Lana the founder of Floom, a premium flower marketplace featured in Vogue, Forbes, and The New York Times, breaks down how she sold her company to a strategic buyer without a banker. We cover spotting the right time to sell, building a data room, running a buyer process, and handling LOI exclusivity risk. She shares the emotional side too, identity after the exit and why deals can fall through. If you are considering selling, this conversation is a practical roadmap and a reality check.

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TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@hottakesbigstakes/

More on Natalie Holloway:

Personal Instagram: www.instagram.com/natalieholloway/

“Bala” Instagram: www.instagram.com/bala/

“Balacize” Instagram: www.instagram.com/balacize/

Substack,

“Working Out in Heels”: natalieholloway.substack.com

Book a 1-on-1 Call: intro.co/NatalieHolloway

More on Lana Elie-Meyers:

Personal Instagram: www.instagram.com/lanaelie/

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/lana-elie-875b383a/

00:00 Intro, who is Lana and what is Floom

01:09 Deciding it was time to sell, reading the signals

04:30 Burnout vs. timing, why she aimed for profitability first

07:00 What M&A advisors do, why she went solo

08:56 Building the data room, financials, legal, and IP proof

12:15 Finding buyers, using LinkedIn and a short strategic list

14:54 When deals fall through, managing the emotional crash

16:11 Should you sell before you hate it, practical advice

18:33 Identity after an exit, grief, journaling, and reset

22:00 Life design, profitability, and alternatives to venture scale

24:27 LOI exclusivity risks, spotting unserious buyers

26:59 Deal structures 101, lessons she wishes she knew earlier

28:07 When to sell, hot vs. right-for-you timing

29:57 After the handoff, how closely to watch the brand

30:47 Hot take, does a company need to be your identity

31:26 Time off between companies, sprint or sabbatical

33:08 Does selling give you clout, second-time founder advantages

34:28 Wrap up, subscribe and comment

Founder Diana Cohen shares how Crown Affair went from a viral haircare Google Doc to a nationwide Sephora brand. She walks through lessons from early roles at Away, Outdoor Voices and Harry’s, the Japanese rituals that shaped her formulas, and the Laura Mercier powder hack that inspired Crown Affair’s dry shampoo. Diana breaks down scalp versus strand health, why brushing matters, and her “raise as you go” approach that led to sustained, profitable growth. If you care about brand, product and calm, durable company building, this one is packed with takeaways.Hot Takes Big Stakes listerner get to enjoy 15% off their purchase at https://www.crownaffair.com using code HTBS15.More Hot Takes Big StakesInstagram: www.instagram.com/hottakesbigstakes/TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@hottakesbigstakes/More on DiannaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/diannacohenLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/diannacohenWebsite: https://www.crownaffair.comMore on Natalie Holloway:Personal Instagram: www.instagram.com/natalieholloway/“Bala” Instagram: www.instagram.com/bala/“Balacize” Instagram: www.instagram.com/balacize/Substack,“Working Out in Heels”: natalieholloway.substack.comBook a 1-on-1 Call: intro.co/NatalieHollowayMore on Lana Elie-Meyers:Personal Instagram: www.instagram.com/lanaelie/LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/lana-elie-875b383a/

This episode is the honest look at building a business while breastfeeding, corralling toddlers, and cleaning up midnight messes, the kind of chaos that never makes the highlight reel. We talk about the Shark Tank bump, finding out we were pregnant, and how priorities shifted as the family grew.You will hear the rules that keep us sane, one night out per week and a no-meetings policy that protects deep work and bedtime.We cover real help, from full-time family support to outsourcing errands, flexible schedules for working parents, founder maternity leave during nap windows, and giving yourself permission to let a few things slip.More Hot Takes Big StakesInstagram: www.instagram.com/hottakesbigstakes/TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@hottakesbigstakes/More on Natalie Holloway:Personal Instagram: www.instagram.com/natalieholloway/“Bala” Instagram: www.instagram.com/bala/“Balacize” Instagram: www.instagram.com/balacize/Substack,“Working Out in Heels”: natalieholloway.substack.comBook a 1-on-1 Call: intro.co/NatalieHollowayMore on Lana Elie-Meyers:Personal Instagram: www.instagram.com/lanaelie/LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/lana-elie-875b383a/

00:00 Cold open, what real chaos looks like
00:48 Mom first, company second
02:00 Shark Tank growth and a surprise pregnancy
02:50 Rules and tools that keep motherhood first
04:45 The night from hell, still doable
06:10 Why help matters, full-time family support and outsourcing
08:00 Designing flexible schedules for working parents
10:10 Time-saving rules, one night out per week
11:20 The no-meetings policy that protects deep work
12:50 When meetings are necessary, compress to 30 minutes
14:20 Identity shifts and the rise of mom anxiety
17:30 How we handled maternity leave as founders
20:15 Give yourself grace, some things will slip
24:20 Postpartum must-haves and hydration habits
26:14 Wrap up and call to action