Top 3 Things I am Excited About

I can tell that it is summer because things are heating up quick....Flat Out of Heels and Solutions Vending are on FIRE (see what I did there?). Every quarter I post a blog with the top things that I am excited about at work. I use this an opportunity to share my recent successes and challenges, seek advice and feedback, and ask for help when needed. Thank you for following the journey! Now on to the excitement...

#1 - NEW INVESTORS + ACCELERATORS

I am SUPER excited that my Solutions Vending International (SVI) team completed and graduated from the Canopy Boulder Accelerator Program in May. Canopy Boulder invested in SVI and we went through a 14 week accelerator program where we learned so much about the fast growing cannabis industry. We identified how we can apply our software solution to increase revenue and reduce expenses for dispensary owners and brands selling ancillary products and we are working on that technology now. So many people have asked me 'Are you getting in the cannabis industry? How is Cannabis relevant to SVI? I posted a blog to answer all of these questions and recap my experience at Canopy. CLICK HERE to check it out. At the end of the program we had our Demo Day in front of hundreds of investors and members of the Boulder community. It was awesome!

We recently welcomed two new investors to our family - Backstage Capital invested in SVI in April. In my last update I told you that Backstage invested in Flat Out of Heels, and now I am officially a double 'Headliner' (that's what Managing Partner Arlan Hamilton calls the Founders of the companies she invests in, I can't emphasize enough how much I love Arlan and working with her!). Terry Hefty of Peak Asset Management also joined SVI as an advisor and investor. Terry has been an invaluable resource for us.

Last but not least...we were accepted into 3 top accelerators for summer 2017, it was a tough decision to choose the best one for us at our current stage, but we made our choice and we are starting next week! I can't tell you which one just yet (I can after July 17) but this will be an AMAZING opportunity for SVI. The mentor network and family of start ups is world class and the investment will definitely get us to our next milestone. We are closing our pre-seed round July 17, if you are interested in checking out our term sheet shoot me an email.

#2 - NEW TEAM MEMBERS

LOVE MY TEAM!! SVI Leadership Team (L to R):Nathan Romano, ME, Richard Okorie, Stuart Schaefer, Mary McMartin)

The Solutions Vending International team is growing! We welcomed Mary McMartin to the team as Chief Strategy Officer, Nathan Romano as CTO, and Stuart Schaefer as COO. When I tell you my team is the bomb....I'm seriously honored to be working with them. We are hiring right now for a Sales Executive (Columbus, Ohio) and a Los Angeles Based Intern. Please send candidates my way.

#3 - FLAT OUT PARTNERSHIP WITH WALMART + ESSENCE FESTIVAL

After several years of patience, Flat Out of Heels has secured a partnership with Walmart and we are selling on the Marketplace! Flat Out was a featured Walmart supplier at the 2017 Essence Festival in New Orleans, more than 450,000 people attend this annual music festival and Flat Out was in the center of the action! Check out the video below produced by Walmart featuring Flat Out and the other the diverse suppliers featured at the event.

We had a great weekend of sales and I also had the opportunity to speak at the Google Black Women's Entrepreneurship Summit and speak at the Essence Festival Path to Power Pitch Competition. Essence Festival featured me as an Essence Festival 'Path to Power' Success Story, click the image below to watch! 

If you know someone with experience and strength in digital marketing, online retail, e-commerce, and/or fashion please send them my way I am seeking to hire a new General Manager for Flat Out. There are so many more great things that I am excited about but I will save them for my next update! As always feel free to reach out with questions or comments. 

Until next time...