GREY Journal

?? 2024’s Biggest Startup Failures—And What You Can Learn ?? They say 90% of startups fail—and 2024 didn’t disappoint. In just Q1, 254 startups shut down, from high-flying unicorns to buzzworthy apps. Why did they crash? And more importantly—how can you avoid the same fate? From fintech flops to flying taxi disasters, here’s a quick look at this year’s biggest startup failures and the hard lessons every founder should know. ?? Learn from their mistakes https://lnkd.in/eZ8Cf_FB #Startups #LessonsLearned #Entrepreneurship

?? Are you building a CPG brand in NYC? . . Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) founders know the struggle—rising production costs, supply chain delays, and the constant challenge of getting customers to notice (and love) your product. The reality? Every successful brand has battle scars. At Ugly Talk: Consumer Packaged Goods Businesses, we’re getting real about what it takes to build, distribute, and scale in a competitive market. Expect candid stories, hard-earned lessons, and insights you won’t hear anywhere else. Topics on the table: ?? Manufacturing & supply chain challenges—what works, what doesn’t ?? Branding & marketing strategies that break through the noise ?? Smart scaling without losing control of your vision ?? Finding funding & the right partners to grow your business ?? Meet the panelists: ?? April Wachtel – Founder & CEO, Cheeky Cocktails ?? JW Wiseman – Founder, curious elixirs ?? Nicole Light – Founder, Power In Packaging ?? Moderated by Glenn Johnson – Marketing Consultant, Fractional CMO ?? March 26, 2025 | ?? 6:30 - 8:30 PM EST ?? The Yard: Herald Square, NYC ?? Free admission – register now → [https://lnkd.in/epshuUmc] #CPGFounders #Entrepreneurship #UglyTalk #ScalingUp #BrandBuilding #ProductLaunch

NYC! What. A. Night! . . If you were at Ugly Talk: The Immigrant Founder Experience in collaboration with Making In America, you already know—the raw stories, practical tips, and real, unfiltered conversations about the challenges and wins of building a business as an immigrant in the U.S. ?? Visa struggles. ?? Cultural hurdles. ?? Networking barriers. ?? Hard-earned victories. Big thanks to our incredible panelists for sharing their experiences: ??? Liesel Vaidya – Founder of Imera, helping immigrants navigate life in the U.S. ??? Amie Wiley – CEO of Active With Amie, turning content creation into a thriving business ??? Craig Montuori – Policy strategist and advocate for immigrant founders ??? Sagnik Basu(Moderator) – Founder of Making In America Support Sponsors Who Supports You Redrob and The Yard Coworking And of course, shoutout to everyone who joined the conversation, asked the hard questions, and brought their full selves to the room. ?? Missed it? Check out the event gallery → [https://lnkd.in/erxrVBEC] ?? What stuck with you the most? Drop it in the comments! ?? #ImmigrantFounders #Entrepreneurship #UglyTalk #NYCStartups #NoFluff #ScalingUp #o1Visa #startupvisa

Immigrant Founders & Builders in NYC—You’re Not Alone. We get it. The visa hurdles. The cultural shifts. The missing networks. It’s a path that requires resilience, creativity, and relentless determination—and yet, many immigrant entrepreneurs find a way to thrive. This Wednesday, join 150+ founders (and counting) for an honest, no-fluff conversation about what it really takes to build and scale a company in the U.S. as an immigrant entrepreneur. ?? Why You Should Be in the Room ?? Learn from founders who’ve navigated the toughest challenges—without sugarcoating the reality. ?? Discover how to turn your global perspective into a competitive advantage. ?? Hear the lessons that don’t get shared on typical panels—the setbacks, the pivots, the breakthroughs. ?? Meet investors, mentors, and fellow immigrant founders who understand the journey—and want to help you succeed. ??? Meet the Panelists ?? Liesel Vaidya, CEO/Founder, @Imera – Building an AI-powered platform to help immigrants navigate life in the U.S. ?? Amie Wiley, CEO/Founder, Active with Amie – A first-gen immigrant who turned content creation into a thriving business. ?? Craig Montuori, Director at gener8tor – A policy strategist who’s helped immigrant founders secure over $580M in venture funding. ?? Moderated by Sagnik Basu, Founder of Making In America. Over 150 founders have already RSVPed, and spots are limited. If you’re an immigrant founder—or someone who supports them—don’t miss this Ugly Talk in NYC! ?? https://lnkd.in/erxrVBEC

