
Loading summary
Podcast Producer
The following podcast is a Dear Media production.
Host - She's So Lucky (Intro/Outro)
Welcome back to she's so Lucky and our Lucky Girls Invest series. If you've been following me, you know that I've recently started angel investing and I've been getting so many questions about what it actually looks like to get started, build wealth this way, and step into rooms that weren't always built for us. Last year, when I posted online that I was interested in angel investing, today's guest reached out to me and offered to teach me everything that she knows. It was so incredibly helpful that I had to bring that conversation to the podcast. Jacqueline Johnson is the founder of Create and Cultivate, and she's built, sold and bought back her company. But not just that. She's also the co founder of Cherub, which is an online platform dedicated to connecting founders with investors. She's also a dedicated angel investor who's been writing checks and building power in the space for over over a decade. In this episode, we're breaking down what angel investing really is. How deals actually come together behind the scenes, the mistake founders make when raising money, and how to position yourself for real wealth that goes beyond just headlines. If you're curious about what it takes and what it actually looks like to be the person writing the check, this episode is for you.
Host - She's So Lucky (Main Interviewer)
Welcome back to she's so Lucky. And welcome to this week's installment of the Lucky Girls Invest series. So if you're listening to the show all April long, we are talking about different forms of investing, both financially and in ourselves. And if you've been following me on socials this year, you know I've been talking a lot about angel investing. It's something I've wanted to do for a long time, and then I recently started doing it, which is very exciting. But I have been getting a lot of questions and I wanted to do a full episode talking more about angel investing. And when I thought about bringing someone on to talk about angel investing, I immediately thought of today's guest, Jacqueline, because she's been actually an incredible mentor to me and has helped me make my first angel investment. And I was like, she just needs to come on and give us an angel investing masterclass.
Jacqueline Johnson - Guest, Founder of Create and Cultivate
I'm so excited to be here and so happy you are an official angel.
Host - She's So Lucky (Main Interviewer)
Thank you for helping to make it happen. Of course, of course.
Jacqueline Johnson - Guest, Founder of Create and Cultivate
And we're both investors in that company, which is very exciting.
Host - She's So Lucky (Main Interviewer)
It is super exciting. So I'm really excited to have you here. I actually want today's interview to be a little bit different than ones that I know people typically have with you because I know usually when people interview you, it is like going really deep into the Create and Cultivate story, which is an amazing story. You've built an incredible company, had an incredible arc with it, selling it, taking it back. We can touch on that for lucky girls who may not know your full story yet, but I really want to get into the next act that you're in in the current stage of your career. That's, like, what I really want to focus on today.
Jacqueline Johnson - Guest, Founder of Create and Cultivate
I'm into it.
Host - She's So Lucky (Main Interviewer)
Let's do it. So let us go back to Act 1 and talk a little bit more about your operator era and your entrepreneurship journey. For those who may not know, I think a lot of our girls know about Create and Cultivate and are familiar with it because it has been such a big, iconic brand, especially for ambitious women, which our audience is. I want to hear a little bit more about your time operating Create and Cultivate and how operating Create and Cultivate influenced your investing.
Jacqueline Johnson - Guest, Founder of Create and Cultivate
So I actually had a company before Create and Cultivate. So I've had, like, multiple companies. I've been an entrepreneur for what feels like forever. I started my first company when I was 23. And that experience is important because it really was where I made all my big mistakes, like starting a business, learning as you go, breaking up with a business partner, all the things that you kind of go through and that are actually quite common when building a business. And from that, I wanted to get women together who were having similar struggles to come together to have these conversations, which is how Create and Cultivate was like, initially started as, like, the side project. Meetup never was intended to make money. Long story short, it ended up becoming far more successful than the agency I sold that company. I went all in on Create and cultivate in 2015, 2016, after many years of doing it as a side hustle, and then built Create and Cultivate for the next, gosh, till 2021. So seven plus years. So with Create and Cultivate, it's important to know it was a bootstrap business. And a lot of people ask me why I didn't raise money. And the answer, truly, I didn't know I could. This was not the era of, you know, women getting the headlines of raising all this money, understanding that entire world was so foreign to me. So I did want to jump in and start to understand it. And I really did that through angel investing. And I actually wrote my first check in 2011, which is now so long ago, which is crazy. And I kept doing it for a number of different reasons. One is I wanted to invest in people I thought would be successful and that I cared about. But two is I wanted to build my network as I was growing Crate and Cultivate, which was all about helping ambitious women. So conferences, media, podcasts, product lines, and really getting a foothold in that influencer, founder, creator, celebrity space. And so by meeting these women and investing in them, they became, you know, super fans of Crate and Cultivate and me by proxy. And so therefore that relationship was able to elevate and support Create and Cultivate along the way.
Host - She's So Lucky (Main Interviewer)
Yeah, you mentioned your first check and I want to get into the nitty gritty of that, but there was something that you mentioned about not raising money for Create and Cultivate because you didn't know that you could. That I want to get into to. Because when I think about what Create and Cultivate is, is very much a community driven brand that centers around experiences and media. And I feel like people understand the value of that now. But back in 2015, even the people who were raising money and getting checks, it was not for community, it was not for media.
Jacqueline Johnson - Guest, Founder of Create and Cultivate
No, it was not a quote unquote venture backable business at that point. Yeah, at the time it was really CPG and product based businesses that were raising and, and really was few and far between with women raising at that time too. But it was interesting because the exit for Create and Cultivate was so important to me for a number of different reasons. One, I need to get paid number one most important. But two was I wanted an exit with a headline because I wanted to show two different things. One, bootstrap businesses can exit and two was that events, media and community are venture backable. They can make real money. So those two things were extremely important to me. Cut to. Today we are a venture backed business and we were able to do that I think because of the precedent that we set and because of the explosion of different companies like Unwell or hello Sunshine, who obviously have larger celebrity names attached to them, but have shown the precedent of like what is possible when you back Community with venture dollars.
Host - She's So Lucky (Main Interviewer)
Also, I feel like it's really badass that you're able to exit a company without taking investors because that was. Yes, less, less people that you had to divvy up.
Jacqueline Johnson - Guest, Founder of Create and Cultivate
Oh, yes, girl, I know, thank you. I know it's funny. It's not the high number exit. Like I joke. So one of my friends who also exited, but she exited in like the 200 millions. We actually made the same amount of money on our exit, which is Wild. Because the headlines that she gets are crazy, obviously. And I'm like so happy for her. But she's like, because I was diluted so much, I actually made just as much as you did with a lower exit. Our exit was 22 million. But it's just.
Host - She's So Lucky (Main Interviewer)
Which is still. It's still amazing.
Jacqueline Johnson - Guest, Founder of Create and Cultivate
But yeah, it's just a funny thing because you're seeing these huge numbers and IPOs and sometimes the founders own point 1%, which is crazy.
Host - She's So Lucky (Main Interviewer)
They have such a small piece of the pie bringing in so many different parties. Yeah. So now in the second act of Create and Cultivate, because there is this amazing part of the arc where you did sell the company in 2021, decided to buy it back and do it differently this time because you also brought on a CEO who is now like operating the company. It is now venture backed. How has the second act of Create and Cultivate been for you as a founder?
