Draining my 401K, $10M in tech and you may need to move

Friends—

This past two weeks, I’ve been focusing on scaling KT Winery + Mom Juice. We’re entering new states, raising a $500K bridge round, and growing our team, all while focusing on building a solid business.

Living in Denver, CO isn’t exactly a “no-brainer” for a wine founder BUT there are definitely some advantages like:

• Keeping a closer touch-point to the “non-startup” community, aka your actual customers

• Cost of living in Colorado vs. Napa

• Tax advantages you don’t get in super-conglomerated cities for your industry

Let’s talk real: building a founder-led brand outside the “big three” (NYC, LA, Austin) means you’re often pitching from the sidelines. Accessibility is trending (shoutout to Cherub), but proximity still talks. The reality is money moves between people who know someone, who knows someone, and it’s hard to get into that groove if you’re not living in those cities. So you have to get creative about your funding sources, your conversations, and where you put yourself. You also have to be realistic about the access to capital based on where you’re living.

This week, we’re spotlighting founders who’ve made the room wherever they are with a plus-up, solo episode on the Podcast where I am sharing my own playbook for going from 401k-funded R&D phase to where we are now.

Also, we’re prepping for our summer campaign (systems are my love language now), and we’re officially open for sponsors for our biggest event of the year in Denver—She’s Got the Juice. If you're building for women founders, Mothers and/or Rich Aunties; reply back to this email and I’ll get you some info.

Let’s get into it 👇

“People don’t expect the girl in sneakers to own a defense contracting firm.”

I brought my dear friend AND investor, Paige Goss, on the mic. She’s an important example of a self-funded, gritty entrepreneur who made some life-changing strides in the last year ($10M, anyone?) This episode breaks the myth that you need the perfect resume to build a powerful business in a high-barrier industry.

🔥 Paige shares:

• Why knowing your numbers is pure power

• How to create a culture that doesn’t rely on corporate perks

• The exact framework she uses to spot high-impact, women-led opportunities

💡 Takeaways:

• Why being underestimated can be a superpower

• Why numbers don’t lie and why women need to know theirs

• How Paige sources investments and chooses women-led startups to back

• The one question every founder must answer before asking for investment

Listen to the Epsiode Here

Bonus Ep → My Founder Origin Story

This one’s raw. I open up about:

• Leaving event planning, bootstrapping KT Winery, and draining my 401k

• The near-breakdown moment that turned into a career-defining pivot

• Why authenticity isn’t always easy—but it’s everything

• Boundaries, therapy, and learning to lead without breaking

Listen Here on Apple

🛍️ What We’re Loving Lately

• Product: Corpse Revivers’ new Blueberry Flavor, it’s so good

• Tool: Notion AI — our new assistant for systemizing everything before our summer drop

• Move: Paige moved across the country pregnant with twins and built from scratch 🤯

💭 Founder Thought of the Week

Great brands aren’t built on vibes—they’re built on systems.

You don’t need to be loud. You need to be clear. Know your margins. Know your values. Know who’s in the room when you're not—and how to get in it anyway.

🎉 Event Alert: She’s Got the Juice — Denver, September

Our founder-forward, no-BS wellness and community event returns.

We’re actively looking for aligned sponsors—especially brands that support women, wellness, and building with intention.
→ Get on the waitlist or drop us a line

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Forward this to a founder friend or hit reply and say hey — we love hearing what’s resonating (or what’s real in your world).