the win! This was not surprising considering they had a guy on their team who started his PHD at MIT when he was 16 years old. Like whhheerreee?

All fun times! S/O to Draper University for sending me out to be apart of this extravaganza.

BIZ TIPS: STANDING OUT FROM THE COMPETITION

2016-04-04T16:07:00.001-07:00

Ok, so I got this dress at H&M. They had a million of them. So, what makes me different than the next woman who buys it and puts it on? Well, for starters, I paired it with a BCBG confetti bag and some Versace shades. Now, I have a completely different look and feel.

The same thing happens with business. There is no original idea, it's how you "dress it up", that makes it original. What makes my company, 7AM different from Masterclass.com? We both deal with celebrities who teach courses, but, I have a different target customer than they do. They are after people who are interested in skill share, where as we are after people who are interested in improving their personal lives. It doesn't make either right or wrong, it just makes them different.

When starting a company, figure out how to differentiate yourself from the competition. If there are already five pillow companies who do custom embroidery, the world probably doesn't need another pillow company that sells custom embroidered pillows however, the world may want a pillow company that focuses on pillows that showcase 3D pop-up designs. What is your unique value proposition and competitive advantage?

So now that that's out of the way, how do you know customers ever want your new, edgy product to begin with? First, you want to create a hypothesis. Based on your hypothesis, you have made the assumption that they do. Next, you want to find your target customer - your community or tribe that resonates with your idea, and validate your product. Literally, build your concept around them. If they are excited about it, using it and paying for it, you have struck gold. This is called finding, Product-Market-Fit and don't fret, this usually takes a bit of time.

Recap: you will always find that there are competitors in the market. If you don't, BE AFRAID. BE VERY, VERY AFRAID. Normally that means, that for one reason or another, no one is interested in your product. Once you understand your competitive landscape, figure out what you are doing differently and run with it 120%.

BIZ TIPS: LITTLE RED DRESS IN A MEETING

2016-03-16T16:06:00.001-07:00

Whenever I have a business meeting, I like to look the part because, let's face it, you never know who you're going to run into and first impressions are everything.

I, on the other hand, also like to be stylishly comfortable. A thigh high boot to elongate the leg with a low heel so I can walk around the mean streets of SF is imperative. I also love a pop of color.

Tying it off with a signature vintage Gucci crossbody and Gucci shades is just enough visible name brand so it doesn't feel like over kill.

BIZ TIP: Buffer in 30 mins before your meetings, just in case you get lost, stuck in traffic or another unexpected occurrence pops up. The worst thing that can happen is that you will arrive early. I can't remember the last time that I've been late. You can use the extra time to prepare, respond to texts or emails, or roam around the surrounding areas.

On the flip side, if the person that you're meeting with is more than 30 minutes late and you've heard nothing from them, dip. It doesn't matter who they are. First of all, it's rude and secondly, it shows their lack of value for you and your time.

If all goes well, once you are finished with your meeting, always send a thank you note. It says, "this girl or guy's got some class."

- Sequoia

INTERVIEW: GOOGLE DEVELOPERS

2015-11-19T11:09:00.000-08:00

This was a fun day. I spoke at the Founder World conference with some amazing Though-Leaders, both in and outside of Silicon Valley.

After, I had the pleasure of interviewing with the Google Developers team who asked very insightful questions regarding 7AM and my advice when approaching investors and asking for funding.

Some other guests in attendance included, Grammy Award-Winning producer, Jermaine Dupri and Sanjit Dang, the Investment Director at Intel Capital.

It always excites me when I see people from the Entertainment Industry in into Tech. I feel like my two worlds have conjoined considered that was the basis of my entire life for the past nine years.

Check out all three interviews below.

TALK: FOUNDER WORLD WITH F50 AND GOOGLE DEVELOPERS

2015-10-28T15:26:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of speaking at Founder World, the largest Founder Conference in the Bay Area put on by F50 and Google Developers. I had no idea what was going to come out of my mouth because I was on the biggest natural high of my life. I spent the last four days in Los Angeles, shaking that a**, with Tony Robbins at the Unleash the Power Within Summit. (If you've been to UPW, then you know exactly what I am talking about).

The topic at hand was creating value, which is something that I have touched on before. When you are interested in building a relationship, especially with an investor, you want to figure out how to create value by giving before you start asking.

Before I met Tim, I was fundraising to go to Draper University. I was offered a spot to speak on KFI 640 and to bring Tim along with me. He was promoting Six Californias at the time, so it was perfect for him because it gave him the opportunity to push his policy. This was three months before I asked him for an investment.