Jacqueline Johnson - Guest, Founder of Create and Cultivate
It's been really interesting. When I was buying it back, I had mixed emotions about it. One was I knew I didn't want it to go away. The company is too important. It's done so much for myself, but also for women everywhere. And like especially in this moment, in this climate, like it's more and more important for women to have community at scale. So I knew that. The other thing was I knew I also did not want to run it. I was extremely exhausted. But also I knew I would have, I would be the bottleneck in the same way I was towards the end of it. I was so stuck in my systems of the way to do things that I knew I couldn't come in with a fresh energy. And that business requires a lot of energy. And so I was lucky that I had found this partner, Marina Middleton through we had started another company together. We had had that like initial time where we got to work together, see how we worked. And she was so motivated and excited to jump into this and like ready to, you know, blood, sweat and tears into this business. It was such a natural fit going into it. We had lots of conversations about what we wanted it to look like. And really what we saw was we wanted to really bring to life the largest festival style conference. We call it Coachella for career women to life and really go big. We didn't want to play small again because I think a lot of people in this space play small because you're bootstrapped. Right. And like that really is kind of how we started. Luckily we got larger and larger, but being venture backed was a game changer for this Business and for all the businesses that are similar to ours. So when we raised, it was very noteworthy in that world. And on top of that, it also motivated us to start thinking bigger about what we could do. So this time around it's less about volume. We were doing hundreds of events a year and it's more about like quality over quantity and really focusing in on our two large scale events. One being the festival in Los Angeles in the fall, the other one being Future Summit which is held in Austin during South By. So we do these massive events and then in between we host networking specific events. So supper clubs, community events, free events, podcasts, things like that to bring the community together.
Host - She's So Lucky (Main Interviewer)
It's been really cool to see that trajectory and how it's changed just because I do remember like the version from 10 years ago and went to some of the bigger events and the smaller events and all of the things. I'm curious how now being an investor has also changed your perspective or if it's made you, I don't know if pickier is the right word. When you were bringing on investors, when you guys decided to raise for Create and Cultivate. But like now that you've been in the investor chair, how did that change your perspective raising?
Jacqueline Johnson - Guest, Founder of Create and Cultivate
So we actually raised from angel investors right when we bought the company back because we obviously needed working capital to get started. And those angel investors were a group of incredible women who believed, loved and supported the Create and Cultivate mission. So that was an easy no brainer. Like they came to the table and were like, we got this, let's get to work. So that felt good. When we started going out to venture capital, we were actually really lucky and in a position that a lot of people aren't. Where we really didn't have to pitch, we found a partner pretty easily. This partner was someone who was actually interested in buying Crate and Cultivate back in the day, like early, early days. And I loved them, I loved meeting them, I really wanted it to work out for whatever reason. It didn't at that time. And then they, they resurfaced after that. The reason why I love this investor is because unlike most investors who are like, unless this is a triple billion dollar business, I'm not interest, just unrealistic. I was in a room the other day at a dinner and someone said, we don't believe in unicorns, we believe in elephants and we believe in the herd mentality that we can have multiple winners and not just one unicorn. And I thought that was brilliant because I'm like this dated mentality of only one's going to win and it has to be huge and like it'll pay for all the rest. Like, it is actually such a toxic formula for the startup world and it pits everyone against each other. It doesn't give anyone resources that isn't performing at that level. And so I'm really anti that mentality. And these investors understood that. They were like, we understand events, we understand events aren't software, they're not SaaS. Right. They're not going to scale to $10 billion. But we know events can be extremely profitable and can be extremely acquirable with the right audience. So having investors that understand your industry and your vision and aren't trying to make outlandish asks risks of you are definitely the way to go. And they're very rare. And we got very lucky. It's key.
Host - She's So Lucky (Main Interviewer)
But even hearing you describe that, I just think about there's probably so many amazing businesses who fell through the cracks. Who we're seeing a lot of women owned businesses, black women owned businesses, who are closing left and right, even though they're great businesses, great founders. Because there's just, there's something that goes wrong that could have been prevented if you have the right people giving the right advice.
Jacqueline Johnson - Guest, Founder of Create and Cultivate
I also think though, that women tend to pitch and run businesses very conservatively. We come to the table with what we think is possible and men come to the table with the impossible. And it's actually such a disservice to us. And it's unfortunate because it's not to say that I think women should go in and be like, yep, we're gonna be doing $10 billion next year and we're gonna be everywhere and blah, blah. It's not that I think we have to go in and quote, unquote, lie, but that's what we're up against. So when you're in a room and you're about to give someone your money, are you going to give it to the person who's talking about flying a rocket ship to the moon, or the person who thinks you can get from point A to point B by driving the car? It's unfortunate that that's the situation we're in, but that is what we're up against every single day in venture capital.
Host - She's So Lucky (Main Interviewer)
Do you think that? Because I've never really been in conversations where actual raising is happening. Are investors also encouraging these women founders to be more realistic and to, to kind of talk down what it is they think they can achieve? Like, is it going both ways?
Jacqueline Johnson - Guest, Founder of Create and Cultivate
No. So I think it's actually, it's interesting. I think bad behavior gets rewarded by venture capital. There was a TikTok I was watching on the way here that was basically saying the CEO came out and said he lied about his revenue last year and he did you see this? And it was like. But like he's like. Because he's like, you have to do whatever it takes to get into whatever door to get whatever thing. And if a woman did that one, she would be berated. But two is like, we wouldn't. Because we stick to the numbers, we stick to the facts. And like, that's typically how we operate. And his behavior is actually rewarded in venture capital. Yeah. They want the crazy passion seen. It's seen as passion. And get whatever it takes to get in the door. And it is this like double standard that we can't win at, unfortunately. Like, we can't win if we do. We can't win if we don't.
Host - She's So Lucky (Main Interviewer)
Right.
Jacqueline Johnson - Guest, Founder of Create and Cultivate
Cause a lot of people would say Elizabeth Holmes was kind of like that. Right. She just kept pushing until like eventually it would catch up. But instead we get the narrative of being crazy. So it is one of those things where and it's funny, someone's like, I wonder if Elizabeth Holmes could raise again. And I don't know if she could. Whereas Adam Newman, who completely tanked we work, sold off a share, licensed the trademark. They did the most insane things, was able to raise almost immediately after what's his name?
Host - She's So Lucky (Main Interviewer)
Fyre Festival.
Jacqueline Johnson - Guest, Founder of Create and Cultivate
Yeah. Doing another one.
Host - She's So Lucky (Main Interviewer)
Do another one after getting out of jail.
Jacqueline Johnson - Guest, Founder of Create and Cultivate
Yeah, no problem. Yeah. And it's interesting who gets forgiven in the venture space.