This one hits home

? Vibe Check ? Mic Check ? SoHo NYC ? Ugly Talk:What It Takes To Win In eCommerce In 2025 ? See you at the next Ugly Talk. ?? #UglyTalk #NYCevents #ecommerceNYC #Shopify #DTC #Entrepreneurship

Effective networking can open doors to funding, partnerships, mentorship, and industry insights, giving you access to resources that wouldn’t be available otherwise. As a founder, understanding how to network strategically is crucial for long-term success. Social capital—the relationships and trust you build—can directly impact your ability to secure investments, gain credibility, and scale your business. https://lnkd.in/egPbFSNy

Raising your first round? The playbook isn’t what you think. . . Pitch decks, warm intros, and polished investor meetings only tell part of the story. The real lessons come from founders who’ve been in the trenches—navigating term sheets, tough negotiations, and the moments when it felt like the deal might fall apart. At Ugly Talk: First-Time Fundraising, co-hosting with FounderSquare, we’re bringing together founders who’ve closed their first round and the investors who backed them to share what actually happens behind the scenes. No fluff. Just real, unfiltered insights. ?? February 20, 2025 ?? Microsoft Building, 11 Times Square, NYC ? 6:00 - 9:00 PM EST ?? Speakers Include: ?? Krishna Dosapati – CEO, Clockout | $1.3M raised | 100K+ downloads in 6 months ?? Vince Trost– CEO, Plastic Labs | $5.35M raised across 3 rounds ?? Michael Bervell – CEO, TestParty | $4M raised (Harlem Capital, Urban Innovation Fund & NSF) ?? Moderated by: Igor Volodin – Startup advisor & product expert What You’ll Take Away: ? How these founders actually closed their first round (the good, the bad, and the unexpected). ? What investors look for when deciding to write a check. ? The biggest mistakes first-time founders make—and how to avoid them. If you're a founder gearing up to fundraise, an investor scouting new opportunities, or just curious about venture-backed startups, this is for you. Spots are limited—lock in your invite. ?? https://lnkd.in/eREfg6HP . . . #NYC #NYCevent #fundraise #VC #UglyTalk #UglyTalkNYC #GreyJournal

Thank you—and over 150 eCommerce founders—for showing up and making Ugly Talk: What It Takes to Win in Ecommerce in Soho New York an unforgettable evening! The energy in the room was off the charts, and we hope you left with raw, unfiltered insights and some solid new connections. Special thanks to our speakers Olivia Landau??Founder & CEO of?The Clear Cut? Sahand Dilmaghani?Founder & CEO of?Terra Kaffe Lauren Melzer?Sr. Director of eCommerce of?Bubble Skincare Moderator: Brandon Blum?CEO & Founder of?New Edition?and?For Others Brand Partners: Shopify GREY Journal New Edition Signifyd Zamp Redrob Beverage Partners OLIPOP PBC Dirty Water Brand Inc. See event details and more photos here: https://lnkd.in/e2JeBDcw #UglyTalk #NYCevents #ecommerceNYC #Shopify

Trying to scale your DTC brand in 2025? Meet the strategist behind one of the fastest-growing skincare brands. Lauren Melzer Sr. Director of eCommerce at Bubble Skincare, has spent over a decade mastering what it takes to build and scale DTC brands. She specializes in seamless, customer-first digital experiences that don’t just drive sales—they create lasting brand loyalty. Lauren understands the real challenges DTC founders face—from rising acquisition costs to increasing customer retention in a competitive market. Join us at Ugly Talk: eCommerce 2025 on Feb 12 in NYC, where Lauren will share hard-earned lessons, the biggest shifts in online shopping behavior, and the strategies every DTC founder should focus on in 2025. ?? RSVP now: https://lnkd.in/e2JeBDcw #UglyTalk #eCommerce #DTC #Shopify #GreyJournal