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Beyond the Bank: Tap into Non-Traditional Funding with Crowdsourcing
November 13 @ 5:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Meet Kim Lewis: The Founder Who Turned Setbacks into Million-Dollar Opportunities
After facing a major challenge with her first startup, Kim didn’t give up—instead, she pivoted and launched CurlMix in 2015, a revolutionary DIY beauty brand for curly hair enthusiasts.
In 2019, Kim made headlines on Shark Tank when she boldly turned down a $400,000 offer, standing firm in her belief that CurlMix was destined for bigger things.
Her vision paid off. In 2021, CurlMix made waves again by offering customers the chance to invest directly in the brand through equity crowdfunding. The result? A staggering $4.5 million raised from nearly 7,000 investors.
Kim’s journey didn’t stop there. She’s since raised additional capital through institutional investors, gaining firsthand insight into the benefits—and challenges—of both traditional and non-traditional funding sources.
In this dynamic session, Kim will reveal her experiences as a founder who’s successfully navigated both worlds. Don’t miss her inspiring story and actionable insights into using community crowdfunding to fuel your own entrepreneurial dreams.
This event is presented in partnership with Future Founders, an organization that is building the nation’s largest inclusive community of intentional young entrepreneurs and entrepreneurial-minded leaders. Future Founders, run by EO Chicago member Scott Issen, immerses youth ages 12-30 in experiences that inspire and empower them to adopt an entrepreneurial mindset and create their own opportunity. Since 2005, they’ve served over 47,000 youth and their founders generated $374M in revenue, raised $299M in capital, and created 1,980 jobs.
During the networking portion, you’ll have the opportunity to connect with Future Founders’ top 18- to 30-year-old founders from across the country while they are in Chicago. Don’t miss your chance to connect with the next generation of entrepreneurs!