Podcast Producer
This message is brought to you by Apple Card. Apple Card is a no fee credit card that you can apply for right from the Wallet app on your iPhone, subject to credit approval. Variable APRs for Apple Card range from 17.49% to 27.74% based on creditworthiness rates as of January 1, 2026. Existing customers can view their variable APR in the Wallet app or@card.apple.com Apple Card issued by Goldman Sachs USA, Salt Lake City branch terms and more@applecard.com I feel
Host - She's So Lucky (Intro/Outro)
like when people talk about energy or focus or even recovery, we always jump to the visible things first, like workouts and routines. What I've realized is that a lot of it actually comes down to what's happening internally, specifically gut health. And I remember a few years ago predicting that fiber was going to be having the big moment that protein was having. And thankfully a lot of people are catching up because we don't always think about fiber beyond the obvious, but once you start paying attention to how your body is actually responding, you realize how foundational it really is. And that's what led me to Momentous and their Fiber plus Momentous Fiber plus addresses one of the most overlooked foundations of long term performance gut health. Fiber is not just about digestion. It is a key driver of gut health which directly impacts nutrient absorption, energy stability, recovery, focus, mood and overall performance. And when gut health is not dialed in, other supplements and training habits don't work as well. You can be doing everything right, but without a strong foundation, results fall short and fiber is often the missing link. Momentous Fiber plus is a complete 3 in 1 formula with soluble fiber, insoluble fiber and a prebiotic resistant starch. This combination is designed to support gut health from start to finish by feeding beneficial gut bacteria, improving digestion and helping stabilize blood sugar for more steady energy without spikes or crashes. Right now, Momentous is offering our listeners up to 35% off your first order with promo code LUCKY. Head to livemomentous.com and use the promo code LUCKY for up to 35% off your first Order. That's live momentous.com promo code LUCKY some days don't belong to just one version of you. You're in and out of meetings, squeezing in a workout, running across the city, maybe rolling straight into dinner. And I've realized that I don't always want my outfit to be another thing I have to manage throughout the day. So lately I've been simplifying wherever I can and for me it's looked like finding pieces that can actually keep up. Which is why I've been wearing Noble. Noble is a footwear brand built for training and for daily life. It's really about supporting you and showing up as your best self physically, mentally, and how you move throughout your day. I've been living in the all day knit sneakers and they really do what they say. I can throw them on in the morning and not think about my shoes again, which for me is the goal. They're lightweight, breathable and super flexible so nothing feels stiff or restrictive. And I love that they're designed in a way that doesn't scream gym shoe so they can actually work with other things that I'm wearing and are really cute. Just removes that friction. One less decision, one less outfit change, one less thing to think about when the day is already full. And the comfort factor helps you move throughout the day without worrying about being slowed down or being in pain when you're on your feet. Exclusively for she's so lucky listeners, Noble is offering 35% off your first order. Visit nobleproject.com N O B U L L P R O j e c t.com and use the code DM L U C K Y for 35% off your entire first order.
Host - She's So Lucky (Main Interviewer)
Can we talk a little bit more about the difference between venture capital and angel investing for listeners who may not know the difference?
Jacqueline Johnson - Guest, Founder of Create and Cultivate
Yeah, totally. So angel investing, it's funny, I think a lot of people think it's like a charitable thing because the name angels in it, but it's actually not. The goal is to get a return. Like when you're investing your money, you want to get a return on your investment. However, you're not the type of investor that's typically breathing down the founder's neck, having meetings with them all the time. Obviously you're strategic and helpful and you have capital and you're invested in the success of this business, but you're not dependent on the success of this business. Whereas venture capital. So it's an interesting psych. VCs have LPs. The lingo is crazy. LPs are limited partners. And what that means is VCs actually go and raise money. They raise money for their fund and that can come from high net worth individuals, typically a $250,000 plus check, or institutions like universities and endowments and things like that. So they raise money on behalf of their LPs, then let's just say they have like $100 million. Then they have to deploy that based on their thesis and they have to return that money to the investors and return it to the fund essentially. And so that's how it works. So the goal of VC is to get a return and it's not like, oh, that's a good return. They need to get a great return, like 100x return and that will return all of the investments. That's the strategy is that one of their picks is going to make enough money to pay for all of their other investments and then some. And so they are breathing down your neck. They are asking a lot of questions. They are owning a large chunk of your company because that is their business. It's crazy.
Host - She's So Lucky (Main Interviewer)
So interesting. And then there is a part of me that is like, does it work? Like, does it actually work?
Jacqueline Johnson - Guest, Founder of Create and Cultivate
It did and it does in some ways, right? Because there are these unicorns that do come out, right? And there's like, what is it? Dollar shave club, Huge unicorn exit, Insane. There's all these companies that I think worked in the D2C boom, which is no longer, and the dot com boom, which is no longer. We're now in the AI boom, where they think that's going to be the next big thing and everyone's doubled down on it. But then you see things like Bitcoin and crypto and NFTs everyone was pouring money into that did not return. It's these big bets and it's these big swings. And I do think there are unicorns winning. I think they're few and far between in the sense where I personally prefer the elephant mentality. I think you can have a lot of really good exits and pay your fund back versus one really great exit. And it's a different way of approaching it, and it's a different way of nurturing. But it's better for the business economy in general to have multiple successful companies that have all failed companies and one succeed.
Host - She's So Lucky (Main Interviewer)
Absolutely. And would you say that angel investing better lends to the elephant mentality?
Jacqueline Johnson - Guest, Founder of Create and Cultivate
Yes, it definitely better lends to the elephant mentality. And also, you're not risking it all. For one, you want all of your companies to succeed. It's not as cutthroat because you're typically investing in people versus stats or numbers or product. It's a little bit more emotional than I would say VC is.
Host - She's So Lucky (Main Interviewer)
Okay. Now I want to come circle back around to talk about your initial angel investing experiences because you mentioned writing your first check in 2011.
Jacqueline Johnson - Guest, Founder of Create and Cultivate
Yep.
Host - She's So Lucky (Main Interviewer)
And I want to get all up in your business.
Jacqueline Johnson - Guest, Founder of Create and Cultivate
Yes, do it.
Host - She's So Lucky (Main Interviewer)
No, I'm down about what that first check was in 2011, how much you invested, what made you want to invest, and what was the outcome.
Jacqueline Johnson - Guest, Founder of Create and Cultivate
So my first investment, and I will say I was not an accredited investor at the time, I, like, did not have, like, the money to write this check.
Host - She's So Lucky (Main Interviewer)
And can you tell them what accredited means?
Jacqueline Johnson - Guest, Founder of Create and Cultivate
Yeah. So being an accredited investor, it's essentially a loose set of guidelines. It's not like some official certificate or something that you get. But I believe it's $150,000 a year if you're a couple, 300,000 if you're individual or $1 million in net worth. That is liquid is like what an accredited investor is. And the reason they have those guidelines is so that you don't go spend your life savings on angel investing in the hopes that it will make you money so people just don't go broke doing this. It's also helpful for the founders in the end to have accredited investors, because if you do end up like Ipoing you can't have unaccredited investors. So typically you get bought out before then as an investor, which is actually what with my first investment. So my first investment was $10,000 into Away Luggage, which is crazy.
Host - She's So Lucky (Main Interviewer)
Pretty great first investment.
Jacqueline Johnson - Guest, Founder of Create and Cultivate
My first investment was into a unicorn. And like, I don't know if I'll ever have that happen again. I hope so. I had known Jen Rubio, who's one of the co founders, for a long time. We had kind of grown up in our careers together in New York City. She was at Warby Parker, who was one of the first sponsors of Create and Cultivate. Then she was at All Saints. And we just followed our trajectories. We were having, I remember a juice in LA at Alfred Coffee and she was like, I'm going to start this company. It's going to be like the Warby Parker for Luggage Direct to Consumer, which again, at the time was like the hot thing. And I just knew Jen, One was an incredible operator, but two was one of the most well connected people I knew. And she had mentioned that she was raising a friends and family round and that the founder of Warby Parker had invested. And so she's like, so if you know anyone who can write like a $10,000 check. And I was like, I will. And I don't even know why I said that or like, whatever. And I remember I wrote it out of my company because I was like, I personally don't have that money. I wrote it out of my company. I remember my mom calling me like, what is this? And I was like, listen, I'm making an investment. She was like, you don't have to have that. So I was like, shut up, just let me do it. Did that investment now cut to 2019? So what, eight years later? Away is obviously a completely different business. It's massive, it's scaled. They raised hundreds of millions of dollars at that point. And. And I got what is called a secondary. So secondaries are interesting. I'm actually doing a whole reel on them right now. So secondaries are when a company comes in, maybe the founder doesn't want to give up any more of their equity, they don't want to dilute everyone more. So they buy existing shares that people hold for a price that's higher than what the current market value is. So essentially they kind of dictate the price. So it's called a tender offer. So I was given a tender offer to buy my shares for away. It was really funny. So when I got it, which was through like Carta and NASDAQ and all these things. So I clicked on it. I'm looking at it. I'm, like, trying to do the math, and I'm like, on my little, like, phone calculator, I'm like, oh, my God. I think it's $120,000. Like, I'm gonna make $120,000. I'm like, this is crazy. So I forwarded to my lawyer. I call my lawyer, and I was like, chris. I was like, I can't believe I think this is $120,000. He's like, it's $1.2 million. I was like, what? He's like, at a zero. I go, no, no, no. I go, wait, so what is do I get? He's like, you get this now if you sign this. And I was like, do I sign it?
