DIY TO VC: Founder For Life
To build something from nothing with nothing or not
In the world of venture capital, where cis white male investors often control the purse strings, I saw myself as a modern-day riot grrrl. My mission? To funnel VC money back into the queer community, carrying the torch of a movement that shaped my youth into the realm of tech startups. This is the story of how I tried to merge the ethos of punk feminism with the demands of building a venture-backed company, and the lessons I learned along the way.
Roots in Rebellion
As a teenager in the '90s, I was geographically and socially isolated from the riot grrrl scene, but its impact on me was profound. This underground feminist punk phenomenon, which originated in Olympia, Washington, quickly spread across the Pacific Northwest and beyond, becoming a cornerstone of third-wave feminism. Bands like Bikini Kill, Bratmobile, and Heavens to Betsy tackled issues such as sexual assault, domestic violence, sexuality, racism, and patriarchy in their music.
While I never attended a live show, I immersed myself in the culture – the zines, the thrifted clothes, dirty hair, red lipstick, the unapologetic attitude. Bratmobile became my favorite band, inspiring me to redesign their album cover for a high school art project.
The Marie Metaphor
At 18, now an art student in Boston, I stumbled upon a film that would become locked into my psyche: DAISIES (1966), a Czechoslovakian experimental comedy directed by Věra Chytilová. One scene in particular stood out: Two women, both named Marie, crash a date between one Marie and an older man. They proceed to eat and drink excessively, mocking the man's advances before dashing off without paying.
This scene became the metaphorical blueprint for my approach to venture capital. I saw myself as Marie, cleverly outmaneuvering the system to build something meaningful for my community. However, the film's playful anarchy didn't capture the complex realities of accepting VC funding – the strings attached, the emotional toll, and the unique challenges faced by a solo, queer founder.
Navigating the VC World as a Queer Founder
When I first started pitching my startup, Lex, in NYC, I found myself face-to-face with mostly white male investors with backgrounds that often included MBAs from Harvard or Stanford. The contrast was stark – here I was, an art-school dropout with zero business background, trying to convince traditional VCs to invest in a platform for the LGBTQ+ community.
The experience was both empowering and disorienting. On one hand, securing this coveted capital allowed me to build a queer team and create on our own terms. I paid my staff competitively, with both cash and generous equity, and covered 100% of their health insurance. On the other hand, I often felt like an outsider in investor meetings, struggling to translate my vision into the language of metrics and growth projections.
Being a queer founder in the VC world meant constantly switching between the culture I was building for and the culture I was seeking funding from. It was exhausting, but it also gave me a unique perspective on how to bridge these worlds.
The Toll of Straddling Two Worlds
As time went on, the strain of balancing my riot grrrl-inspired ideals with the demands of running a venture-backed startup began to show. While I excelled in many aspects of being a CEO, particularly in building a strong team culture, I struggled with the nitty-gritty of strategy, metrics, and roadmaps.
Self-doubt crept in. I berated myself, convinced I was failing at my job. My confidence eroded until I felt I had nothing left to offer – my personal definition of burnout. The irony was palpable: feeling like an impostor in the very company I had founded. Overwhelmed by sadness, distress, and humiliation, I made the difficult decision to step back.
Reflections and Lessons Learned
This experience led me to wonder: Can the spirit of Riot Grrrl truly coexist with the demands of building a venture-backed business? I'm not so sure, and I don't think we even want or need this.
What I continue to carry on and truly believe in is the spirit of building something from nothing. With very little resources aside from overflowing passion and the power of people, you can build almost anything.
If I could go back and advise my younger self, I would say: Consider skipping the VC step and go directly to profit by charging for your services. You may not build a billion-dollar company, but you can create something sustainable for you and your community.
Moreover, it's time to challenge the very notion of what a successful founder looks like. Success isn't just about capital raised or exponential growth – it's about creating value for your community and staying true to your principles.
A New Chapter
Today, as I reflect on my journey from punk-culture enthusiast to venture-backed CEO and founder on sabbatical, I'm embarking on a new mission. I want to empower creative founders, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds, to transform their ideas into powerful products and companies.
I'm here for the non-traditional paths, the creative problem-solvers, and the passionate builders. My approach combines innovative audience-building strategies with lean startup methodologies, ensuring that products resonate deeply with their users from day one.
The spirit of riot grrrl – its DIY ethos, its commitment to community, its challenge to the status quo – still burns bright in me. But now, tempered by experience, I'm finding new ways to channel that spirit into creating change in the startup world.
As I shared my story recently on social media, the response was overwhelming. Messages flooded in from queer individuals and women, thanking me for showing them that they too could build something incredible from nothing. The messages pushed me to think deeper on this cultural crossover, inspiring this essay and warming my heart.
The path from my 90s punk era to VC-backed founder and beyond hasn't been easy, but it's taught me invaluable lessons about authenticity, resilience, and the power of staying true to one's values. As I move forward, I carry with me the spirit of Marie I and Marie II, the DIY ethos of riot grrrl and punk, and the hard-won wisdom of a founder who's been through the VC experience. And I'm excited to see where this unique combination will lead me – and those I can help – next.
Are you a founder, creative, or non-techie with a brilliant idea waiting to be transformed into reality? I'm here to help. Let's break down those tech barriers together and build something amazing.
🎀 Ready to take the first step towards your own transformation? Share your thoughts in the comments, or reach out for a complimentary call at Office Kel Rakowski (OKR)