HearstLab

To help founders navigate an uncertain market, we asked seasoned founder, board member, advisor and HearstLab’s Entrepreneur in Residence, Dr. Karoline Hilu MD MBA to share best practices for exploring exit opportunities — and we’re passing that wisdom along to you. Here are a few key takeaways: ??????????? ?????????? (?????? ???????????????? ???????? ??????????????????????) Every exit is different, and it’s always a longer journey than you think — often 12+ months. The key is to regularly reflect and start networking with potential acquirers well before you need them. This includes building relationships with your competitors! ?? ???????? ?????? ???????????? — ?????? ???????????????? ?If the market you’re building in is hot or your competitors are catching up, it may be time to consider a sale. If you’ve been in it for a long time, and are losing steam, find a capable successor or look to sell. Thoughtful succession is smart leadership. ?? ???????? ???? ???????? ?????????? ?????????????????????????? ?Engage your board early. One misaligned board member can stall a deal. Get on the same page with your co-Founders about when the time is right and how to approach the process. ?? ???????????? ?????????????? ???????????? (???? ?????? ???????? ????????) Bankers can be some of your closest allies and bring you valuable insights and access. This can save you a thousand hours of networking.? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????????????? ????????????????.? Navigate inbound interest thoughtfully & carefully. It could be authentic or it could be digging (AKA a waste of time or, worst case, destructive). Red flags: Client list or code requests. ????????????????? ?????? ?????????????????? Tailor your story to each potential acquirer. Use strategic language; prioritize profitability and/or finding values alignment. Never say “I’m shopping my company” — say “I’m exploring ways to accelerate growth.” It’s also important to wait and share the news with your employees until the deal is done. ?? ???????????? ???????????????????? All-cash deals are the exception, not the norm. Most exits involve a mix of cash, equity, and earn-outs. And while going public can sound like a dream, it rarely delivers big liquidity for founders due to dilution along the way. Understand your cap table and preference stacks. Know who gets what in every scenario…and don’t be afraid to negotiate. Last but not least: a reminder that ?????????????? ???????????? ???????? ???????????????? ?????? ??????????. Especially in strategic acquisition scenarios, never underestimate the importance of cultural fit. LinkedIn News predicts deals & IPOs?“may be warming up after a long chill.” More: https://lnkd.in/eV2dKPur?? Be ready!?

Last week, we hosted Peter Goldstein, Hearst’s Chief Product & AI Strategist, for an engaging Lunch & Learn on the evolving AI landscape and what it means for startups. From real-world use cases to actionable insights, Peter shared a wealth of knowledge on how early-stage companies can start leveraging AI today. Here are 5 key takeaways: ?? AI is moving fast—don’t wait to get onboard. Models and tools are accessible (and affordable), making now the time for startups to test, iterate, and integrate AI into their workflows or build it into their products. ?? Customer expectations are shifting as AI continues to reshape behavior. Hyper-personalized, bespoke content and intuitive, AI-powered features are driving customer stickiness, while traditional approaches like SEO are being redefined in the generative AI era. ?? Opportunities abound for startups prepared to act. Whether adapting content and processes to Gen AI, leveraging niche expertise for competitive advantage, or rethinking UI/UX to deliver smarter, faster, and tailored experiences, there’s ample room to differentiate against incumbents. ?? Embrace AI-driven transformations across business operations. Teams should integrate agentic tools like Cursor and Cline, rethink traditional roles and processes, and prioritize clean, high-quality data to maximize AI's impact. Peter emphasized that leadership buy-in and cultural shifts are critical enablers in this journey. ?? Experiment and iterate. As Peter advised, “Experiment more and accept imperfection.” AI’s pace demands startups weigh the risks of early adoption against those of standing still. Begin by refining individual tasks, then scale learnings to optimize team and organizational processes. A huge thank you to Peter for sharing his expertise and to the HearstLab community for your questions. How is your startup using AI either building it into your solution or to improve workflows? What challenges or wins have you experienced? Let’s keep the conversation going! ??