Host - She's So Lucky (Main Interviewer)
He's like, yes, you sign it now,
Jacqueline Johnson - Guest, Founder of Create and Cultivate
you'll never get a return like that ever again. And I signed it and was able to cash out my shares, which was incredible.
Host - She's So Lucky (Main Interviewer)
So I just want to, like, repeat that. That you made a $10,000 investment in 2011 that in 2019, led to a $1.2 million payout.
Jacqueline Johnson - Guest, Founder of Create and Cultivate
Yes. And I will say that is not the norm.
Host - She's So Lucky (Main Interviewer)
No, no. But it is an amazing story.
Jacqueline Johnson - Guest, Founder of Create and Cultivate
It is an amazing. Yeah, it's an amazing story. It was unreal. It's so funny. I remember I bought my second home after that in la, and cold tape must be crushing it. I was like, well, actually. Actually, you know, but it. It was great. It was, like, such a testament one to, like, investing in women, to. To, like, the proof that angel investing can absolutely work. And it got me hooked. I was really excited after that. I, like, loved doing it. Also afforded me more capital to invest, which was really exciting.
Host - She's So Lucky (Intro/Outro)
Yeah.
Host - She's So Lucky (Main Interviewer)
When that happened, you got the payout. What does that even look like? So it's like, okay, you get 1.2 million worth of shares.
Jacqueline Johnson - Guest, Founder of Create and Cultivate
Cash.
Host - She's So Lucky (Main Interviewer)
Like, cash?
Jacqueline Johnson - Guest, Founder of Create and Cultivate
Yeah.
Host - She's So Lucky (Main Interviewer)
What do you even do with that?
Jacqueline Johnson - Guest, Founder of Create and Cultivate
So you buy a house. So, no. I mean, you could do a couple of different things. Obviously, you have to pay, like, capital gains on that. But, yeah, for me, my success beyond my companies has really come from angel investing and real estate. I bought my first home in Los Angeles after I sold my first company. I sold my first company. I had a little bit of money. I was like, okay, I really want to get into the market. I ended up buying a house in Atwater Village, which was like, an up and coming neighborhood at the time, for $850,000. And it was like, A fixer upper, like, it needed some work. So I put 850,000. I put in about 150,000 into that house, redid it, whatever. Stayed in it for three to four years, because you get the tax break if you stay over three years. And then when the away deal went through, I bought another home and rented that home for a year. And then at the peak of COVID like, sort of sort of the end, where the market was insane, I had an opportunity to sell. So I put it on the market, and I was able to sell that house for 1.9 million, which is an incredible return. So I got an amazing return on that. So, again, it's like, how are you reinvesting the money to make the biggest return? Obviously, not everything's going to have an insane return like that, but real estate in Los Angeles at the time was an incredible investment. If you could buy a property and fix it up, like, that's the secret. Buying it and just selling it is a little bit less obviously of a swing. But I. I really kind of saw that moment in time and knew I wanted to, like, capitalize on it.
Host - She's So Lucky (Main Interviewer)
Yeah. So the theme, I think, for both of those, like, really good investments is just seeing the opportunity and being able to capitalize on the timing.
Jacqueline Johnson - Guest, Founder of Create and Cultivate
Yeah.
Host - She's So Lucky (Main Interviewer)
Which is exciting.
Jacqueline Johnson - Guest, Founder of Create and Cultivate
Yeah.
Host - She's So Lucky (Main Interviewer)
So you had that first angel investment that went incredibly well. I'm curious during those eight years of time, what your involvement in a way looked like.
Jacqueline Johnson - Guest, Founder of Create and Cultivate
Literally nothing. Completely hands off. I mean, obviously, if it was like, hey, do you want to, like, do this thing? Or create and cultivate? Or do you want to. Whatever. Do you want to speak? There's obviously, like, leverage in the businesses I have, too, especially for female founders. So there was definitely some of that. But by that point, I mean, they were so big, they didn't need my help. They were like, we're good. Like, we have, like, the biggest named investors in the world. So it was really, like, very hands off.
Host - She's So Lucky (Main Interviewer)
Yeah, definitely. And what have your investments looked like since then? Because you've had a mix of maybe some that are more hands on, some that are hands off.
Jacqueline Johnson - Guest, Founder of Create and Cultivate
It really depends. I would say my advisory deals are way more hands on, obviously, because my services are being exchanged for equity, so, you know, there's a lot more demand there. So I'm an advisor in a company called Bowl Cut, which is, like, better for you. Asian sauces. Delicious. And so really, like, my first, like, six months with her was, like, connecting her to, like, pr, helping her with influencers, things of that nature, like, working with her on that type of stuff. Also one kind is, is an advisory client of mine, Brother Sister Team Cleans Clean Skincare. They're amazing. I do things like mailers to my influencer friends, helping them with like connections, get gift bags for creating, cultivate, getting them in the rooms, things like that. For my other investments. It kind of depends on where they're at, but I know that they can always email me. But I think my early, my current investments that I've made recently definitely need me more than my investments that I've made a while ago. So I invested a lot in 2018, 2019 after the away deal. So I invested in Chill House, Ceremonia, Crown Affair, Live Tinted, right? Big beauty, big dive into beauty. All amazing companies, right. And I got in early at all of them, which was nice. They were all still kind of ahead of the game to the point where they, they wouldn't really need me at the end of the day. But like, hey, we'll send you our product, can you post about it? Like that type of stuff is super easy. I mean they're all series A and beyond and even Chill House exited, which is great. I made a return on that, which is awesome. So it's like they don't really need me, you know what I mean? In that way. I've made a few investments, I'll say where I wasn't close with the founder that I got kind of brought into these deals from other people and co invested actually with a friend. So there was like less risk where it's like we created an LLC and invest out of that together. So. So when you're investing 10k, it's really just 5k and 5k. So that's a good way to get, you know, started if you have friends that are interested but don't want to like do the minimum on their own. And we did that in a few deals and I have like no idea what's happening with those companies. I actually realized after I'm like, oh, I hate that. I'm not interested in doing that anymore. So that was a good learning too, right? I invested in these companies. They were in spaces I don't really know that much about norm, like that passionate about. So I kind of was like, okay, I can like learn a little bit from that. And then now like the, the more recent investments I've made have been into like Chero, which is an aloe based liqueur intro, which is an app that you can book experts on things of that nature where it's a little bit more like tech Very close to the founder or I'm already using the platform and like, highly involved.
Host - She's So Lucky (Main Interviewer)
But it sounds like you prefer to invest in things that you like, would use.
Ad Voice
Understand?
Host - She's So Lucky (Main Interviewer)
Yes. Can speak to.
