Show notes
In this episode of Beauty and the Brand, host Aggie Burnett sits down with Dominique Gagnonâbrand builder and award-winning innovator and growth strategist, Dominique helped found category-creating health & wellness brands like DEINDE, Caldera + Lab, and isbel&co. Dominique shares her insider perspective on what it takes to secure funding in todayâs beauty and wellness landscape. From understanding the critical role of Sephora contracts and retail distribution in valuations to demystifying metrics like CAC to LTV, Dominique reveals how founders can prepare for Series A and beyond. She also dives into the âdating gameâ of venture capital, highlighting why investor relationships must start before you need cash. For entrepreneurs weighing bootstrapping vs. VC funding, this conversation unpacks the trade-offs, common mistakes, and alternative financing paths. Whether youâre building a lifestyle business or chasing a high-stakes exit, Dominique offers practical, results-driven advice to help founders refine their growth strategy and position their brand for long-term successChapters:00:00:00 - Welcome to Beauty and the Brand Podcast00:01:06 - Meet Dominique00:02:14 - Bootstrapping vs. Venture Capital00:03:10 - How Retail Presence Impacts Funding and Acquisition00:04:09 - Why Investors Prioritize Retail: The Pathway to Exit00:07:52 - Identifying the Main Players in Beauty Investment00:09:30 - The Difference Between Family Funds and Traditional VCs00:11:03 - Key Advice: Why Finding Investors is Like Dating00:13:53 - Explaining "Lead Round" vs. "Follow Round" Investors00:15:00 - The Average Timeframe for Closing a Funding Round00:15:59 - The Best and Worst Times of Year to Fundraise00:17:00 - Key Metrics Investors Look for in a Bootstrapped Brand00:20:15 - How the Founder's Story and Commitment Influence Investment00:22:16 - The Biggest Pitching Mistake: Brand Story vs. Business Metrics00:23:30 - How to Determine How Much Capital to Raise00:26:32 - The Minimum Sales Needed to Attract Venture Capital00:26:58 - What Happens if a Retail Deal Falls Through Post-Investment00:28:32 - Investor Expectations: The 18-Month Runway00:30:16 - Common Strategies of Successfully Exited Brands (Medik8, Rhode, Aesop)00:34:10 - Case Study: Tatcha's Path to Success and the QVC Strategy00:35:39 - Alternative Financing Options Beyond Traditional VC00:37:43 - Start Networking with Investors from Day One00:38:10 - Where to Find and Work with Dominique OnlineLinks and Resources:đTake our 5 Days to Growing Your Iconic Beauty Brand Challenge for only $17! -https://abcreativenyc.com/signupđ Scale from 0 to 7 figures without spinning your wheels with the Beauty Brand Roadmap: https://abcreativenyc.com/the-beauty-brand-roadmapAggie on LinkedInAB Creative Aggie on InstagramDominique Gagnon CEW ProfileDEINDE: https://www.deinde.com/Caldera + Lab: https://calderalab.com/Dominiqueâs Consultancy: https://artofcreation.coDominique on LinkedInThanks so much for joining us this week. Want to subscribe to Beauty and the Brand? Have some feedback youâd like to share? Connect with us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube to leave us a review!
