Jaclyn Johnson is a powerhouse entrepreneur, investor, and advocate for women in business.By 35, she had already launched and sold two multimillion-dollar companies, including Create & Cultivate, a first-of-its-kind platform for female entrepreneurs that scaled to eight-figure revenue and partnered with Fortune 500 brands like Amazon, Mastercard, and Microsoft.Now, she’s back with Cherub, a double-sided marketplace designed to bridge the gap between underrepresented founders and democratizing access to category-defining companies. As both an angel investor and advisor, Jaclyn has backed businesses like Away, Live Tinted, and Chillhouse, bringing hard-won experience from her own journey into the founder–funding relationship.Subscribe nowIn this conversation, we break down:Jaclyn’s origin story: why she built CherubHow she approaches angel investing and the lessons she’s learnedWhat makes a great angel pitch (and what doesn’t)The realities of being an accredited investorWhy representation in funding isn’t just moral, it’s market-changingChapters00:00 The Importance of Angel Investments02:49 Jaclyn’s Journey as a Founder and Investor05:41 Understanding Angel Investors vs. Venture Capitalists08:28 The Role of Angel Advisors11:23 Building Relationships with Angels14:15 The Power of Brand Fame17:25 Cherub’s Mission and Deal Flow20:07 Educating Angels and Standardizing Investments23:13 Creating Effective Fundraising Pages26:12 The Role of Analytics in Fundraising29:04 Onboarding Founders to Cherub32:01 Connecting with Angels: Best Practices35:03 Diversifying the Investment Landscape37:58 The Future of Angel Investing40:35 Special Offers for Founders on CherubGuest BioJaclyn Johnson is the founder of Cherub and creator of Create & Cultivate, which she scaled to an eight-figure exit while reshaping how brands and communities support female entrepreneurs. Named a Forbes 30 Under 30 and an Adweek Disruptor, Jaclyn is an angel investor and advisor to companies including Away, Live Tinted, and Chillhouse. She’s dedicated to making capital and community more accessible for underrepresented founders while equipping the next generation of women entrepreneurs to scale.Who Should ListenFounders raising their first angel roundEntrepreneurs seeking representation and resourcesPeople curious about Angel Investing and how to get startedOperators looking to understand the angel landscapeMusic Credit“Neptuno” – Phondupe (Album: Onykia)Access All Areas.Listen: Apple || Spotify || YouTubeSubscribe: SubstackCommunity & Events: Founders CircleConnect: LinkedInSocials: TikTok || Instagram || XWeb: startupsdecoded.com
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Jaclyn Johnson is a powerhouse entrepreneur, investor, and advocate for women in business.By 35, she had already launched and sold two multimillion-dollar companies, including Create & Cultivate, a first-of-its-kind platform for female entrepreneurs that scaled to eight-figure revenue and partnered with Fortune 500 brands like Amazon, Mastercard, and Microsoft.Now, she’s back with Cherub, a double-sided marketplace designed to bridge the gap between underrepresented founders and democratizing access to category-defining companies. As both an angel investor and advisor, Jaclyn has backed businesses like Away, Live Tinted, and Chillhouse, bringing hard-won experience from her own journey into the founder–funding relationship.Subscribe nowIn this conversation, we break down:Jaclyn’s origin story: why she built CherubHow she approaches angel investing and the lessons she’s learnedWhat makes a great angel pitch (and what doesn’t)The realities of being an accredited investorWhy representation in funding isn’t just moral, it’s market-changingChapters00:00 The Importance of Angel Investments02:49 Jaclyn’s Journey as a Founder and Investor05:41 Understanding Angel Investors vs. Venture Capitalists08:28 The Role of Angel Advisors11:23 Building Relationships with Angels14:15 The Power of Brand Fame17:25 Cherub’s Mission and Deal Flow20:07 Educating Angels and Standardizing Investments23:13 Creating Effective Fundraising Pages26:12 The Role of Analytics in Fundraising29:04 Onboarding Founders to Cherub32:01 Connecting with Angels: Best Practices35:03 Diversifying the Investment Landscape37:58 The Future of Angel Investing40:35 Special Offers for Founders on CherubGuest BioJaclyn Johnson is the founder of Cherub and creator of Create & Cultivate, which she scaled to an eight-figure exit while reshaping how brands and communities support female entrepreneurs. Named a Forbes 30 Under 30 and an Adweek Disruptor, Jaclyn is an angel investor and advisor to companies including Away, Live Tinted, and Chillhouse. She’s dedicated to making capital and community more accessible for underrepresented founders while equipping the next generation of women entrepreneurs to scale.Who Should ListenFounders raising their first angel roundEntrepreneurs seeking representation and resourcesPeople curious about Angel Investing and how to get startedOperators looking to understand the angel landscapeMusic Credit“Neptuno” – Phondupe (Album: Onykia)Access All Areas.Listen: Apple || Spotify || YouTubeSubscribe: SubstackCommunity & Events: Founders CircleConnect: LinkedInSocials: TikTok || Instagram || XWeb: startupsdecoded.com
S2E2: Own the Audience or Lose the Game. Nick Humphreys - Linktree.