Jacqueline Johnson - Guest, Founder of Create and Cultivate
Yes. And I'm very bullish on founders. Like, that is really, for me like the nuts and bolts of a deal. Because as a founder who's exited, you are the quarterback of the company. Like, you have to bring it home. No one else will do that for you. No one's going to care as much as you. No one's going to work as hard as you. It doesn't even matter if they have equity in the business. This falls on you. And if that person's like, relentless about success, I will bet on them every single time over someone who has the best team on paper. So for me, I'm definitely now focused on founders and also companies I know I can help in some way, shape or form.
Host - She's So Lucky (Main Interviewer)
Are there certain qualities that you see in a founder where you're like, they're going places. I want to be a part of this. And what are those qualities?
Jacqueline Johnson - Guest, Founder of Create and Cultivate
Definitely. I mean, I think you have to be extremely hungry, right? Like at everything, showing up everywhere, like making sure like your business is at every single place it can possibly be. Two is like they have to be able to speak to every piece of their business. So it's not just, here's the story and here's how I got here and whatever. It's like, here's what I'm building, here's where it's going, here's why it'll sell for way more money than you're investing. Having that clear arc is so important. Like, you'd be surprised. And you'll see this as you angel invest more. Sometimes founders really aren't clear on like, who would buy them or what they would sell for or when they would sell or why they would sell. Like, you have to be so laser focused on the goal that nothing else matters. And it's. It really is about that gumption and that grit and like that. Most people don't have that, having that dog in you. Yeah, that's right. What I say all the time. It's true. It's like I was a relentless psycho running crane cultivate. I was, I was so laser focused in a way where it's like my health was shit, my relationship was shit, because I was obsessed. Not saying that's what you have to do, but that is what it took for me to get to where I needed to go. And I enjoyed it. It wasn't like I Was miserable. I was, like, in it. And, like, you have to run with that success and. And run with that momentum. If you take your eye off the ball for even a second, you're dead.
Host - She's So Lucky (Intro/Outro)
It's true.
Host - She's So Lucky (Main Interviewer)
Have you always had that?
Jacqueline Johnson - Guest, Founder of Create and Cultivate
Yes. So my parents owned their own business, and so I grew up around, like, them working at the dining table. So that was just, like, what I grew up around. They have really strong work ethic. They still do. Till this day. They refuse to retire. I could not wait to start working. I was, like, obsessed with it. And what I realized is when I was in corporate America, like, I was not a good fit for corporate America because I just wanted to go and do. I was like, let me just do this. And they were like, no, you have to fill out the thing, then you have to present it. And then, like, maybe it'll happen. Maybe you can do it, maybe you can't prove it. Someone has to approve it, and you're probably not even gonna be the one to do it. And you're like, wait, what? And so I was constantly, like, running up against walls, and I was like, I think I'm better on my own, but that's, like, a scary decision to make. And so when I got laid off and the decision was made for me, I was like, okay, I'm gonna start my own thing. And, like, I was just so good at moving fast and making decisions, and I just kept going. And it's like, you have to go where the momentum is. Like, I talk about momentum a lot because as an entrepreneur, you have to go where the momentum is and follow it and pour gas on it. And when you're raising venture, like, venture doesn't create momentum. Venture is attracted to momentum. So you need to raise when you have momentum. So it's like, it is the most crucial part of building a business.
Ad Voice
At Great Wolf Lodge, there's adventure for the whole family. You and your pack can splash away in the indoor water park where it's always 84 degrees. There's a massive wave pool, a lazy river, and tons of water slides for your pack to enjoy together. And the fun doesn't stop there. Get ready to explore and play at adventure packed attractions from Magiquest, a live action game that takes place throughout the lodge, to the northern lights arcade. There's also a bunch of great dining options and complimentary daily events like nightly dance parties, all under one roof. And the best part, with 22 lodges across the country, you. You're always only a short drive away from adventure. So bring your pack together at a lodge near you. Book your stay today@greatwolf.com and strengthen the pack.
Host - She's So Lucky (Intro/Outro)
Every time I've stepped into something bigger, there's a moment where it feels a little shaky before it soars. Not because the idea isn't good, but because now it's real. There's more visibility, more pressure, more moving parts. I remember hitting that point where I had the vision, but I didn't have the infrastructure. And that gap is where a lot of people get stuck. That's why I look at platforms like Shopify as more than just tools. It's a real support for people who are building something. Shopify is the commerce platform behind millions of businesses worldwide and 10% of all e commerce in the US from major household names to brands just getting their first idea off the ground, they make it easy to actually launch with clean, ready to use templates and powerful AI tools that can help write your product description, your headlines, even enhance your photos so you're not stuck staring at a blank page trying to get everything perfect. Because the hardest part usually isn't the idea, it's getting it out into the world. Shopify also helps you grow with built in tools for email and social campaigns, plus everything you need to run your business from inventory to shipping to returns, all in one place. And they have 24. 7 customer support, which is huge when you're figuring things out in real time. And if you care about conversion like I do, that iconic purple shop bay button is known for having the best converting checkout on the planet, which means fewer abandoned carts and more actual sales. So if you've been sitting on something or are you ready to take your next step? This is your moment. It's time to turn those what ifs into because lucky girls use Shopify, Sign up for your $1 per month trial today at shopify.com balance black girl go to shopify.com balance black girl that's shopify.com balance black girl so I've been in a bit of a spring reset mode lately. Not just with work, but with everything. And one of the biggest shifts I've been making is simplifying my closet. Less impulse buys, more pieces. I actually live in things that feel elevated but still easy. And that's exactly why I keep coming back to Quints. Quince makes beautiful everyday pieces using premium materials like 100 European linen, organic cotton, cotton and super soft denim with styles starting around $50. Their spring pieces are lightweight, breathable and effortless. The kind of things you can throw on and instantly feel put together. So Some of the pieces that have been in rotation for me have been their linen pieces as well as cotton ones. One of my go to's every spring summer is a cotton dress that I got from Quince that I live in all season long. These are fabrics where you can feel the quality immediately. Substantial but still really easy to wear. And it drapes well, moves well and just makes getting dressed feel simple. What I love is how Quint operates. They work directly with ethical factories and cut out the middlemen. So you're paying for quality, not brand markup. And I think that's the energy I'm bringing into this season overall. Just being more intentional about what I'm investing in and choosing things that actually last. Refresh your spring wardrobe with quints. Go to quince.com balance less for free shipping and 365 day returns. Now available in Canada too. Go to Q U I n c e.com/less for free shipping and 365 day returns. Queens.com/less.
Host - She's So Lucky (Main Interviewer)
I got interested in all of this and what planted the seed for angel investing for me was when I worked at a very early stage startup. And I think I got hired to be a social media manager at this startup right in between Seed Round and Series A. And most of my time working there was like when the founder was raising Series A and then the time after that and seeing how the company changed after she got that money and I was like, whoa, this is a whole world I didn't know existed. This is so interesting. I want to be a part of stuff like this. I don't know if I necessarily want to do what she's doing, but I want to be the person who's writing the checks and making some of this happen and was very like attracted to that.
Jacqueline Johnson - Guest, Founder of Create and Cultivate
Yeah.
Host - She's So Lucky (Main Interviewer)
And I think sometimes it's just having that exposure to something and then realizing, oh, I want in on this for sure.
Jacqueline Johnson - Guest, Founder of Create and Cultivate
And like we're also in such an interesting time. You know this better than anyone. But it's like creators want to be investors and investors want to be creators and it's like this hilarious conversion that's happening and angel investing is becoming more and more mainstream. It used to be for like a select few bros in Silicon Valley who were all just getting in on the same deals and it's now exploded. Like women. Angel investing has increased substantially in the last 10 years. Like it's insane. The amount of angel investors that are writing checks has increased. It actually in the earliest stages of fundraising, we actually have superseded VC in terms of the amount that we've deployed in terms of angel investing, which is crazy.