In honor of Women's History Month (and a head start on Earth month ??) HearstLab teamed up with Project W and Climate Tech Cities to host Women in Climate, bringing together industry leaders, investors, and startups committed to building a sustainable future. So, who cares about sustainability? Special guest Faith Taylor SVP Sustainability at Kyndryl kicked off the evening by reminding everyone in the room that WE care and that women are on the frontlines of climate change ?? Next up was a series of pitches from Scope Zero's Lizzy Kolar on employee engagement, Aloqia's Stephanie Benedetto on inventory circularity, AptDeco's Reham Fagiri on complex 2nd-hand commerce, and Planet FWD's Kayalin Akens-Irby on supply chain scalability. Then, Estefania Palomino (United Nations Global Compact) moderated an inspiring investor panel with Malika Cantor of Amazon Web Services (AWS), Olga Polunina of Independence Point Advisors, Sonam Velani of Streetlife Ventures, and Diana Rhoten of PVG. ?? Key Takeaways: ???????????? ?????? ?????????????? ???? ???????? ???? ????????. ?? It's essential to pair purpose with profitability. How? Optimize unit economics, get as close to price parity as possible (few will pay $25 for a product when the alternative is $5), and demonstrate viable financial and environmental returns to give investors the confidence they need. ???? ?????????? ?????? ???????????? ???????? ???????? ? Companies can accelerate their sustainability strategy and solutions with AI tools that are fast and effective at a fair price, helping businesses scale and stay competitive. ?????????????? ???????? ?????????????? ?????????? ????????. ?? While many VC-backed startups aspire to achieve unicorn status, there are other ways to be extraordinarily successful as a founder (e.g. retaining 100% of a $100M company versus less than 1% of a $1B company). Large enterprises are still interested in buying tuck-in businesses that solve big problems. ??????’?? ???? ???? ???? ??????????. ?? How do you go from niche to widespread adoption? It's time to collaborate with influential players and brands. Prove that you're solving a major pain point, then ensure measurable results. ?????????? ???? ?????? ??????????, ?????? ?????? ??????????. ?? Look at the market not the headlines. When raising capital, think beyond VC and utilize a range of capital (non-dilutive) to fund your business in a sustainable way. BONUS: Head to the comments for upcoming opportunities and funding for climate startups. We are incredibly thankful to all our speakers, co-hosts, and everyone who came out last night and filled the room with energy, excitement and support for women in climate. A special thank you to our chairwoman Eve Burton for stopping by, as well as HearstLab’s Katie Bailey and guest MC Michelle Tulac of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. We can't wait to do this again! (Speaking of, comment/tag if interested in a collab for NYC’s official Climate Week this September 2025 ????)

Always great to see our HearstLab Scouts and founders teaming up IRL! ??: Scouts Donna Baker-Miller and Cindy Hommer, MSW, LICSW with MD Ally Founder & CEO Shanel Fields during the 2025 WBL (Women Business Leaders of the US Health Care Industry Foundation) Summit. --- Portfolio company MD Ally | 911 Network Navigation is a triage and telemedicine solution for a non-emergency 911 callers. Its mission is to broaden the scope of EMS care, improve patients’ clinical outcomes and first responders’ ability to save lives ??.

?? ICYMI: Catch this replay of Springboard Enterprises's Dolphin Tank in partnership with Amazon and The Female Quotient during #SXSW featuring HearstLab’s own Lisa Burton, PhD as a panelist. Watch below ??

Get the Sustainability Playbook ??: Join us next week for our Women in Climate event with Climate Tech Cities and Project W. What to expect? Learn tactical steps on how to identify & integrate sustainability into core business practices from leading enterprises?& startup business leaders including: Estefanía Palomino, LL.M (United Nations Global Compact), Sonam Velani (Streetlife Ventures), Malika Cantor (Amazon Web Services (AWS)) and Diana Rhoten (PVG), Stephanie Benedetto (Aloqia (formerly Queen of Raw)) + HearstLab portco founders Reham Fagiri (AptDeco), Kayalin Akens-Irby (Planet FWD), and Lizzy Kolar (Scope Zero). ???RSVP to secure your seat here: https://lu.ma/rx74ocdu