Startups Decoded
48 minutes
1 month ago
S2E2: Own the Audience or Lose the Game. Nick Humphreys - Linktree.
Send us a textAlgorithms are wringing creators dry. In this inspiring S2 episode, Linktree co-founder & CCO Nick Humphreys ($167M raised; 70M+ users) lays out the new playbook: AI that amplifies your voice, owning your audience over chasing vanity metrics, and revenue that holds when the feed goes quiet. If you’re rebuilding your 2025 content stack, start here.Subscribe nowNick Humphreys is the Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer of Linktree, one of the world’s fastest-growing tech platforms enabling creators, brands, and businesses to connect their audiences to everything they offer, on one simple, customizable page. With a background in digital strategy and design, Nick has been instrumental in shaping Linktree’s distinctive brand and product experience, used by over 50 million users globally.Launched in 2016, Linktree pioneered the “link in bio” category, transforming how people share content and monetize their presence online. From musicians and creators to global enterprises, Linktree empowers users to unify their digital ecosystem with clarity, creativity, and control. Linktree has raised approximately $167 million USD in total across its funding rounds.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Linktree and Its Impact01:52 The Early Days of Linktree06:19 Navigating the Startup Landscape11:03 Product Evolution and User Insights17:12 Understanding User Needs and Prioritization21:05 Monetization Strategies and Future Directions25:24 Navigating Audience Ownership and Monetization26:50 Adapting to Rapid Changes in Content Creation29:12 Integrating New Tools for Growth31:12 Balancing Functionality and User Experience34:18 The Future of Content Management Systems38:21 Insights for Founders on Using LinktreeMusic Credit:"Neptuno" - Phondupe (Album: Onykia)TakeawaysLinktree started as a solution to a problem for musicians.The evolution of Linktree's product has been driven by user feedback.Understanding the user base is crucial for product development.Linktree serves a diverse range of users, from celebrities to local businesses.Prioritizing features for a broad audience is a constant challenge.Monetization and audience ownership are key focuses for Linktree.The fNeed clarity on fundraising, strategy, or scaling? You can book me, Andy Walsh, directly on Hubble for focused 1:1 advice. 15, 30, or 45 minutes no fluff, just solutions.Head to hubble.social/AndyWalsh Forget what you know about non-alc beer, Heaps Normal is here to blow your mind. Aussie-made, purpose-driven, and built for founder life. Pick up a can in select Bay Area spots, including Whole Foods.HeapsNormal.comDiscover Smarter Investing with the Teaminvest Wealth Builders PodcastExpert insights and proven strategies from Australia's top investors. Build your wealth.Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySupport t ...
Startups Decoded
Jaclyn Johnson is a powerhouse entrepreneur, investor, and advocate for women in business.By 35, she had already launched and sold two multimillion-dollar companies, including Create & Cultivate, a first-of-its-kind platform for female entrepreneurs that scaled to eight-figure revenue and partnered with Fortune 500 brands like Amazon, Mastercard, and Microsoft.Now, she’s back with Cherub, a double-sided marketplace designed to bridge the gap between underrepresented founders and democratizing access to category-defining companies. As both an angel investor and advisor, Jaclyn has backed businesses like Away, Live Tinted, and Chillhouse, bringing hard-won experience from her own journey into the founder–funding relationship.Subscribe nowIn this conversation, we break down:Jaclyn’s origin story: why she built CherubHow she approaches angel investing and the lessons she’s learnedWhat makes a great angel pitch (and what doesn’t)The realities of being an accredited investorWhy representation in funding isn’t just moral, it’s market-changingChapters00:00 The Importance of Angel Investments02:49 Jaclyn’s Journey as a Founder and Investor05:41 Understanding Angel Investors vs. Venture Capitalists08:28 The Role of Angel Advisors11:23 Building Relationships with Angels14:15 The Power of Brand Fame17:25 Cherub’s Mission and Deal Flow20:07 Educating Angels and Standardizing Investments23:13 Creating Effective Fundraising Pages26:12 The Role of Analytics in Fundraising29:04 Onboarding Founders to Cherub32:01 Connecting with Angels: Best Practices35:03 Diversifying the Investment Landscape37:58 The Future of Angel Investing40:35 Special Offers for Founders on CherubGuest BioJaclyn Johnson is the founder of Cherub and creator of Create & Cultivate, which she scaled to an eight-figure exit while reshaping how brands and communities support female entrepreneurs. Named a Forbes 30 Under 30 and an Adweek Disruptor, Jaclyn is an angel investor and advisor to companies including Away, Live Tinted, and Chillhouse. She’s dedicated to making capital and community more accessible for underrepresented founders while equipping the next generation of women entrepreneurs to scale.Who Should ListenFounders raising their first angel roundEntrepreneurs seeking representation and resourcesPeople curious about Angel Investing and how to get startedOperators looking to understand the angel landscapeMusic Credit“Neptuno” – Phondupe (Album: Onykia)Access All Areas.Listen: Apple || Spotify || YouTubeSubscribe: SubstackCommunity & Events: Founders CircleConnect: LinkedInSocials: TikTok || Instagram || XWeb: startupsdecoded.com