Host - She's So Lucky (Main Interviewer)
Yeah.
Jacqueline Johnson - Guest, Founder of Create and Cultivate
So it's extremely active and it's become now a badge and a little bit of social capital to be like, I'm an investor. It's kind of like what becoming a founder was like five years ago, where it's like, I'm a founder and it's like, okay. And it's like there's just like this, like, aura around being a founder. It's now switched to that being investors, and it's this interesting convergence happening because investors want companies with distribution. Content creators have distribution. So how do you merge those two things together? And we're kind of in the messy middle of it happening. But it's an exciting time because I think angel investing is about to be blown wide open for a few different reasons. There are bills about to be passed, the Invest act and the angel act, that basically take away the accreditation. So as opposed to having to meet those financial hurdles, you can, if you work in the startup space, you understand the startup space, and you can take a test around the startup space and pass, you can angel invest. So the TAM is about to explode.
Host - She's So Lucky (Main Interviewer)
It's going to be so much more democratized.
Jacqueline Johnson - Guest, Founder of Create and Cultivate
Exactly.
Host - She's So Lucky (Main Interviewer)
Which I also think in a lot of the work that you've done. And I want to talk about Cherub as well, but both with Cherub and also with the direction that your content has been moving in for a while now, you've been doing so much more education around angel investing and what it's like and reporting on democratizing it. Why is it important to you to get this information out there?
Jacqueline Johnson - Guest, Founder of Create and Cultivate
Yeah, it's really interesting. My whole, like, the thread of my career is really supporting underrepresented founders to get them, like, the information, the content and the capital now that they need to build their businesses. Because I did not have an unfair advantage getting into entrepreneurship. Like, my parents had no connections or relationships. Like, I moved to cities where I knew no one. Like, like. And I somehow worked my way up into these, like, echelons of power that, like, there was no reason I should be there. I'm so happy I was because I learned so much from people and people were really, like, teaching me how to, like, sell a business. Seeing how you take money, you spend money, you invest money. Like, getting the front row seat into that was incredible. And most people won't get that. And so how do we create a world in which we can democratize that or not gatekeep that information? Because it just. Just hold specifically women back for Creighton, cold debate. And for Cherub, everyone else who doesn't typically get venture funding. So I wanted to be more transparent about the investing I was doing, the money I'm making, and really just break it down. This type of transparency did not exist 5 to 10 years ago on the Internet. It was like you never talked about a bad day or a thing that went wrong. It was like always like, I'm winning, I'm winning. And that's just not reality. So when they. This kind of tide turned and I started seeing more people opening up and talking about it, I was like, I actually know a lot about this and I feel like I can share in a bigger way. And so Cherub was the beginning of that process where I was like having an intro call three times a week where it was like, hi, here's my business. It's a great business. Where are angel investors? And I was like, like LinkedIn. I don't know, like, you have to DM them. It's kind of this like weird inside baseball thing. And having that conversation over and over again. Finally, to my co founder, who is a product engineer type person, was like, we have to build something to solve this. And that's really how Cherub was born.
Host - She's So Lucky (Main Interviewer)
Yeah. Because I think what people don't realize is when it comes to, particularly for angel investing, in the process, it's very informal. Somebody who has money talks to somebody who wants money. And Bing bamboo.
Jacqueline Johnson - Guest, Founder of Create and Cultivate
It's like buying a house. Buying a house is the wildest experience. You go, you see it once, once, maybe twice, and then you sign a hundred thousand pieces of paper and then you own it. And you're like, I barely know this house. It's the craziest transaction. I was like, that can't be it. Like, there has to be more to it, right? No. It's wild how these deals get done. And angel investing is no different in a lot of ways. It's very informal, especially in the earliest stages. Really, it depends on the type of diligence you want to be doing. As an angel investor, I'm pretty light on diligence, mostly because I'm investing so early, so there's not that much, much due diligence. Do you have a trademark? How much cash do you have in the bank? Those are kind of some of the standard questions I have. If you're going into something a little bit further along, there's obviously a lot more questions of like, why do you need this money from me right now, like, versus a vc? Or it's like, you believe in something enough that you're like, I just want to, like, get in. But there is, like, different degrees of diligence. And I have some angel investors that are like, hardcore and have a lot of questions and some that are like, I don't need to see anything and I'm just going to wire this money. Kind of depends.
Host - She's So Lucky (Main Interviewer)
Depends on. On your risk tolerance and, and what you're interested in. I was really interested in seeing data just because I was, like, curious, didn't know what I was doing. And I was like, I'll look at whatever you want to send me and look at all of, like, the data room and all of it. Because I just was like, learning, yeah, this is going to be. And it was interesting.
Jacqueline Johnson - Guest, Founder of Create and Cultivate
It's super interesting. Yeah. And like, you can really. It's like, I feel like I love and founders that do quarterly updates. I think it's like, so nice to get a peek into it. And some of the founders that I love will really dive into, like, here's the revenue we did, here's the marketing that worked. Here's what we spent on. Here's the channel. Here's my asks, like, can you. Does anyone know a graphic designer? Does anyone know whatever. It's like, you feel very involved in, like, understanding, but you also learn a lot as a founder as well. Like, oh, interesting that that marketing worked for them. Maybe I should try that marketing. Like, you get an inside view into something you otherwise wouldn't.
Host - She's So Lucky (Main Interviewer)
Most definitely. I'm curious if you see founders making any kind of common mistakes when it comes to getting funding right now. Do we see people going for investment too early? People trying to get VC who maybe don't need it? Should they be trying to get another type of investment? Like, what are you seeing?
Jacqueline Johnson - Guest, Founder of Create and Cultivate
Totally the biggest mistakes that people make is not understanding the importance of evaluation in the earliest rounds because they give up too much too early. So if you're like, I, my valuation is $5 million and I'm going to raise $2.5 million, that's 50% of your company gone. If you need more money, which of course you eventually will, you are diluting yourself to barely anything. And then what's the payoff going to be? So I think that's definitely, like, one thing I've been noticing too, is people going for venture way too early. Previously, venture was good at early. They liked early. In fact, that was like the whole idea. Right now, like the earliest stage, they're like, get to a million in revenue, they're not even looking at it. And like, you kind of get one shot. So if you're not there, unless you have a very warm intro, like, do not waste your time on that. Move to Angels. That's hugely important. I think also a lot of a mistake a lot of founders make is they raise a huge round for their first round. It's the worst idea. You want to raise what you need to get to a place where you have real momentum and real product market fit, and then raise the big round, because then your valuation, you can demand a higher valuation.
Host - She's So Lucky (Main Interviewer)
That's really, really interesting. And I think it also just depends on the business itself. And Recently I had K.K. hart on the. On the show, and I know you know KK well, and one of the things that she kind of raised when we were having that conversation was just like, what is the end goal of what you're doing? Because a lot of people will chase these very flashy things where it's like the COVID of this magazine or the headline or this thing, but that may not actually make sense for them. That may not actually make sense for their business or be what's best in the long run. And so thinking about that early when you're raising or when you're figuring out what the next step is, like, getting really clear on that end goal and the why behind that end goal, 100%.
