Kevin Jurovich

Two days ago, I decided to open up my schedule for quick 15-minute chats with fellow founders on LinkedIn.

I didn’t have a specific agenda—just wanted to connect with some founders and share some wisdom.

The response was incredible! One of the first to book a time was Shanise Thomason, who pulled over to the side of the street to secure a spot. (see photo) 🚗

Shanise is a second-time founder in the space; her previous company was acquired after reaching 18 locations. 

Now, she’s the founder of Tressed, an Atlanta-based company that's like Warby Parker but for hair extensions and wigs. With two brick-and-mortar locations and nearly $500k in revenue, she’s making moves.

But Shanise has even bigger plans. 

She’s looking to scale her business by building an online presence and creating an app that lets customers virtually try on weaves before purchasing. 

If you've experienced Warby Parker’s VR setup, you know what a game-changer this could be!

To me what I loved about her is her self-awareness and humility. She knows her strengths and where she needs support. These are the kinds of people you want to back.

After just 15 minutes together, I knew I wanted to help. 

She doesn’t have a tech background and isn’t familiar with building an app (which can be learned), but she has a growth mindset and a proven track record of winning.

Shanise doesn’t know this yet, but after reading this, she will—I’m connecting her with one of our designers to help bring her vision to life and mock up an MVP.

There are so many amazing people out there hustling. Sometimes, all it takes is a little direction and one conversation to make a difference.

Investors, keep Shanise on your radar—she’s planning to fundraise in a few months. 

She’s a badass, and I’m excited to watch her journey unfold.

#startups #entrepreneurship #venturecapital

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