Podcasts about bold betties

Raising capital to launch or grow a venture can be a foreign and intimidating subject for many people, men and women alike.  Today’s Extraordinary Women Radio guest, Arezou Zarafshan helps founders improve their odds of getting funding through VC’s or angel investors. She’s one of my very extraordinary clients and she’s doing important work in a field where there aren’t many women. She’s a trailblazer showing up on big stages leading important conversations, and I’m so proud of the work she is doing. Arezou grew up in Iran amidst the Iran-Iraq war, and she shares her story on how this environment shaped who she is today. During that trying time as a young girl, she discovered her own resiliency. A valuable gift that she counts on in her life today. "You learn to survive. You learn not to get traumatized by these things." ~ Arezou Zarafshan Today, Arezou runs the Startup Fundraising Academy, helping companies raise capital efficiently and effectively. The stats in startup funding are a bit daunting: Only 2% of the startups that are reviewed by investors get funded 90% of entrepreneurial businesses that do not attract venture capital fail within three years More than 60% of startups stall in their fundraising Arezou is on a mission to change these stats and shares some of her wisdom with us today. In our interview, she shares three success factors that helps company succeed in their fundraising efforts, and so much more! If you are thinking about raising capital for your company or are already doing so, without the success you have desired - I encourage you to check out her new online course, the Startup Fundraising Academy. In this 10-module course, Arezou shares the steps from pre-investment through post-investment stages and teaches the pros and cons of raising funds versus bootstrapping, and covers the various sources of funds. She shares her own regimented process to target and pitch to the right investors. As an Extraordinary Women Radio listener, Arezou has generously extended a 10 percent discount to this course and any of her offerings, simply by using the promotional code Kami. Thank you Arezou! Arezou is the Managing Partner of a boutique investment firm based in Denver, Colorado, and also on the advisory board for two Colorado startup companies helping them with fundraising and business strategy. She is a passionate and charismatic leader with a reputation for delivering game-changing business results of monumental magnitude. She has over 20 years of experience leading marketing and product development functions for a number of global and national companies. Arezou is recognized for her ability to drive rapid growth for companies that desire to reach the “next level” of scale. Prior to her current role as an investor and startup advisor, Arezou was the Chief Marketing Officer and Cofounder of Bold Betties, Inc., an early stage startup with minimal presence in the market. Arezou expanded the brand to gain national recognition across a variety of mediums, led the company to scale to 39 chapters across the US and Canada and secured a 300% revenue growth in 12 months. Arezou also was the defining element in raising the Seed capital for the company at its entirety. Arezou has held critical roles in multinational private, public, and private equity backed corporations such as Hewlett Packard, ACCO Brands, Crocs and Otter Products. In every role and every company, Arezou has driven transformational changes that "moved the needle" for the company, measured in revenue, new customer acquisition, marketshare, category velocity and capital expenditure. Her breadth of influence has varied from early-stage startups to a $2B product portfolio. Arezou is passionate about helping others thrive. As such, she works with many women and men across the US as a trusted mentor and a resource. She was a founding member and the president of Ellevate Denver from 2014-2016,

This is the story of how Gretchen Powers and Alexandra Roberts became adventure partners. It's also about what it means to be an adventure friend, and how you might find one, too. Sponsored by Escape Campervans Women Featured in this Episode: Gretchen Powers and Alexandra Roberts Hosted and Produced by Gale Straub In this episode, you'll hear: How Gretchen and Alex met and why they weren't fast friends Why going through hard things together (emotionally and in the outdoors) can strengthen bonds The value of "just trying" in the outdoors How Gretchen and Alex went from meeting in Maine to climbing Mount Kilimanjaro for their friendaversary The importance of knowing your friend's weaknesses in the outdoors Advice for making new friends and adventure partners How to hold onto friends once you make them Learn more on the episode landing page. Sponsors & Codes Escape Campervans: Use code 'SHEEXPLORES20' for 20% off. Book for now through June 1, 2019! Some restrictions apply - see landing page for details. Resources: Gretchen Powers: Portfolio and Instagram Alexandra Roberts: Portfolio and Instagram Gretchen & Alex's first ski trip Organizations to Meet Women in the Outdoors: Women Who Hike, And She's Dope Too, Wylder Goods, Outdoor Women's Alliance, Bold Betties, Hike it Baby, Hiking My Way, She Jumps, Women Who Explore She Explores Podcast Facebook Group Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us. Music is by Lee Rosevere and Kai Engel via Free Music Archive (CC by A license) Music is also by Memory Palace.

