Kelly Fitzsimmons – Minisode

Kelly Fitzsimmons is a 4X serial entrepreneur and pioneer in voice recognition technollgy and cyber security software with several 8 and 9 figure businesses and exits to her name. She shares important advice for women in tech seeking funding, inspired by her own harrowing #MeToo attack by an investor which sent her into depression, isolation, shame – and now recovery with a new virtual reality company and a new book out this fall.

Show Notes

There are too many #MeToo moments shared by women technology entrepreneurs seeking venture capital financing.

Kelly Fitzsimmons is a very successful serial entrepreneur with 8 and 9 figure businesses and exits to her name.

When an investor she trusted attacked her it derailed her startup and she suffered the shame, depression and resulting business failure in isolation. No one knew her suffering.

She shares her ordeal on this Minisode, plus practical advice:

  • Why you should never fundraise alone
  • Get mentors and networks and surround yourself with people who have your back
  • Never suffer in isolation
  • Everyone fails, and how to leverage failure for growth
  • And more!

Kelly is a pioneer in voice recognition technology as the founder of HarQen, a pioneer of cyber security software in the late ‘90s, and now she turns to virtual reality for her next challenge. She’s also an angel investor.

She’s the co-founder Custom Reality Services, a virtual reality production company whose first project, Across the Line, premiered at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival. She is also the co-founder of the Hypervoice Consortium, which researches the future of voice communications.

Previously, she was the co-founder and CEO of HarQen. Prior to launching HarQen, she founded Sun Tzu Security (1996), an information security firm, which merged with Neohapsis (2003), where she led the combined company as CEO through 2006. Cisco acquired Neohapsis to enhance its information security offerings in 2014.

More about Kelly here: http://www.crsvrlab.com/

Kelly’s new book comes out this fall. It’s called Lost in Startuplandia: Wayfaring for the Weary Entrepreneur and WINGS listeners can get their free digital copy by registering here: www.lostinstartuplandia.com

In 2011, the Angel Capital Association awarded her the Silvertip PwC Entrepreneurship Award. In 2013, Speech Technology magazine honored her with the Luminary Award. She is a regular contributor to Information Week and Inc. magazine. Recently, several of her Inc. articles were published in an anthology Been There, Run That. She serves on the board of the Executive Women’s Forum, the largest member organization serving female executives in the Information Security, Risk Management and Privacy industries.

Read the full transcript here

170 MINISODE #MeToo, #VCs and Leveraging #Failure: 4X Serial Technology Entrepreneur Kelly Fitzsimmons Advises on Raising Money and Avoiding Isolation

Where to Find Kelly on Social Media:

  • https://twitter.com/Crsvrlab?lang=en
  • https://www.facebook.com/CustomRealityServices/
  • https://www.linkedin.com/in/ekellyfitzsimmons/
  • https://www.instagram.com/custom_reality_services/?hl=en

Like and Follow WINGS!

Our Sponsors and Special Offers

Audible.com

Listeners of Wings can get a FREE audiobook download and 30 day free trial at www.audibletrial.com/WingsPodcast – with more than 180,000 titles to choose from for your iPhone, Android, Kindle or mp3 player. Start your free trial now!

Wings of Success Summit

Grab your WINGS!  For a short time only you can get discounted access to the teachings of 55 top entrepreneurs at https://wingssummit.com/access – with more than 70 hours of video and audio downloads, bonus content plus access to an exclusive private Mastermind. It’s your “entrepreneurial MBA”!

Springboard Enterprises

Find out if you and your company qualify for this Accelerator for Female Founders – in media tech, fashion tech, life sciences and more!

https://sb.com Check it out!

Zero Limits Ventures

How much is your company worth? Want to find out how to boost your valuation? Claim your FREE consult call with ZLV Founder and Principle Steve Little for your valuation enhancement and capital acquisition strategy.

https://zerolimitsventures.com/access

Subscribe to Wings!
 
Listen to learn the secrets, strategies, practical tips and epiphanies of women entrepreneurs who’ve “been there, built that” so you too can manifest the confidence, capital and connections to soar to success!
Instantly get Melinda’s Wings Success Formula
Review on iTunes and win the chance for a VIP Day with Melinda
Subscribe to Wings!
 
Listen to learn the secrets, strategies, practical tips and epiphanies of women entrepreneurs who’ve “been there, built that” so you too can manifest the confidence, capital and connections to soar to success!
Instantly get Melinda’s Wings Success Formula
Review on iTunes and win the chance for a VIP Day with Melinda
Subscribe to 10X Together!
Listen to learn from top entrepreneur couples how they juggle the business of love … with the love of business.
Instantly get Melinda’s Mindset Mojo Money Manifesto
Review on iTunes and win the chance for a VIP Day with Melinda
Subscribe to Wings!
 
Listen to learn the secrets, strategies, practical tips and epiphanies of women entrepreneurs who’ve “been there, built that” so you too can manifest the confidence, capital and connections to soar to success!
Instantly get Melinda’s Wings Success Formula
Review on iTunes and win the chance for a VIP Day with Melinda