S2E13: From Fundraise to Exit: What Every Founder Wants to Know, Jennifer Lewis, Exited Founder, Lex

Описание: In this episode, Andy Walsh sits down with Jennifer Lewis, former Founder CEO of queer social app Lex, to unpack the full arc from first fundraise to exit.

Jennifer shares what really happens behind the scenes when you’re raising as a queer female founder, how she navigated a co-founder departure mid-fundraise, and why “perfect data rooms” don’t close rounds.

They walk through how she scaled Lex into a beloved LGBTQ+ community, decided to sell to 9count, and protected the mission and culture through the acquisition.

If you’re a founder wrestling with fundraising, leadership, or whether to sell, this is a candid, hard-won playbook from someone who’s actually done it.

Jennifer Lewis
Jennifer is an expert in launching and scaling startups from Seed to Series B. With global experience across Nike, Universal Music, Unilever, and Pepsi, she brings a bold, creative mindset to growth. She’s known for her work in women’s health, LGBTQ+ tech, and community-driven brands, and has led Lex through a major rebrand and exit. Jennifer has won 3 marketing effectiveness awards and over 40 creative awards.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction to the Journey of a Founder
01:28 From Advertising to Startups: Jennifer’s Background
04:47 Building Lex: A Personal Mission
09:57 The Importance of Fast Decision-Making
17:19 Navigating Co-Founder Dynamics and Fundraising
21:53 Navigating Leadership and Team Dynamics
25:34 Lessons from Fundraising Challenges
29:12 The Reality of Fundraising for Female Founders
33:16 The Importance of Culture in Acquisitions
36:41 Reflections on the Acquisition Decision
39:59 Exploring New Ventures and Personal Growth

About Lex
Lex is a social app for LGBTQ+ connection, inspired by vintage personal ads. Originally launched in 2019, it grew into a vibrant digital community for queer expression, with over 1 million downloads and millions of messages sent monthly. In 2024, Lex was acquired by 9count, home to other social platforms like Wink and Summer.

Music Credit:
“Neptuno” - Phondupe (Album: Onykia)

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