Episode 19: Denise Sandquist: The Power of Social Communities

In this episode, I share insights on how you can overcome rejection in pitching. I'll be giving you practical techniques to walk into meetings with the right mindset, identify the right investor, and effectively seek feedback to refine your approach and increase your chances of pitch success."Every no brings you closer to a yes, stay strong. keep refining your pitch and believe in the value of you and your business idea."

Join me, Nicole Denholder, your scale-up expert and fellow entrepreneur, on our latest episode of the Raise the Bar podcast by NCR! Today, we delve into the crucial topic of understanding different founder profiles and the types of money that best suit each stage of business growth. Tune in to gain valuable insights and strategies to propel your business forward!

On this podcast we talk to Shea Stanley  In 2011, she founded Little Steps Asia, the leading website and weekly e-newsletter dedicated to delivering the inside scoop to parents on what to do, buy, and discover in Asia and beyond. Little Steps Asia has been successfully running regionally with dedicated local sites in Hong Kong, Singapore, Bali, Jakarta, Macau, and Kuala Lumpur.  I talked to Shea about building her team, the right culture for international expansion, her use of tools, data and standard operating procedures for streamlined business management. So many invaluable and actionable takeaways you can use today! 

On this podcast we talk to David Friedrichs who co-founded Cerqular, which was borne out of their passion for sustainable living.  In this episode, David shares their moment of inspiration to launch, their transition from corporate to startup life, their vision for Cerqular and why most of their investors are female! 

On this episode, Nicole Denholder speaks with Vaishnavi Reddy about how Unsweetened Beauty is using AI-powered personalisation to simplify skincare. Vaishnavi also shares how they built their community to 30,000 people since launch, how they engage with the customers, the importance of micro personas, why they wanted an investor who backs their business and how they are deploying the $500,000 they recently raised. 

In this Episode, Nicole Denholder speaks with Denise Sandquist, the co-founder of SKAPA, the parent company FIKA, Asia's first female-focused AI social & dating app and the newly launched LIKA, authentic social network for Gen-Z where you connect with people in groups around mutual interest.  Denise shares her personal story that led to recognise the power of community, the launch of LIKA and the expansion into LIKA.

On this episode of Raise the Bar, we speak with Alison Eyring, the founder of Produgie, a Singapore based company that is building a new category in software to multiply the impact of every leader & team in all businesses. 

On this episode of Raise the Bar, we speak with Kate Choyce, the founder of HR Tech, a Hong Kong based company revolutionising the recruitment industry through technology.  Kate explains how she is driven night and day to change the recruitment industry through their flagship product the HR Pod and how success, through validation by companies such as Microsoft, keeps her motivated. 

Rithika Gupta, the founder of Ollie, a Singapore based retail brand that helps you better harness the power of essential oils. Rithika shares learning about essential oils through her family’s wholesale business , FP Aromatics Singapore, and how she then launched Ollie as a direct to consumer product business and the differences that she has experienced between these two business models. She also shares the benefits of starting in Singapore and how she is focused on Ollie being innovative in an existing industry segment. As a member of Next Chapter’s Capital Club programme, an exclusive programme for women business leaders ready to fundraise, we are pleased to be sharing Rithika’s journey as a founder and her plans for Ollie.

Iva is the co-founder of RE.VITYL, a company producing a collection of holistic sleep-routine products that will naturally revitalize the way you live your best life. Iva has a 20 year global corporate career spanning North America, Europe and Asia in management and product development with Adidas, Ralph Lauren, Timex Group, Hudsons Bay Company. She shares how sleep and wellness become critical to her health and wellbeing and how this led to the creation of RE.VITYL, her plans for growing REVITYL , and gives tips for women starting their fundraising journey including how being bold on LinkedIn has been instrumental in reaching out to customers and potential investors. As a member of Next Chapter’s Capital Club, an exclusive programme for women business leaders ready to fundraise, we are pleased to be sharing Iva’s journey as a founder and her plans for RE.VITYL.