In this episode of Beauty and the Brand, host Aggie Burnett sits down with Dominique Gagnon—brand builder and award-winning innovator and growth strategist, Dominique helped found category-creating health & wellness brands like DEINDE, Caldera + Lab, and isbel&co. Dominique shares her insider perspective on what it takes to secure funding in today’s beauty and wellness landscape. From understanding the critical role of Sephora contracts and retail distribution in valuations to demystifying metrics like CAC to LTV, Dominique reveals how founders can prepare for Series A and beyond. She also dives into the “dating game” of venture capital, highlighting why investor relationships must start before you need cash. For entrepreneurs weighing bootstrapping vs. VC funding, this conversation unpacks the trade-offs, common mistakes, and alternative financing paths. Whether you’re building a lifestyle business or chasing a high-stakes exit, Dominique offers practical, results-driven advice to help founders refine their growth strategy and position their brand for long-term success

Chapters:

• 00:00:00 - Welcome to Beauty and the Brand Podcast
• 00:01:06 - Meet Dominique
• 00:02:14 - Bootstrapping vs. Venture Capital
• 00:03:10 - How Retail Presence Impacts Funding and Acquisition
• 00:04:09 - Why Investors Prioritize Retail: The Pathway to Exit
• 00:07:52 - Identifying the Main Players in Beauty Investment
• 00:09:30 - The Difference Between Family Funds and Traditional VCs
• 00:11:03 - Key Advice: Why Finding Investors is Like Dating
• 00:13:53 - Explaining "Lead Round" vs. "Follow Round" Investors
• 00:15:00 - The Average Timeframe for Closing a Funding Round
• 00:15:59 - The Best and Worst Times of Year to Fundraise
• 00:17:00 - Key Metrics Investors Look for in a Bootstrapped Brand
• 00:20:15 - How the Founder's Story and Commitment Influence Investment
• 00:22:16 - The Biggest Pitching Mistake: Brand Story vs. Business Metrics
• 00:23:30 - How to Determine How Much Capital to Raise
• 00:26:32 - The Minimum Sales Needed to Attract Venture Capital
• 00:26:58 - What Happens if a Retail Deal Falls Through Post-Investment
• 00:28:32 - Investor Expectations: The 18-Month Runway
• 00:30:16 - Common Strategies of Successfully Exited Brands (Medik8, Rhode, Aesop)
• 00:34:10 - Case Study: Tatcha's Path to Success and the QVC Strategy
• 00:35:39 - Alternative Financing Options Beyond Traditional VC
• 00:37:43 - Start Networking with Investors from Day One
• 00:38:10 - Where to Find and Work with Dominique Online

• 👉Take our 5 Days to Growing Your Iconic Beauty Brand Challenge for only $17! -
• https://abcreativenyc.com/signup
• 👉 Scale from 0 to 7 figures without spinning your wheels with the Beauty Brand Roadmap: https://abcreativenyc.com/the-beauty-brand-roadmap
• Aggie on LinkedIn
• AB Creative
• Aggie on Instagram
• Dominique Gagnon CEW Profile
• DEINDE: https://www.deinde.com/
• Caldera + Lab: https://calderalab.com/
• Dominique’s Consultancy: https://artofcreation.co
• Dominique on LinkedIn