Fireside Chat - Zach Ware: Vegas Tech Fund and Tim Draper: Draper Associates/DFJ

I have been in situations with Tim where people will walk up to him and say, "hey, can I pitch you?" without any other explanation and I'm thinking to myself, he doesn't even know you yet. You have to build a human connection first, otherwise known as people equity.

The next time you are out and you want to meet someone in the business world, this applies to your personal life as well, ask yourself, how can I add value to this person's life and lead the conversation with that.

Need Advice?

INTERIVEW: STARTING OVER WITH A STARTUP

2015-10-28T14:56:00.000-07:00

Check out my interview with Affiliate Mission's, Priest Willis, Sr., on going from directing music videos to becoming an entrepreneur.

We discuss:

My transformation from video director to entrepreneur
My experience at Draper University and with ABC’s ‘Startup U’
My website 7AM, a marketplace for personal development
Best practices in getting your business backed by a venture capitalist. Including what I've learned from my investor, Tim Draper.
The advantages of living in the Bay Area for Tech entrepreneurs
And much more…

Need Advice?

Get Cool Updates

TALK: BLACK ENTERPRISE TECH CONNEXT

2015-10-28T14:40:00.001-07:00

This was Black Enterprise's inaugural tech summit in Silicon Valley. I was honored to speak with my friend, mentor and investor, Tim Draper. I love talking with Tim because you never know what he is going to say.

The panel was moderated by, Black Enterprise's SVP/Executive Editor-at-Large, Alfred Edmond Jr.

One of the big takeaways for the audience was to always think big. When you are starting a company, think about ways that it can disrupt an industry. If the idea has already been done, what are you doing to make it better?

Need Advice?

TALK: HOW TO ENGAGE, CONVINCE AND CLOSE DEALS

2015-10-06T01:38:00.003-07:00

Last weekend I spoke at SoGal Startup Bootcamp, in Los Angeles, CA with some pretty eager and inspirational guys and gals. My topic was focused on engaging the Investor, convincing them that you're worth investing in and closing the deal.

When you first pitch an Angel Investor or VC, you want to capture their attention, and the way you do this is by being super passionate about your product.

I liken this to the craft of acting. You can tell good actors from bad actors because bad actors feel like they are reciting lines. When you hear a good actor who are totally immersed in her character, it causes you to become captivated and lost in the story.

Investors can tell if you are in it just for the money and honestly, they want to invest in someone who is in it for the long hall. Passion proves to be a sign of resilience in the world of entrepreneurship.

Convincing them is the next step. This is simply proving to them that you have derisked the company. You have taken the product to market and proven that there is a demand and you've put together a stellar team to help you execute and keep up with the growing traction.

Now how do you close you ask, watch below :)

Thank you to the wonderful co-founders of SoGal Ventures, Pocket and Elizabeth, two incredible women making strides in Venture Capital.

TV: HOW TO PREPARE A PITCH DECK THAT GETS FUNDING

2015-10-03T17:14:00.000-07:00

In Startup land, pitching is all the rage!

On last week's episode of, "Startup U", I spoke about the pitch deck that got me funded from, Legendary Venture Capitalist, Tim Draper.

So many people were curious about it, that I decided to offer some more insight.

The key components to an awesome pitch deck are:

Problem - What is the problem that you are trying to solve?
Solution - What is the solution to that problem?
Market Size - How big is the opportunity?
Business Model - How will you make money?
Competitive Landscape - Who is already doing this? What are you doing differently?
Traction - How much growth have you had?
Team - Who is on your team and are you the right team to solve the problem?

The order is up to you, but you want to make sure that it flows with your story.

If you are interested in having your pitch deck reviewed or speaking in more detail about it, you can book a session by using the #Booking tab on the page.

BIZ TIP: DELIGHT THE CUSTOMER

2015-09-19T22:46:00.003-07:00

My company 7AM, just opened its doors officially two days ago and of course, like with any startup, everything that could go wrong went wrong.

We had a customer that was processing a payment and the merchant gateway wasn't allowing the payment to go through so she had to process it on three different occasions.

What did I do? I called and apologized profusely and gifted her and additional course for her troubles.

Biz Tip: Remember, when you are in business, it's all about the customer. Admit your mistakes and show your gratitude. Make sure you create a strong brand led by amazing customer service that leaves a lasting impression.

