Lori deliberately raised money from women, many of whom had never invested before, because she wanted participation to become an educational experience. She viewed the investor group as an approachable mastermind that could expand each woman's network and teach members how funding works from inside a real company.

Lori raised $2 million from 54 female investors
More than 70% of the initial group had not invested before
Investing can open new networks and opportunities
Operational transparency can turn an investor group into a learning community

“So I love this idea. I go, and I raise $2 million from 54 female investors because I wanted to bring them along for the…”
Lori Harder · 09:20

“I'm going to show you everything going on, like the good, the bad and the ugly.”
Lori Harder · 15:14

#women-investors#fundraising#financial-education

Explainer· 2

Explainer04:23

What Happens When Achievement Becomes Your Identity

After completing a book, events, courses, and successful businesses, Lori found herself without a next dream. Her identity had become so tied to achievement that she needed deliberate space before she could recognize what she wanted to become next.

Completing major goals can produce disorientation rather than satisfaction
Achievement can become an identity instead of an activity
Space can be necessary before a new direction becomes visible

“my identity was so wrapped up into achieving at that point that in order for me to figure out what was next, I needed some…”
Lori Harder · 05:20

“I actually don't know who I'm supposed to be, like, what I'm going to do next.”
Lori Harder · 05:20

#identity#achievement#career-transition

Explainer30:30

Glossy Rebuilt the Product Around Lori's Strengths

Glossy emerged as a powdered beauty-hydration supplement described as a skin routine consumers can drink. Its pre-launch combined product education, text-message access, community, affiliates, incentives, and business education. Lori contrasts this with the alcohol venture, whose restrictions pulled her away from the launch and distribution skills she performs best.

Glossy combines hydration with gut and skin-focused ingredients
The stick format supports daily use and travel
Pre-launch focuses on education, visibility, and text-list growth
The ambassador program adds incentives and business learning
The launch strategy is designed around Lori's strongest channels

“So glossy is a beauty hydration product. It's a beauty hydration supplement and it is a skin routine you can drink.”
Lori Harder · 31:16

“How can you make sure the launch is actually catered to what you do best, no matter even if it's what other people are doing…”
Lori Harder · 34:09

#glossy#product-launch#affiliate-marketing#founder-fit

Story· 4

Story00:54

Jasmine and Lori Were Both Intimidated by Each Other

Jasmine recalls being intimidated when she first met Lori and Chris, only for Lori to reveal that the feeling was mutual. Lori finally arranged a walk by inviting their mutual friend Lindsey Schwartz as a social buffer, showing how private assumptions can delay valuable relationships.

Both women privately assumed the other was intimidating
Lori used a trusted mutual friend to make the meeting easier
The relationship deepened once their untested stories were exposed

“So the reason that I finally invited you on a walk, even though we had been talking about it forever, forever with Lindsey, was because…”
Lori Harder · 02:56

“you will tell yourself a story and you will tell yourself a belief.”
Jasmine Star · 03:28

#relationships#confidence#networking

Story16:01

How One Podcast Guest Unlocked a Six-Figure Investment

After exhausting much of her existing network, Lori deliberately invited founders and businesswomen she respected onto her podcast. One conversation naturally opened the door to a pitch deck, a $100,000 commitment the following day, and introductions to ten more potential investors.

Lori selected guests who could plausibly invest
She introduced the company through a relevant part of the interview
She made a direct but low-pressure follow-up request
One relationship generated both capital and valuable referrals

“The next day she was in for 100 grand.”
Lori Harder · 16:45

#podcasting#fundraising#relationship-building

Story18:18

How Pandemic Supply Chains Broke the Beverage Model

The beverage venture encountered warehouse shutdowns, co-packer constraints, rising prices, and extreme increases in minimum order quantities. Work that should have taken two months stretched toward eight, while teams were hired and dismissed against repeatedly delayed expectations. When the revised costs entered the margin sheet, the company appeared likely to operate in the red indefinitely.

Minimum orders could jump from 10,000 components to one million
Supply-chain setup expanded from roughly two months to seven or eight
Large beverage companies absorbed scarce can inventory
The revised margin model showed no clear route out of losses

“Minimum order quantities are going from things like 10,000 lids for a can, for a minimum order to 1 million.”
Lori Harder · 18:41

“We will be operating in the red until who knows how long until we raise more money, continue to operate in the red, hopefully get…”
Lori Harder · 22:26

#supply-chain#pandemic#unit-economics#startups

Story24:03

The Hidden Personal Cost of Carrying Investors' Money

Lori describes the venture's lowest period as a crisis driven by fear of disappointing friends, relatives, mentors, and prominent investors. The pressure disrupted her sleep, increased her drinking, produced panic attacks, and made failure feel socially and personally unrecoverable. Her account exposes the emotional burden that can remain invisible behind public founder ambition.

Investor relationships made the possibility of failure deeply personal
Lori regularly woke between 1 a.m. and 3 a.m.
She relied on her husband for nervous-system regulation
Panic and shame distorted her sense of available choices

“I was literally at the lowest place I've ever been in my entire life.”
Lori Harder · 24:08

“I started drinking too much. I was having panic attacks.”
Lori Harder · 25:06

#founder-health#anxiety#investor-pressure#burnout

Takeaway· 1

Takeaway10:41

Build the Network Before You Need the Opportunity

Lori describes relationship-building as a long-term business asset rather than a last-minute fundraising tactic. She entered rooms that stretched her, said yes before feeling ready, and focused on serving others; those accumulated relationships later helped her raise capital and solve unfamiliar problems.

Opportunities often arrive through existing relationships
Masterminds can accelerate access to more experienced peers
Service-first participation encourages long-term reciprocity
Networks should be built alongside the business, not after a crisis

“you need to simultaneously be building out your network right now, because every good thing that will come to you is going to come by…”
Lori Harder · 10:41

“Also, when you go into those rooms asking yourself the question, how can I serve them rather than what I can get?”
Lori Harder · 11:30

#networking#relationships#fundraising#masterminds

Frameworks in this episode

All the Time, Money, and Network Questions

Freedom Phrases

Stupid Idea Time

Turn the Titanic

Insights & moments

◆Hot Take· 1

Why Lori Chose 54 Female Investors

✶Explainer· 2