March 7, 2024

E091: Jess Hunichen: Shine Ventures

E091: Jess Hunichen: Shine Ventures

Jess Hunichen and Emily Ward are the Co-Founders of the global Talent Management Agency, Shine Talent Group, founded in 2015 with offices in Los Angeles, Toronto and London. Built on the premise of collaboration over competition, Shine has grown a reputation for being an ally to both talent and brands bringing impactful campaigns and creative solutions. In 2023 Jess and Emily launched Shine Ventures as a vehicle to share their experience and invest in bold founders with potential for global reach and market disruption.

Venture capital is an exhilarating and challenging arena, often dominated by a stereotypical image of who holds the power to invest. But times are changing, and so are the faces of those at the forefront of investment innovation. On today's episode of Female VC Lab podcast, we had the pleasure of hosting Jess from Shine Ventures—a trailblazer reshaping not only who invests but also what they choose to empower.

From Talent Management to Trendsetting Investments

Jess’s journey into venture capitalism wasn't your typical Wall Street tale. Her roots in managing talent through her company, Shine Talent Group, provided her with unique insights into emerging trends within lifestyle and wellness sectors—insights that she leveraged to support startups driven by real people with authentic stories.

What sets Jess apart is her approach to investments; she plans on adapting investment focuses biennially. This strategic pivot ensures that Shine Ventures stays ahead of market curves while supporting industries ripe for growth and innovation.

Spotlight on Women's Health: Investing Beyond Taboos

The upcoming focus for Shine Ventures? Women's health—from menopause to menstruation. It’s a sector historically shrouded in mystery and taboo but one that affects half the population directly. By opening up dialogue around these topics and investing in companies innovating within this space, Jess isn’t just funding businesses—she’s spearheading a movement towards greater awareness and better solutions for women worldwide.

This initiative couldn't be more timely as conversations around women's health have started gaining traction across various platforms, signaling readiness for disruption and progress.

Diversified Learning: The Key To A Well-Rounded Investment Philosophy

Jess doesn’t limit herself when it comes to knowledge acquisition; she balances fun reads with business podcasts probing into successful founders' minds. This diversified learning feeds into a well-rounded perspective essential for any investor looking beyond mere numbers—to understand motivations behind success stories truly.

The Rise of Female-Led Angel Investing

Looking forward, Jess predicts an uptick in female-led angel investing—a result partly fueled by increased discourse surrounding once-taboo subjects like menopause alongside financial empowerment discussions among women everywhere. With significant wealth transfers anticipated over coming years—and data backing higher success rates among women-led companies—the stage is set for community-focused business growth steered by informed female investors.

Education plays a crucial role here; understanding responsible investing principles can transform how future generations approach wealth management.
 
Influencers: Bridging Creativity & Investment

Influencers are evolving beyond brand endorsements—they're becoming savvy investors themselves or even creating independent brands rooted in sustainability principles. Their dual roles add depth to their influence while diversifying their portfolios—an evolution made possible through social media channels that remain central communication tools for both personal branding and professional ventures alike.
 
Jess herself harnesses these platforms effectively—not just promoting her work but engaging actively with communities interested in venture capitalism or seeking mentorship opportunities within this space.
 
Conclusion: Creator Economy Meets Investment World
 
As our session concluded, Jess shared her excitement about intertwining creator economy dynamics with traditional investment frameworks—an intersection promising innovative outcomes benefiting all stakeholders involved.
 
For aspiring entrepreneurs or investors tuning in today—or anyone fascinated by shifting paradigms within venture capital—there lies immense value in following thought leaders like Jess from Shine Ventures who dare challenge norms while lighting paths toward inclusive prosperity through mindful investment practices.
   
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
00:12 What inspired you to become a VC?
01:07 What is your investment thesis? What is the motivation for your thesis?
02:41 What are you currently reading or learning or listening to these days?
03:36 In 2 years, how do you see venture capital evolved or changed?
09:01 How do people contact you?
09:30 Thank you

Featured Guest Bio:
Jess Hunichen and Emily Ward are the Co-Founders of the global Talent Management Agency, Shine Talent Group, founded in 2015 with offices in Los Angeles, Toronto and London. Built on the premise of collaboration over competition, Shine has grown a reputation for being an ally to both talent and brands bringing impactful campaigns and creative solutions. In 2023 Jess and Emily launched Shine Ventures as a vehicle to share their experience and invest in bold founders with potential for global reach and market disruption.

Guest Contact:
Fund Information:
We use our marketing and branding expertise to amplify and drive growth. Through launching and growing multiple successful ventures, Jess Hunichen and Emily Ward know what works and are using that know how to accelerate momentum for other founders. The fund focuses on creator economy, consumer lifestyle and wellness. Shine Ventures will release its niche focus annually based on their proprietary trend research.

Fund Site:
Fund Contact:
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