#71 Raising Kids Is Hard. So Is Raising a Startup.

Optimism

Jen Saxton's relentless optimism is a driving force behind her entrepreneurial journey. She shares how her positive outlook and strategic approach have helped her navigate the challenges of raising capital for her startup, Tot Squad. Jen explains that creating a sense of urgency among investors is crucial, and she successfully used this tactic to generate interest from multiple venture capitalists 1.

My team, at some point, somebody was asked, like, how would they describe me? And Anne, who does marketing for us, said, Jen is relentlessly optimistic, and I just love that.

--- Jen Saxton

Her confidence is further bolstered by coaching from a female founders group, which taught her to use empowering language when discussing her business opportunities 2.

   

Emotions

Jen's entrepreneurial path is marked by emotional highs and lows, reflecting the unpredictable nature of startup life. She candidly describes moments of doubt and resilience, highlighting the emotional roller coaster that comes with building a business 3. Despite facing setbacks, Jen remains hopeful, especially with major retailers like Amazon and Walmart now partnering with Tot Squad, signaling a turning point for her company.

Entrepreneurship is a roller coaster, and it has the highest highs and the lowest lows, and I've pulled over on the side of the road and cried in my car, wondering why people are so mean to me.

--- Jen Saxton

Her journey underscores the importance of perseverance and adaptability in the face of adversity.