CAREER: I'M A #GIRLBOSS AND I PLAY ONE ON ABC FAMILY

2015-08-10T00:44:00.000-07:00

Hey guys! I know this blog has been kind of quiet but so many exciting things are happening. One of which is, I am on a new reality show on ABC Family, called "Startup U", that premieres tomorrow! TOMORROW! And, it will be on at 10|9 c so everyone can watch it!

This ride has been so exciting. The show takes place at Draper University, home of venture capitalist Tim Draper and remarkable entrepreneurs who are ready to change the world, but pause on that for just a second so I can jump into the journey.

Just a few days ago Charlie, the program director, Tim and I were invited to LA to do press. Now, you all know this is strange for me because I have been working on the other side of the camera for years!

Let me explain to you how ABC Family rolled out the red carpet... Literally. First class tickets, black limousine service, a stylist, a stay in the swanky Beverly Hilton but above all this...

Putting us in a room full of celebs that I would fall on the floor for. Are you kidding me? ALL of my favorite shows! They sure know how to make a girl feel special. I'm talking Scandal, How to Get Away with Murder, Black-ish, and the list goes on and on. You look right, Keri Washington, left, Tyra Banks! When did Tyra Banks get on ABC - who cares!! It's Tyra Banks! Star overload.

Cast of Scandal

Charlie Taibi, Tim Draper and I

Anthony Anderson & Tracee Ellis Ross

Regina King

Keri Washington & Priyanka Chopra

Viola Davis

Laurence Fishburne

Vanessa Marano

Tyra Banks - She had her own Step & Repeat!

After walking the red carpet, we spent the rest of the night at this star studded party, with our buddies, Mike and Tim Duffy. They are actually the Executive Producers of the show and by far, the coolest people that you will ever meet on the planet.

That concludes Day 1.

Alfonso Ribeiro

Matt McGorry

Now, onto Day 2 - an amazing panel with all five of us. This was great fun considering the audience was all critics looking to get the "scoop".

When all was said and done, we were whisked away to talk to a slew of media outlets. There was a bit of irony in this because a few years back, my job was that of the whisker. I would take artists around during award shows to the various media outlets that were all lined up, patiently waiting for them. My, how the tables have turned.

Getty Images

A Charlie Brown Christmas 50th Anniversary

TV Guide

Once finished, I packed up my stuff and checked out only to be told by the concierge that I still had a hefty balance on my room from my per diem to spend. I didn't. There was no way I could spend that much money on food before I left. The driver picked me up and I boarded my first class flight back to SF where I proceeded to sleep with my mount open from utter exhaustion.

And just like that, the fairly tale was over... Or was it just beginning ;)

CAREER UPDATE: LOVE UNCUT IS NOW 7AM

2015-07-21T13:51:00.001-07:00

We have changed the name and we are working on something extra special for people who really want to learn how to live a loving and fulfilling life. We truly believe that love can be taught and that everyone deserves to live their best life.

Head over to www.7am-app.com to sign-up on our landing page and get all of our updates. We will be rolling out some really cool things soon.

TV: SMART REALITY TV

2015-07-14T18:04:00.003-07:00

There were two times prior to this where I was about to become a part of the reality show frenzy. Third time's a charm.

I present to you, "Startup U". Check out the season premiere on ABC Family, August 11th at 10/9 c right after, "Pretty Little Liars" and "Next Step Realty".

P.S. We're starting to get some pub, so if you want to learn more, see below:
Entreprenuer.com
Variety.com

CAREER: LOVE UNCUT IS NOW IN PRIVATE BETA

2015-05-22T23:37:00.000-07:00

I created an app to better assist people with perfecting their intimate relationships and I am happy to announce that we are now in private beta!

iPhone users go to www.love-uncut.com to sign-up and test it out. Android users, we haven't forgotten about you. Your app will be coming very soon :)

SHHHH....

2015-05-08T19:47:00.000-07:00

I'm working on a top secret TV show that's airing this summer. Can't wait to tell you all about it. I'm so stoked but I've been told to keep it under wraps for now... COMING SOON! Urrgghhh I'm going to burst! So stoked!

Ok, here's a hint because everyone knows I can't keep secrets - It's about entrepreneurs that do things in a cool, unique and unorthodox way! That's it! I can't spoil it.

Speaking of entrepreneurs, shout out to my friends over at the Tamar Collection for gifting me this awesome shirt. Gorgeous, darling! You'll see the whole outfit on the show. To die for. Okay, bye for now.