Last week, I attended Female Founders Day by the?The Female Founder Collective. The event was filled with honest conversations about early-stage entrepreneurship, empowerment, and community building. A few highlights: 1. Sara Blakely,?founder of Spanx, shared a reminder that intuition can be our strongest compass in business: "Your gut is your guide." 2. Babba (Canales) Rivera of?Ceremonia?underscored the reality of authentic community and brand building: "Behind any overnight success, there are years of building that we don't get to see." 3. Lydia Fenet?on personal branding: "Seek out opportunities to be one of one." (We loved having her as MC for our 2024 Female Force event! More: https://lnkd.in/eZ7se6hn) 4. HearstLab’s?Julia Collins?(Founder& CEO of?Planet FWD)?emphasized the importance of finding aligned investors and building strong relationships with them (a marathon, not a sprint!) and challenged the common myth that founders must be stoic... being your authentic self attracts the right opportunities! + Always a bonus to run into?HearstLab?founders “in the wild” including?Katie Hill,?founder of UNLISTED and 2024 winner of our $100K pitch competition in NYC! These events are a reminder that bringing together curated communities in-person are critical for relationship-building and knowledge-sharing to fuel growth. Speaking of, we are <1 month away from our 2025 HearstLab Showcase & CEO Summit. We’d love for you to join us in person or virtually:?https://lu.ma/gxaya5of #FFDTheExpress?#FemaleFounders #Entrepreneurship #WomenInBusiness #Leadership

For too long, parenthood—especially motherhood—was seen as a roadblock to professional success and a nonstarter for launching a thriving company. Fortunately, that narrative is changing. But there’s an even more powerful story that needs to be told: Far from being a barrier, motherhood can be the catalyst that propels female leaders to achieve their biggest ambitions ??. In our latest collab with Dreamers & Doers?, 47 founders share just how powerful moms in business can be, including HearstLab portco founders (and supermoms) April Johnson (Happied), Summer Delaney, MBA (CollabWORK), Basha Rubin (Priori), Katie Hill (UNLISTED), Tovah H. (Bodily), Jennifer Ryan (Croux), and Courtney Jeffries (VRTL). Check out their stories below ?? --- ?? OFFER ALERT: Now through May 31, 2025, maternal health company Bodily is offering an exclusive discount on its evidence-based products that help give women the knowledge and care they deserve. Use code "??????????????&??" at checkout for 20% off.

What do business (especially investing in startups) and poker have in common? They’re risky. Here are some top takeaways from our Poker Power event at this year’s #SXSW: ?? Fold more. Don’t waste time where you know you don’t have an advantage. ?? Maximize your winning hand. When the odds are in your favor, bet big. (And, even the best odds can still lose.) Evaluate and manage your risks. ?? Play your opponent. There’s more to the game than just what’s in your hand. Build confidence and improve ability to read behavior and adapt your strategy on the fly. Thanks again to our partners at Goldenrod Ventures, Project W, ESPN and Carta for another fantastic evening of Poker Power at SXSW. Always great to re-connect with new & familiar faces including Lynn Loacker, Martina Welkhoff, Emily Fallon Baum, Capitalize VC, Kristen Wiley, and many many more! Special shout out to TOST Beverages, Vinat, & Summer Water Rosé for sponsoring the reception.

Happy Friday! Here’s some news, happenings and big wins from the HearstLab portfolio this week: ???Four portfolio company founders were named to Inc. Magazine’s 2025 Female Founders 500. Congrats to Shanel Fields (MD Ally | 911 Network Navigation), Sheri Atwood (SupportPay), April Johnson and Sharon Cao (Happied) Get the full list of honorees here: https://lnkd.in/gEb9rQb9 ???Spotted in ELLE Magazine: Ayane Nawa, CEO of Tokyo-based portfolio company zooba, Inc., sat down with ELLE this International Women's Day to discuss entrepreneurship, how to close the gender gap in STEM and more: https://lnkd.in/enKkTBP4 ??? Calling all #pharma and #CRO vendor managers: Portfolio company Strategikon, led by Anca Copaescu, is hosting a webinar just for you ???March 27 on transforming vendor category management. Details here: https://lnkd.in/eu5k_Yy2