Namaste, Brown Girl.
Itβs the first week of Septemberβspicy hot girl summer might be coming to a close but fallβ¦but fall is when brown girls turn harvest season into hustle season. From Forbes lists to $20M raises, from beauty awards to Amazon Fashion spotlights, August proved that brown girl momentum doesnβt take a holiday. βοΈπ₯
Welcome back to Brown Girls, Money Movesβthe newsletter written by brown girls, for brown girls. In this issue:
π‘Β Angel Investing 101: a crash course in βdue diligenceβ (and why it matters)
π Our back-to-school brown girl founder picks for raising the next generation of dreamers + builders
ποΈ The trailer drop for Brown Girls, Bold Moves, your new favorite podcast launching Sept 16th
π Plus: brown girl dinners in Toronto and SF, brown girl wins, and more gupshup you donβt want to miss
So grab your PSL (or your iced chai if youβre not ready to let go of summer yet), and letβs get into it. π§β¨
spicy money moves
π
Summerβs winding down, but brown girl momentum? Just getting started. From Wall Street to Warner Music, from estate tech to beauty aislesβbrown girls were busy making spicy money moves this August. Hereβs the roundup:
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π° Forget βaging gracefully.β These South Asian women investors are aging powerfullyβand the Forbes 50 Over 50 List proves it. From Wall Street to venture, theyβre running the tables.
π΅ Warner Music Group just dropped a collab with entertainment powerhouse powerhouse Anjula Acharia to launch 5 Junction Records, a label that aims to put South Asian artists front and center. Industry shake-up? We think yes.
π Bay Area startup Alix, co-founded by Alexandra Mysoor, secured a $20M Series A led by Acrew Capital, Charles Schwab, and Edward Jones Ventures. The company is reshaping estate settlement with tech efficiency and empathy for families navigating loss.
πΒ Brown girl beauty brand Inde Wild snagged Best Hair Oil at the Nykaa Awards. Proof that brown girl magic works root to tip.
πΒ South Asian fashion brand holiCHIC just landed a spot in Amazon Fashionβs new global initiativeβputting South Asian craftsmanship, culture, and couture in front of millions. Translation: South Asian style just got a global runway.
We love celebrating brown girl wins β¨Β Got a recent win, milestone, or shoutout you want us to know about? π© Submit your win by filling out this form and let the BGA community hype you up. π€
angel investing 101:
What is Due Diligence? π°
As an angel investor, due diligence is the homework you do before investing in a startup. It's like checking under the hood before buying a car to ensure everything runs smoothly.
π‘WHY IT MATTERSπ‘
For angel investors the main goals of due diligence are to:
π Understand the Company Inside and Out
Dive deep into every aspect of the startup to grasp its potential and challenges.
β οΈ Minimize Investment Risk
Identify and mitigate potential risks to protect your investment.
π― Determine if the Company is a Good Fit for Your Portfolio
Assess whether the company aligns with your investment strategy and goals
βοΈ DUE DILIGENCE CHECKLIST βοΈ
The process looks different for each investor but itβs usually grounded in your investment thesis. Here are some key essentials BGA looks into before investing:
ππΎββοΈ VIBE CHECK
Get to know the team - do you believe in the founding team and their vision for the company?
π° CRUNCH THE NUMBERS
Review the financial health of the company make sure the numbers add up.
π MARKET OPPORTUNITY
Is there market demand for the product and room for growth?
π‘οΈ LEGAL SAFEGUARDS
Ensure all contracts, patents, and trademarks are in order.
β¨ THE BOTTOM LINE β¨
Angel investing is risky. Skipping due diligence is like playing poker without looking at your cards β itβs risky business! Think of due diligence as an investment safety net. It can help you avoid unnecessary risks, make informed decisions and increase your chances of making a good investment.
Ready to learn more about angel investing among a group of likeminded South Asian women? Start here
the brown girl founderβs club
πΒ Backpacks packed? Lunches ready? Donβt forget these brown girlβfounded products to add to your back to school list. Because raising the next generation of dreamers and builders starts with the right tools.
π Kids Shoes by Atoms β built for comfort (and endless recess runs)
π§ Kids Power Tools by Chomp Shop β for future builders in training
π Kids PJs by Monday Child β sweet dreams before the school bell rings
π Kids Journals by Silk + Sonder β for doodles, dreams, and daily reflections
π§ Sloan Water Bottle Sling by Dagne Dover β because emotional support water bottles arenβt just for grown-ups
bharβs picks
The trailer for Brown Girls, Bold Moves is finally here
It feels surreal β the starts, the stops, the demo episodes, the half-baked ideas, the moments I gave up, and the moments I started again.This podcast is my baby. A love letter to all brown girls. π€π«ΆπΎ
And Iβm so proud of the conversations weβve had alreadyβthe women (and men) who showed up to share their stories, their journeys, and their wisdom.Because the startup world is changingβand brown girls are leading the charge.
ποΈ Brown Girls, Bold Moves is the podcast that puts brown girl founders and investors front and centre, introducing you to some of the most inspiring South Asian women in entrepreneurship and investing.
Each episode spotlights the brightest brown girl founders in the startup ecosystemβalongside the investors who funded them. π
First episode launches Sept 16th. π
If you live in New York - check out our friends at:
GUPSHUP
Because no brown girl gathering ends without a little gupshup. Hereβs whatβs coming up + what you donβt want to miss:
πΈ Thinking about angel investing but donβt know where to start? We got you. Weβre kicking off fall with a free 30 min virtual intro to angel investing session thatβs typically only offered to BGA members. But we just couldnβt gate keep this one. Led by Rupa Ganatra Popat β UK-based investor + Managing Director and Founder of ArΔya Ventures & AVA Investment Academy.
ποΈ Friday, September 26th, 12pm EST/ 9am PST
ππΎββοΈπ΄All Desi women know: the best conversations happen over food. Thatβs why next month, we're setting the table with Brown Girls, Desi Dinners β curated gatherings inviting South Asian women in their professional era to connect with like-minded women over career journeys, professional advice and founder and investor stories. Weβre hosting our first two dinners in in Toronto + San Francisco with dates to be announced in September. Want in? Fill out your cityβs form if youβre interested in joining. Toronto Form | SF Form
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Β π£ SPREAD THE LOVE
π©Got a brown girl founder or product you love? Submit their info
ππΎββοΈWe love celebrating brown girl founders who are building bold, brilliant, and inspiring companies. Got something in the works or looking to raise soon? Weβd love to hear from you.
π«±π½βπ«²πΎIf youβre looking to get your brand, product or service in front of a community of South Asian women who love to uplift, invest, and support each otherβthis is your sign. Reach out to learn more about our sponsored content opportunities
If you missed our poll last time, let us know now what youβre interested in!