#06 💫 This One’s for the Builders (and the Brave)
From Cassie to Rafaela, coaching to crowdfunding — this week reminds us that power looks many ways, and momentum is built moment by moment.
At the Amela Frequency 📡, every Monday, we reflect on tech news, share thoughts from our network ✍️, and hand you tools and frameworks for early-stage builders ⚒️. Basically, if you’re building (or dreaming about it), you’re in the right place.
Hello Amelxs 👋
I hope you’re all easing into the week with clarity and energy ✨
Personally, it’s been a week of reflection, power, and possibility — in big ways and quiet ones.
I closed last week with my first leadership coaching session in years — and it helped me process a few things I’ve been carrying for a while.
No matter how grounded you are, self-doubt sometimes creeps in. And when it does, you don’t need to muscle through it — you need tools, space, and a mirror.
BIG TIME thank you to my coach (you know who you are!) 🙏💜
That clarity carried into the work we’re doing at Amela, where I just made a new hire I’m really excited about (you’ll meet her soon!) 🎉 I truly believe she’ll help us get closer to our mission:
That every woman with the vision and capacity to build something big should have a fair shot — the tools 🧰, the network 🌐, and the support 💪 to make it happen.
On the womanhood note, one story that stayed with me last week — even if not tech-related — was Cassie Ventura’s 💔
The details of the P. Diddy case are horrifying — and the strength it takes to survive, speak out, and still stand tall is indescribable.
Watching her reclaim her story — while pregnant 🤰 — is the kind of power that makes you stop and think: If she can do that, what are the rest of us capable of?
Cassie saved Cassie. 👑
And in doing so, she reminded so many of us that there’s life 🌱, joy 😊, and healing on the other side of survival. We live in a time where more women than ever are able to stand up — and be believed.
On a much lighter note: Eurovision happened 🎤✨ — which, if you’ve never watched it, is Europe’s chaotic, political, joyful, song-fueled fever dream.
It’s not always about the best talent, but it is a beautiful mess of voices trying to be heard. 🎶
And in its own weird way, that feels very on-brand for the week.
Speaking of voices — this week at Amela we featured one that somehow is still barely known:
Rafaela Aponte-Diamant, the richest self-made woman in the world 💼🚢
Part of our 10 Billionaire Women series, Rafaela runs a shipping empire with 730 ships and $28B+ in revenue — and yet most people have never heard of her.
That’s exactly why we’re telling her story. 📣
We’re also testing new formats — and just launched our Instagram Broadcast Channel 📲
If you want a more casual and direct way to keep up with what we’re building — come hang out there! 💬
Here’s to momentum — the quiet kind, the loud kind, the kind that gets built in private and celebrated in public.
Let’s keep showing up. 💫
Hugs,
Anais
P.S. Don’t forget to check out who raised last week 📈💸
🧠This Week’s Food for Thought
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As tech becomes easier to access and test, business models — not just products — will be the real differentiator. We're entering the era of great operators, and that’s a huge opportunity — especially for women.
💜Amela Insider
This might just be your lucky week, Amelxs — because one of our own is opening the doors for you to become an investor.
Nina Mohanty, founder of Bloom Money, is raising a crowdfunding round— and it’s now live. Bloom is an app designed to help migrants in the UK and Europe get their money working for them — and now, you can be part of its journey.
Nina is a founder I personally invested in, and one of the most beloved members of our community. To learn more about her story — from launch to VC backing — read our full interview here.
Let’s put more money behind the people building bold, brilliant things.
Meanwhile, in the collaboration corner:
Ana Castrillon, founder of HackTuVida, recently sat down with Nicole Pérez, founder of Blum, to talk about modern leadership in Latin America.
In their conversation, they unpack what it means to lead without commanding, and share practical tools for boosting confidence and leading with presence. If leadership is something you’re stepping into — this one’s a must-watch. Catch the interview here.
And… if you loved last year’s Amela x Blum magic at Colombia Tech Week — get ready. We’re teaming up again for another powerful session this year. Details are dropping soon in the events calendar — don’t miss it!
Upcoming Events
Morning Clubs: Workout + Conscious Networking
Remember that all of our IRL events (conscious networking + workouts) have just been announced for the month:
May 31th –Mexico City, Berlin.
Masterclass: Speak with Power: How to Show Up Confidently in Every Room
Join us for a powerful Amela Masterclass with visibility expert Raj Hayer to boost your confidence, clarity, and presence — on stage, in meetings, or with investors.
✨ Walk away with practical tools to own your voice and lead with ease.
💡Recommendations
Articles, videos, and other resources to learn.
🔥 She Built Bumble to $13B… Then Walked Away
Whitney Wolfe Herd opens up about burnout, bad advice, and building leaner. A raw, honest take on scaling smarter — and protecting your energy.
🕳️ Stepping into the Void: Lessons from a First-Time Founder
After a decade at L’Oréal, Ben Taylor launched Roam, a DTC sexual wellness brand. Despite strong branding and VC backing, challenges like Meta ad bans and unclear product-market fit led to tough decisions, including laying off friends. His candid reflections highlight the importance of humility, rapid validation, and prioritizing real customer pain points over hype. Read more.
💸 Bootstrapping to Millions: Lessons from Tally and Chatbase
Marie Martens (Tally) and Sandra Dajic (Chatbase) share how they scaled to $2M and $6M ARR, respectively, without external funding. Their strategies include launching scrappy MVPs quickly, leveraging platforms like Product Hunt for user feedback, and utilizing AI tools to enhance efficiency. Their stories highlight that with focus and the right tools, small teams can achieve significant growth without venture capital.
Read more
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