The 2 to 20 Newsletter - February 7th

In this issue we’re highlighting Katy Stover Fox and her company HigherPeople and Taylor Long of Nomads Swimwear.

In the latest podcast episodes, we interviewed Angela Mascarenas (Furnace AI) , Jesse Draper (Halogen Ventures), Caroline Cherkassky (Orrick) , and Alex Chung (Chai Ventures).

We’ll be announcing an event in March in Los Angeles! Stay tuned for details in the next issues of our newsletter.

Be sure to submit your upcoming event to be featured in the next issue. As always, you can fill out this form to be a featured founder or this form to highlight your upcoming fundraise.

Featured Founder Interview

Featured Founder: Katy Stover Fox

Tell us about HigherPeople

Recruit. Reskill. Retain.

At HigherPeople, we view talent development as a full-circle journey. Beyond finding great people, it’s about investing in long-term growth and retention. We primarily partner with early-stage startups (Pre-Seed to Series B) to deliver meaningful talent outcomes. Our commitment goes beyond one-off placements—we’re with teams every step of the way to recruit top talent, upskill teams, and build lasting reasons for people to stay.

With over 100 placements spanning 40+ roles, industries, and verticals, we provide cost-effective, flexible solutions that allow companies to pay only when hiring needs arise. Instead of bearing fixed and high recruiting costs, our model integrates seamlessly as a scalable, fractional resource that can be activated as needed. Known for our speed, transparency, and proven track record, we are the trusted choice for startups aiming to scale their teams with top-tier talent.

What inspired you to create your company?

Founding HigherPeople was inspired by both my early awareness of inequity and my corporate work experience that revealed consistent underinvestment in people strategy.

Growing up, I saw talent and potential go untapped simply due to a lack of resources or encouragement. Later, as a teacher, I worked hard to help my students realize their own abilities and believe in their futures. Those experiences instilled in me a passion for empowering individuals and an understanding of how impactful a supportive environment can be.

In the business world, however, I noticed that many companies, including some of the biggest names, often treat people as an afterthought. Studies show that nearly 50% of new hires consider leaving within their first year due to feeling undervalued and unsupported. I also found that companies typically seek recruitment support months after the need for a role arises, leaving critical gaps unfilled and teams overstretched.

In every other functional area of business (product, revenue, marketing, etc), we plan with precision; I simply thought that people deserved the same commitment.

HigherPeople was born to bring that level of foresight and diligence to talent strategy. Our approach provides companies with the tools to not only attract top talent, but retain and develop people over the long haul. With DEI-centered assessments, personalized hiring processes, and ongoing upskilling, we address the complete lifecycle of people strategy, helping build teams that are empowered, diverse, and committed.

At HigherPeople, we believe that proactive people strategy is transformative. It’s about recognizing that, as Jorge Paulo Lemann said, “The greatest asset of a company is its people”—and ensuring that asset is nurtured from day one.

What drives you to be an entrepreneur?

From a young age, I’ve always been incredibly driven, using my academic success and accomplishments as my "superpowers." As a kid, I quickly learned to measure my worth through success, channeling my energy into my academics and my accomplishments. This relentless drive laid the foundation for my entrepreneurial journey and I realize the decision to start a company may have been easier for me than most.

As a 4’11 female founder, I’ve encountered numerous obstacles, including being told that my success in sales was simply due to my appearance, constantly being called “cute and little” and that I "just don’t seem like a VP." It’s been a constant battle to tune out that noise and reaffirm my belief in myself.

All of the above has made for a journey of untangling my self-worth and people’s feedback from my own view of myself. As a female founder, it's easy to equate success with personal value, leading to a cycle of stress and self-doubt. I’ve learned that while striving for excellence is important, my worth is not solely defined by my success metrics. Recognizing this has been liberating, allowing me to approach challenges with a healthier mindset focused on growth and impact rather than perfection. However, I’m not going to lie – this is a constant challenge, one I am still working on to this day.

Where can people find your product / find you online?

We help companies all over the world! We are a remote company but our team is based in Texas and California.

Check out our LinkedIn!

Fundraising Highlights

Taylor Long of Nomads Swimwear

What round are you raising? Friends and Family

Any notable current investors or advisors? a16z Talent X Opportunity Fund

Any major traction, stats, or stories to highlight?

• Generated over $563K+ in revenue and has sold over 6,000 pieces since its launch in 2020.
• Available at Anthropologie, Shopbop, and soon Nuuly (Feb 25), with additional retailers like Nordstrom, Marriott, Hyatt, and more in our pipeline.
• Selected for Disney’s Project Elevate Program and will receive marketing mentorship, assistance crafting a 30-second commercial, and $50K to run the commercial across Disney’s streaming platforms.
• Tapped by State Farm Arena (Atlanta) to create custom swimsuit for Megan The Stallion.
• Received $100K investment from a16z Talent X Opportunity Accelerator.
• Spotlighted by prominent media outlets, such as Forbes, Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 60th Anniversary Issue, Business Insider, Marie Claire, InStyle, and Essence magazine, for its elevated design aesthetic, inclusive sizing, and sustainable approach.

Where can people find you and your product?

Online and LinkedIn

The 2 to 20 Podcast

We’re well under way for our first season of episodes of the 2 to 20 podcast co-hosted by Katie Vander Ark and Julia Belt! The show is live on Apple, Spotify and YouTube.

Check out our most recent episodes below:

Episode 5: Corporate World To Startups With Angela Mascarenas CEO of AI Furnace

Episode 6:?The Los Angeles Wildfire Relief Episode with Jesse Draper of Halogen Ventures.

Episode 7: Startup Survival Kit: What Every Founder Needs to Know with Caroline Cherkassky, Partner at Orrick

Episode 8: Diving Into Venture Capital With Alex Chung, Investor at Chai Ventures

If you would like to be featured or have suggestions on topics to be covered, please reach out to [email protected].

News

• Jessica Valenti has been collecting the CDC Guidelines and made them downloadable on CDCGuidelines.com.
• Adriana Wong has collected Contraception, Vaccine and STI information from the CDC website and made them downloadable here.

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