Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Dr. Elizabeth Clayborne, Founder of NasaClip, located in Baltimore, MD, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I founded NasaClip to offer people a simple, convenient way to treat nosebleeds empowering anyone anywhere to stop nosebleeds fast. It is the first-and-only adjustable nosebleed rescue device that provides hands-free nasal compression—putting the pressure on the nosebleed and off you. This would include school nurses, daycare providers, sports trainers, coaches, everyday moms and dads or caretakers, physicians, ER doctors, ENTs, pediatricians and allergists, or any health care provider in a clinical or urgent care setting. Each of these customer groups is going to want to have a NasaClip on hand to deal with a nosebleed quickly and effectively. It's like a Band-Aid for nosebleeds.
Tell us about yourself
My mom was a nurse, and my dad was an engineer. With parent role models like that, I was always seeking a better way—to improve systems, processes, and people for the greater good. And my life experiences as a mother of two, an ethicist in health policy and medical ethics, and a working emergency medicine physician who has been on the front lines helping patients with urgent medical needs have shaped and brought me to where I am today. My route to entrepreneurship came from seeing how things in the ER could be done better, particularly around nosebleeds—to offer a simple, safe, effective solution to a common problem.
I am motivated knowing that NasaClip makes the system more efficient for everyone! It helps nurses, caretakers, coaches, and trainers to stop a patient's nosebleed without a physician's intervention. Health professionals can also send patients home with a device to use themselves in case there is any re-bleeding. People can avoid the ER and get relief and comfort in the convenience of their homes while freeing up physician resources to focus on the most serious cases.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
As a black female entrepreneur, it is statistically difficult to secure funding for women and minorities to launch a business. Female founders secure only 2% of venture capital money, and Blacks receive less than 1%. So, getting investors to take risks on someone like me is a feat not experienced by most. Thankfully, I've been successful in securing grant funding and pre-seed investment for NasaClip, totaling more than $1.4M. This excites me because NasaClip, as a black-led business, is an example of black excellence for beating the odds as a demographic that's been underrepresented and underfunded in this space. Furthermore, since I envision NasaClip as a simple but eloquent solution to a very common problem that will become a global brand name for nosebleed rescue, I hope to financially position myself to reinvest in other people of color and female founders as an excellent way to build generational wealth.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
The need to embody the idea that life and business are a marathon, not a sprint. You must know how to manage your mindset and set realistic expectations while understanding how to achieve work-life balance. You can't do your best work if you can't be your best self, which means taking time to nurture your mind, body, soul, and the relationships nearest and dearest to you.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Go Big Early - My early advice to those with a great idea is to make growing and developing your business your main hustle instead of your side hustle. Doing so will help you discover if you need to pivot or move to another idea more quickly.
- Accept Help - Build a trusted, supportive team that you can delegate to so that you can be even more nimble in growing the business while avoiding burning out in the process.
- Be Fearless - Be bold and decisive in decisions– this confidence reflects well in your product, business plan, yourself, and your value.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://nasaclip.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NasaClip
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nasaclip/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NasaClip
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nasaclip/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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