M+A Edit

Nicole Quinn is an investor at Lightspeed Venture Partners, focused on early stage Consumer internet and FinTech companies, having invested in companies such as Calm, Cameo, HAUS, Rothy’s, Zola, Daily Harvest, Illumix, Brandable, Girlboss and Goop. Nicole spent nearly a decade at Morgan Stanley covering the European and US e-commerce, retail and consumer companies, and also angel invested in healthcare and consumer companies over those years. Nicole then went to Nutmeg, a London based FinTech company before launching her own startup, which is where she met Lightspeed. At her core,...

You're touching your belly around the clock, your partner is cooing in your baby's general direction, and family members (and, let's be honest, perfect strangers) are asking to feel your little one kick. But have you tried playing your babe music? Exposing an unborn baby to a variety of sounds isn't exactly a new idea (see: this product, which allows you to place headphones directly on your bump for Baby's listening pleasure) — but it there any benefit to it? We caught up with ob-gyn Kecia Gaither, MD, MPH, FACOG,...

Meet Afton Vechery, cofounder of Modern Fertility, a women's health company focused on making fertility information more easily accessible. When Afton considered starting her own family, she felt that she was totally alone in the process without support and information to help guide her decisions. After some research and seeing that there was a severe shortage of fertility clinics across the United States, Afton committed herself to getting women the information they deserve. Modern Fertility, started in late 2016, has since been named Fast Company's #1 most innovative health care...

By reproductive psychiatrist Carly Snyder, MD, Director of Women's Health, Family Health Associates in NYC, as told to Kristen Dold. Yes, you’re surrounded by babies. But a lot of them took work. When you’re waiting for a baby, it’s hard to walk down the street without noticing every single mom and tot that strolls by. And while the assumption is often ‘she’s so lucky, it was probably so easy’ the truth is this: it probably wasn’t. Conception truly is a miracle. It may have taken her five minutes to get...

Since cofounding BaubleBar in 2010, Daniella Yacobovsky has grown the business into an in-the-know shop for women who want to update their wardrobe guilt free, and browse from a curated selection of fashion jewelry.Listen in to today's episode to learn about how Yacobovsky built her team, optimized her business degree, and turned BaubleBar into a growing success.You can Subscribe and Listen to The Mentor Files on Apple Podcasts.(And please be sure to leave me a Rating and Review!)'A lot of times the challenges that could test a friendship really are...

When you've read all the pregnancy books, washed out the bottles, and you're still waiting on baby, a little Marie Kondo folding can help those last few days of pregnancy pass by!We sent Kristyn Ivey, founder of For The Love of Tidy and certified KonMari consultant, to visit new mom Nicole Regan of Cedar & Rush. Check out how easy it is to master the KonMari fold and spark some serious joy in your nursery.For step-by-step instructions on mastering the KonMari fold, whether it's for your baby's hats, rompers, pants,...

Entrepreneur and photographer Gray Malin—who started by selling his art throughout LA flea markets, and now has worldwide distribution, along with collaborations with brands like AWAY suitcases—is a lesson in building your own luck. The founder of the Gray Malin lifestyle brand is best known for his inventive aerial beach, ski, and park scenes of some of the world’s most popular destinations, and since 2009 Malin's been changing the way we see and enjoy fine art throughout our lives.Listen in to hear Malin describe why authenticity drives all of his...

Flexibility is a key factor in helping women not only survive, but thrive, in the workforce. (Especially as we wait for federally-mandated paid leave—we're just a few decades behind the rest of the world on that one.) But here’s the thing: there’s a playbook to successfully asking for a flexible schedule, says Lauren Smith Brody, author and founder of The Fifth Trimester. (Rule number one: don’t think of flexibility as a favor—this is a natural evolution of your career development.) Keep these tips in mind before sitting down with your...

As a new or expecting parent, lining up amazing childcare can be the toughest nut to crack. You can’t call your pediatrician for the answer, Google it, or buy it on Amazon Prime (at least, for now). It takes legwork—and if you’re considering daycare, a fair amount of touring. Just like those college visits, you’ll get a gut feeling the minute you walk in the door on a daycare tour, but it’s essential to come armed with the right questions. “Treat your tour like an interview—don’t be scared to ask...

By Hadley Seward, Pediatric Sleep Consultant and Founder of Bonne Nuit BabyMost new parents have heard of the four-month sleep regression. Just when you thought you’re in the groove, everything gets crazy again: short naps, multiple overnight wake-ups… the list goes on.It’s true that sleep can get wonky around 16 weeks. Your baby’s body and brain are making huge developmental leaps, all of which coincide to disrupt sleep and leave us parents worried that we’ll never sleep again. And guess what? The changes to your baby’s sleep are here to...