Jacqueline Johnson - Guest, Founder of Create and Cultivate
And I think we've also entered this, like, weird phase of founder dumb, essentially, where it's like, everyone's obsessed with the press looking the part, getting the thing. I'm like, there was. Was 10 years of slogging shit for me where I'm like, I was not going to anything. I was not looking good, My nails were not done. Like, I for. I was just in it. And it's like, now there's this, like, weird expectation of, like, what founders should look like. And I actually think it does such a disservice and it's such a distraction from the business. And unfortunately, this really falls on just female founders. Like, I don't see male founders, like, getting styled for events, like, doing the podcast circuit. Like. Like, they're just building because they can, right? And, like, we now have to do all of it. We have to be the face of the company. We have to be aspirational.
Host - She's So Lucky (Main Interviewer)
We have to be an influencer.
Jacqueline Johnson - Guest, Founder of Create and Cultivate
You have to be an influencer to actually have a business. And it's like, why? Like, what is that thing? And it's a very specific thing for female founders. And it's interesting because I think, like, at the end of the day, to, like, KK's point is, like, what is the end goal and what is needed to get to that end goal? And, like, maybe that is part of it, but maybe it's not, and that's okay, too. I think it's, like, important to realize, like, you don't need to follow the path that every single person is doing. And like I always say, the press will come when you do the thing. You got to do the thing first. You got to make the business work. You got to, like, make the headlines happen. You can't just go in because it's, like, great. I'm a founder. Like, why aren't you writing about me? Like, no one cares.
Host - She's So Lucky (Main Interviewer)
Yeah. And sometimes it's so hard. It's just so noisy.
Jacqueline Johnson - Guest, Founder of Create and Cultivate
So noisy to, like, break through. What will break the noise is people buying your product, people buying your service. Like, customers actually investing in you and purchasing it. That's all that matters. If you can figure out how to do that and create a good product and create retention, which is a huge metric for vc, who's coming back. That should be your laser focus when you're building a company, not necessarily what podcast you're going to be on. Even though I'm very excited to be
Host - She's So Lucky (Main Interviewer)
here, happy to have you, but also, you're in a different position now.
Jacqueline Johnson - Guest, Founder of Create and Cultivate
Yes, totally.
Host - She's So Lucky (Main Interviewer)
You're not. It's not 10 years ago when you were in, like, the very builder phase of free and cultivate. And so I'm curious now from where you are having bought the business back but having a different role, having another CEO run it. You do have Cherub, but that is a different type of business. You're just in a different act in your career. I'm curious if you feel like that season that you had was worth it and how you feel about the season you're currently in.
Jacqueline Johnson - Guest, Founder of Create and Cultivate
I definitely think that season was worth it. Like, I think I learned so much about myself and I accomplished my goal, which is, like, an amazing thing to do. It's extremely hard to sell a business, and I was able to do it twice. I was able to get myself to a position where, like, I truly. I never have to work again if I don't want to, which is financial freedom I never knew existed. So all of these things are, like, incredible, Right? I think I definitely had an existential crisis and meltdown, which was very necessary. Like, after building something like that, I read this book and it's all about, like, that loss, like, a relationship ending. I was selling a company. Like, all those things and, like, are necessary endings, is what it's called. It's so important because endings are tough. Right. It is the headline, it is the exciting thing, but emotionally, it is like an identity breaker. So you're trying to figure out your next move. Where I am today and why I feel really lucky is I get to do exactly what I want to do. It's not that I have to do all of the things right. So with Crane Cultivate, I'm lucky that I have a partner that's amazing and hustling and doing it, and I get to do jump in and help on the things that I'm good at and that I can, like, really bring my expertise to. With Cherub, it's fun. It's like the passion, it's the early days, but again, it's like a tech product, so it's very different than, like, create and cultivate, which was so reliant on my relationships, my being there, all those things, physically being there, physically being there. And so it's two totally different types of businesses. And with Cherub, I'm so passionate about really getting good companies funded that every day is exciting. I love meeting founders, and it's like, I get to be in this, like, really fun phase of, like, like getting to be out there and helping and meeting and growing and building my angel investing portfolio. Alongside of that, the stakes are lower for me, which is nice. So it makes my immune system and, like, my nervous system much more regulated as, like, a leader now than it ever was before.
Host - She's So Lucky (Main Interviewer)
Definitely. Yeah. And you've also been really transparent, too, about the personal things that you've experienced. Also, while you're doing all of these big things and navigating these changes and going through divorce, you were very open also about your journey with breast cancer last year, moving back to New York from la and like, all of these changes while that's all happening. And I. I appreciate that you talk about those things as well, because it just goes to show that we are whole people. Like, beyond a headline, beyond an event, beyond also the really shiny things we see. It's also real people experiencing the full spectrum of it all.
Jacqueline Johnson - Guest, Founder of Create and Cultivate
Absolutely. I mean, I think the hardest part about being a founder is, like, when you're going through personal stuff that is, like, extremely challenging and hard, you often don't get the day off. You have to just keep pushing. And it is so hard. And founder depression is very real, like, and. And people don't talk about it enough. And so I try to talk about the real things that are happening so that people know, like, this is just how it goes. It's important that we do that and more important that, like, people see the vulnerabilities around building and, like, you know, nothing's perfect.
Host - She's So Lucky (Main Interviewer)
Yeah, definitely. I learned so much.
Jacqueline Johnson - Guest, Founder of Create and Cultivate
Yeah.
Host - She's So Lucky (Main Interviewer)
From all of this. I have a couple more, like, little funsy questions of things that I'm just curious about because we've talked so much about investing, particularly in business. I'm curious what investing in yourself currently looks like for you.
Jacqueline Johnson - Guest, Founder of Create and Cultivate
For the first time, I'm focused on my personal brand. My personal brand has been built so much alongside my businesses for so long. And I love that. Right. Because, like, the success of the business is my success. I'm finally in this season where I'm like, you know what I'm going to focus on? Like me, it's my turn. I've done the thing and I keep getting to build these awesome businesses, but, like, I get to take time to, like, really focus on my personal brand. And what lights me up, up for a long time. Doing social media or doing things like, felt draining. Okay, I have to record this thing. But now that I'm talking about things I like and enjoy, I feel like, so lit up about it. That's definitely part of it. I think also taking time and having boundaries is so important. I love to cook. I cook most of my meals. I love to work out every single morning, Work out and don't schedule calls before 10am I put those boundaries in place to make sure as I'm getting older, like, I take care of myself in a way that I didn't for a long time.
Host - She's So Lucky (Main Interviewer)
Yeah. Which is really important. I also think it's been really fun to see, like, the evolution in your personal brand and how you've been putting more of yourself and your personality out there.
Jacqueline Johnson - Guest, Founder of Create and Cultivate
Thank you. I appreciate that. It's funny, when I was building Crane cultivate, you could not be imperfect. So everything was just like another successful event. Me and Martha Stewart. Life's so good. And I was like, dying, literally. And so it's just nice that we're in an era where it's like you can actually be yourself and be somewhat controversial and not be like, like the perfect little miss princess about everything.
Host - She's So Lucky (Main Interviewer)
Definitely. And I think we're just gonna see more and more of that, especially with. With AI. With AI creators, it's like people want to. They want to see a typo. Like, they want to see, like, blink twice. Are you real?
Jacqueline Johnson - Guest, Founder of Create and Cultivate
No. Totally.
Host - She's So Lucky (Main Interviewer)
If we want to be in it. And then I'm also curious if there were any moments you had recently where
Host - She's So Lucky (Intro/Outro)
you felt really Lucky.