In this week’s episode of Fresh Tracks I speak with Niki Koubourlis, founder of the women’s outdoor adventure company Bold Betties. Niki shares her journey of bold adventure, entrepreneurial success, and cutting Fresh Tracks. Niki’s journey begins with her making one bold move after another, including a move across continents to Colorado where she knows no one and has no job lined up. Within a few short years Niki has established an outdoor adventure community for women, over 42,000 strong, that reaches all corners of the world. We discuss the role drive plays in personal success and why being bold is often required to cut Fresh Tracks in your own life. Niki shares insights into the role community plays in the ‘chapter B’ phase of life and how community can help you through a transformation or tough life event. Using the outdoor experience Bold Betties provides to push your boundaries, many gain the courage to walk into a scary situation in other aspects of their lives that had been holding them back. Be bold and check out this week’s show to get the scoop! Show Notes 1:50 – Niki’s personal story going from employee in Abu Dhabi to entrepreneur in Colorado 6:40 – How the Bold Betties experience began 8:53 – Meetups amazing role in Bold Betties phenomenal growth 11:00 – Why Niki took Bold Betties from an ecommerce site to an outdoor adventure company 13:50 -- Moving through ‘Chapter B’ 17:55 – The catalyst of knowing that you are capable of way more than you previously thought 21:00 – Advice for those contemplating taking the leap from employee to entrepreneur 24:15 – Living for a paycheck vs living for your purpose About Niki Koubourlis CEO & Founder, Bold Betties A bold woman with an adventurous story to tell, Niki inspires entrepreneurs, professionals, and the average Jane to find out what they’re passionate about and actualize their aspirations. Up until 2012, every major life decision Niki made was motivated by a desire for security: the career she chose, the schools she went to and the man she married. But she wasn't happy. In a quest to find purpose and passion, she left behind her job and her marriage, and moved to Colorado where she began trying new things, seeing new places and making new friends. That’s where she got the idea to start a business doing what she loves – helping women encounter the outdoors. Providing a fresh outlook on embracing life as an entrepreneur, Niki now leads an e-commerce startup, Bold Betties, where she focuses on eliminating the barriers of entry to adventure travel and outdoor recreation and building a community of women to share adventures together. A veteran executive in the real estate investment industry, Niki holds an MBA from The University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business and B.A. from Washington State University. www.boldbetties.com  Want more Fresh Tracks? Get your free Tracks-to-Cash Video Training here now!

“I feel like I’m on top of the world. I can do whatever I want, and whatever I want, which is to give this feeling to women everywhere.” - Niki Koubourlis As women, we are strong, we are powerful, and we can do anything we want! Take Niki Koubourlis for example. Niki came in and bridged the gap for women interested in novice outdoorsy experiences in the Metro Denver Area. She got Bold Betties out of it by taking a huge risk in her personal, and career driven life. Niki Koubourlis joins us to discuss Bold Betties, an online community offering outdoorsy meetups for women of all shapes, sizes, colors, and skill set! Bold Betties truly believes in making Outdoor activities easily and experiences available for like-minded women. More than just a meetup however, there is an entire community available on Bold Betties website, as well as some awesome apparel! Bulletpoints Niki knew she was going to have to make a change to find her happiness, so she took a large leap, lost weight, got divorced, and left her job! Niki forced herself to not accept a job during her beginning months in Denver. Niki began starting meetups for women in the Denver Metro area, to have a variety of outdoor experiences. The meetup group grew to 200 members within the first week. Niki bridged the gap for novices to comfortably join the outdoor world! Niki’s research and learning became the core offering of the business. The hardcore stereotype backfired on the industry. When women are in a transition period, they checkout meetup.com Outdoor activities can help with any difficult lessons in life. Bold Betties has been all word of mouth up until this point. For technical pieces, Bold Betties partners with guides. Bold Betties is part of a passion industry. Bold Betties gives you customized packing lists and mainstream women based on the trip you take. Links Bold Betties: https://www.boldbetties.com/ Bold Betties Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/boldbetties/ Bold Betties Twitter: @boldbetties https://twitter.com/boldbetties Nikki Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikikoubourlis Nikki Twitter: https://twitter.com/nikikoub @nikikoub

The Bold Betties is a travel and adventure platform that empowers women by eliminating the barriers and logistics that keep women inside, stuck in the monotony of day to day life. Today on Intrepid Entrepreneur I'm talking with the founder, Niki Koubourlis, on her experience starting and managing the Bold Betties, and the incredible places this adventure has taken her. Niki Koubourlis started out in a stable, successful corporate career, which she ultimately found very unfulfilling. She was starting to worry about what she was accomplishing with her life, and questioning whether it was what she really wanted It wasn't. And so, she moved to Colorado, the land of adventure. In Colorado, Niki forced herself to not take a job and instead, she took some time to develop friendships and to get in touch with her passions. And then – one thing led to another, and Niki stumbled into founding the Bold Betties, a meet-up group for women looking to bond with each other and to get outdoors. The group grew quickly—within its first week, there were 200 members. Honestly, I'd never heard of a business built on “Meet Up” groups, and I think it's such a cool idea (note: I realize that many companies have been built this way, I just have not been familiar with this path). One of her important early insights as that there were few opportunities for novices to learn and enjoy outdoor activities, so she saw her business as filling that niche. But the biggest commonality between people who sign up for Betties events is women in transition, looking to start something new. You'll be inspired by what else Niki tells me about getting started with the Betties and where this adventure has taken her, on this episode of the Intrepid Entrepreneur!   Habit for Success Build business around community. When you can bring together groups of people, you are providing them incredible value, and you will probably find that that community is the most important part of your business.   Resources: BoldBetties.com   Show Notes:  IntrepidEntrepreneur.net/Niki-Koubourlis

Niki Koubourlis is the founder of Bold Betties Outfitters, a company that brings women together with what they need to get them out of their comfort zone and into the outdoors through both local Meetups and an eCommerce site where women can rent adventure, travel and outdoor apparel and gear. Niki created Bold Betties when she moved to Denver and was seeking ways to be adventurous and bold. Her move to Denver was part of an effort to be the driver of her own life and move out of a place of feeling stuck. It was during this time that she ultimately decided to leave her successful career in real estate and focus full-time on making Bold Betties a business. We discuss the abundance she has gained in making this leap, the power of being bold and how outdoor adventure assists her as an entrepreneur.  Features To Be With You by Mr. Big