Let’s Talk About the Elephant in the Room… Shark Tank.

On Hot Takes, Big Stakes, host Natalie Holloway, founder of Bala, and co-host Lana Elie, founder of Flume, are here to help you turn your time into real value.

In today’s episode, Lana interviews Natalie about one of the most pivotal moments in her career with Bala: her appearance on Season 11 of Shark Tank. The pitch led to a major turning point for the brand when Natalie received an offer from Mark Cuban and Maria Sharapova for $900,000 in exchange for 30 percent of the company.

Understanding your brand, defining your valuation, and crafting a razor-sharp pitch are some of the most valuable skills you can develop as a business founder. Whether or not you ever end up on Shark Tank, the insights Natalie shares in this conversation will be key to your ability to attract investors and grow with confidence.

Each episode of Hot Takes, Big Stakes brings you real conversations with high profile business leaders. No jargon. No sugarcoating. Just the honest truth about what it takes to build a company from the ground up.

Key Takeaways:

• Just try. If you get a call, you can discuss timing. But go for it.
• Your pitch is everything.
• Closing the deal itself is a process.
• Respond quickly to emails, it shows you value your employees.

More on Natalie Holloway:

• Personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/natalieholloway/
• “Bala” Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bala/
• “Balacize” Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/balacize/
• Substack, “Working Out in Heels”: natalieholloway.substack.com
• Book a 1-on-1 Call: https://intro.co/NatalieHolloway

More on Lana Elie-Meyers:

• Personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lanaelie/