Jacqueline Johnson - Guest, Founder of Create and Cultivate
I feel really lucky in a lot of different ways. One thing that I was trying to manifest that I've been thinking about, I haven't told anyone this, so this is exciting. Last year I was like, I want to write another book. It was, like, in the back of my head. And last week I got a LinkedIn message from a publisher that was like, have you thought about writing your second book? And I was like, oh, my God. And I was like, but I have to first put myself out there, like, start doing more content. And, like, then it has to come to me because obviously, trying to sell a book and shop a book is way harder than having someone, like, interested. And when I got that message, I was like, yes, it's working.
Host - She's So Lucky (Intro/Outro)
It's happening.
Jacqueline Johnson - Guest, Founder of Create and Cultivate
I felt very lucky.
Host - She's So Lucky (Main Interviewer)
Nate, that's very exciting.
Jacqueline Johnson - Guest, Founder of Create and Cultivate
I know. It's very exciting. We'll see what happens. But, yeah, it's super exciting.
Host - She's So Lucky (Main Interviewer)
Do you know what you want your second book to be?
Jacqueline Johnson - Guest, Founder of Create and Cultivate
Yeah, I have ideas around it, definitely. Around, like, investing money, money, health. Like, conversations around that is super important to me. And I think also telling the, like, behind the scenes of what was really happening with Create and Cultivate. My first book was really early. It was 2017, and I wrote it, like, in 2016. We were in an explosive phase, but we were in the middle of it.
Host - She's So Lucky (Main Interviewer)
Yep.
Jacqueline Johnson - Guest, Founder of Create and Cultivate
Telling the ending of that is, like, so important, for sure.
Host - She's So Lucky (Main Interviewer)
And having that, like, retrospective precisely is interesting.
Jacqueline Johnson - Guest, Founder of Create and Cultivate
That's exciting.
Host - She's So Lucky (Main Interviewer)
I'm excited for you.
Jacqueline Johnson - Guest, Founder of Create and Cultivate
We'll see.
Host - She's So Lucky (Main Interviewer)
So before we wrap, is there anything else that you think the girls should know when it comes to investing in themselves and businesses in their lives?
Jacqueline Johnson - Guest, Founder of Create and Cultivate
I think yes. I think the most important thing to know is that you don't need to ever write a check, but you need to educate yourself on all of these terms. You need to understand the principles of investing. Even if you never plan to raise money, even if you never plan to angel invest any of that stuff, it will take you so far in life to understand the basic vocabulary around it. So I would say, if anything, invest in yourself by educating yourself.
Host - She's So Lucky (Intro/Outro)
I love that.
Host - She's So Lucky (Main Interviewer)
And they got a lot of education and investing in this episode.
Jacqueline Johnson - Guest, Founder of Create and Cultivate
Good.
Host - She's So Lucky (Main Interviewer)
Sure.
Host - She's So Lucky (Intro/Outro)
Thank you so much for being here.
Host - She's So Lucky (Main Interviewer)
Of course.
Jacqueline Johnson - Guest, Founder of Create and Cultivate
Thank you.
Host - She's So Lucky (Main Interviewer)
I still feel like I learned so much.
Jacqueline Johnson - Guest, Founder of Create and Cultivate
Yay. That makes me happy.
Host - She's So Lucky (Main Interviewer)
Yes.
Host - She's So Lucky (Intro/Outro)
And thank you all so much for
Host - She's So Lucky (Main Interviewer)
tuning into this week's episode. If you enjoyed it, make sure you subscribe to she's so Lucky. We have new episodes coming every Tuesday and all throughout the month of April. And Honor Personal Finance Month. We're talking about all things investing. So make sure you're subscribed on Spotify, on Apple, on YouTube so that you don't miss an episode. Thanks for tuning in and I will
Host - She's So Lucky (Intro/Outro)
see you next week. Thank you for tuning in to this week's episode of she's so Lucky. If you're ready to create your own luck, hit that subscribe button wherever you get your podcasts or on YouTube so you don't miss an episode and head to the show. Notes for resources, links and discount codes. And if you are really feeling lucky, we would appreciate your rating and your review. It really helps us be able to improve the show to get great guests and to understand what you want to hear more of. Thank you for tuning in and I'll see you next week.
Sammy Clark and Sammy Spalter - Podcast Hosts of Transform
Hey, this is Sammy Clark and this is Sammy Spalter. We are best friends, co founders of our wellness platform form and now hopefully your new favorite podcast host with our new podcast Transform. We started Transform because we are constantly having all these big live chats so we thought it was time to bring the conversations to the mic for you to join in. Knowing we can all relate to the forming the best version of ourselves. We will be chatting it up from everything from self love, health and wellness relationships, owning a business and and all of the other hills and valleys that is this big beautiful life. Tune in every week wherever you listen to your podcast.
Host - She's So Lucky (Main Interviewer)
See you soon.
Jacqueline Johnson - Guest, Founder of Create and Cultivate
See you soon.
Host - She's So Lucky (Main Interviewer)
Please note that this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in this episode.
Podcast Summary:
She’s So Lucky – “You Don’t Need Millions to Start Investing—Here’s What You Need ft. Jaclyn Johnson”
Date: April 21, 2026
Host: Les Alfred
Guest: Jaclyn Johnson (Founder of Create & Cultivate, Cherub, Angel Investor)
In this episode of the Lucky Girls Invest series, host Les Alfred sits down with entrepreneur and prolific angel investor Jaclyn Johnson. Together, they dive into the real story behind angel investing — what it looks like behind the scenes, how even modest first investments can change your fortune, and the mindset and networks that create wealth beyond flashy headlines. Jaclyn openly shares her journey from building and exiting her media company Create & Cultivate, to becoming an influential angel investor and co-founding Cherub, a platform aiming to democratize investing access. The conversation is an actionable, transparent roadmap for women interested in investing or understanding the landscape.
Timestamp: 02:51–05:17
“I wanted to get women together who were having similar struggles to come together...and that’s how Create and Cultivate was initially started.” – Jaclyn Johnson (03:22)
Timestamp: 22:16–26:19
“My first investment was $10,000 into Away Luggage, which is crazy…In 2019, I got a tender offer to sell my shares, and I thought it was $120,000, but my lawyer said, ‘It’s $1.2 million. Sign it now.’” – Jaclyn Johnson (23:19, 25:36)
Timestamp: 18:50–22:06
Timestamp: 05:50–12:13
“One of my friends, she exited in the 200 millions…Because I was diluted less, I made just as much as she did.” – Jaclyn Johnson (06:54)
Timestamp: 28:52–32:01
“I’m very bullish on founders. As a founder who’s exited, you are the quarterback of the company...If that person’s relentless, I’ll bet on them every time.” – Jaclyn Johnson (31:21)
Timestamp: 32:08–34:56
Timestamp: 39:39–41:47
Timestamp: 46:04–49:53
“The press will come when you do the thing. You gotta do the thing first.” – Jaclyn Johnson (48:42)
Timestamp: 50:00–54:17
“Founder depression is very real, and people don’t talk about it enough…I try to talk about the real things that are happening so people know this is just how it goes.” – Jaclyn Johnson (52:44)
Timestamp: 53:27–54:48
Timestamp: 56:18–56:43
“You don’t need to ever write a check, but you need to educate yourself on all these terms. Even if you never plan to raise money, even if you never plan to angel invest…invest in yourself by educating yourself." – Jaclyn Johnson
This episode demystifies angel investing, focusing on realistic, approachable strategies and the mindset shifts required to build real wealth. Jaclyn underscores that education is the first and most important investment anyone can make, regardless of whether you ever write an actual check. The episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in entrepreneurship, investing, or understanding the realities behind the scenes of women’s success in business.