If you're a small business owner, who do you turn to for support and guidance? How do you figure out your path?

That is the need that inspired Carolyn Rods to co-found Hello Alice, a company that connects

entrepreneurs with opportunities to help them launch and grow their businesses. Carolyn knows all

about being a first-time entrepreneur and we dive into the difference between vision and execution

and how the pandemic was a make-or-break moment for her big idea.

Carolyn, I am catching you in a big moment because, as I understand it, you've just raised

$21 million in Series B funding. It's a lot of money. I know. It's kind of crazy to think about it,

particularly given that we were so oversubscribed for this round, which is a big change, particularly for, as you know,

a woman-owned business and a Latino-owned business, just a really crazy experience. But I think a

real testament to our team and frankly to the story of small

business owners. Everybody doubted what we were setting out to do for so long. And we kept saying

there is a great business here. The new majority of business owners is a great source of revenue

and a great business opportunity.

What was the problem that you identified that you were setting out to solve?

I always say I'm building what I wish I would have had when I started my first business.

I left investment banking, had a great but brief career there, and after four years, decided I wanted to try something new.

And so I jumped blindly into entrepreneurship. I came from a very entrepreneurial family.

I'd seen my grandparents run a business in Bolivia. I'd seen my father run a business in the

States. And both of those experiences really shaped how I viewed entrepreneurship.

And when I got out there on my own, I realized there's so much that I didn't know.

I knew the business I was trying to run. I had no idea what entrepreneurship really meant.

And that company failed. I did it again and really studied and learned. I realized most people don't have the

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