In this episode, Lauren and Stef sit down with Ellen Wilcox, Head of Listening at Listen Ventures, Alex Fine, co-founder and CEO of Dame, and Kate Miller, co-founder and CEO of Miss Grass. What do all of these fabulous women  have in common?  Dame is a brand dedicated to empowering women's sexual pleasure, while Miss Grass addresses the gap in the cannabis industry specifically for women. Both are female-founded consumer brands backed by Listen Ventures,  an early-stage consumer-only VC firm that backs brands and consumer-obsessed entrepreneurs! They discuss: The founding stories of both brands and the challenges of raising capital in taboo industries as well as the insights from Listen Ventures' report on middle-aged women's preferences in the consumer market.The challenges faced by female founders in raising capital and building successful consumer brands.The taboo surrounding women's health and wellness is discussed, as well as the gender imbalance in the investor community.The importance of understanding and catering to the needs of the target consumer is highlighted, along with the power of building a strong brand and community.The role of venture capital in supporting founders in hiring and building a strong team is also touched upon.The List:Dame,  Recs: Com, Arc, AerMiss Grass, Recs: Fast TimesListen Ventures, Must Read: Mindset's from the Middle