FROM SELF-FUNDING TO VENTURE CAPITAL SUCCESS: SEVETRI WILSON, CEO RESILIA
Sevetri Wilson is an entrepreneur and the founder of two companies: Solid Ground Innovations and Resilia. She is the first Black woman in New Orleans to raise over $11M in venture capital and has raised the most of any female founder from her home state of Louisiana.
What Resilient Means To Her
I just Googled the word ‘resilience’ and the definition that returned was, “capable of withstanding shock without permanent deformation or rupture.” That definition literally described my entrepreneurial and founder journey.
Building a business can be volatile. There are so many ups and downs, so many “no’s”, so many “maybe next time” and doors that close on us that it can harden you if you let it.
Being able to have the resilience to withstand what’s thrown at you and to still come out of it better and on top is what resilience means to me.
Her Biggest Obstacle
One of the biggest obstacles I’ve had to overcome on my founder journey has been accessing the right resources at the right time. And also accessing the right people and resources that can help you grow your company.
Whatever it is, accessing the right resources has always been an obstacle as I’m sure it is for many. Thus, I’m always strategizing about ways to break through barriers and overcome any obstacle that is holding me back or preventing the company from growing.
Advice to Entrepreneurs
When bootstrapping your business you have to stay as lean as possible for as long as possible. You need to drive revenue as quickly as possible. Figure out what’s the lowest barrier to doing this.
If you have a product and it’s not ready for launch, think of ways you can substitute other services to potential clients instead of having a fully baked product.
This will not only get you revenue in the door but it will also allow you to work directly with a customer around their problems which will only enhance your end product when it’s ready.
If you can overcome the most challenging parts of your life, pick yourself back up, and try again or try something new then you truly can overcome anything.
— Sevetri Wilson (In an interview with Essence.)
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