Handling Dismissal
Female entrepreneurs are often sidelined and dismissed, I’m pushing back through proof
Recently, I had an interaction that reminded me exactly why I started 1987.
At an event, my husband Jack and I met a couple in their 60s. When they asked what we do, we explained we’re both entrepreneurs (my husband is the founder and CEO of Tru). Instead of curiosity or encouragement, we were met with smirks, dismissive questions like “but how do you even make money doing that?” and mocking comments like “those hoodies, huh? Good luck with that.”
Before launching my company, I often felt dismissed. My ideas weren’t being taken seriously, and neither was I. I was reduced to my gender and told–directly and indirectly–that I brought little else of value into the room.
When I pursued fundraising for my AI start-up idea during grad school, I watched investors decide against me before I even finished my pitch. Not because of the idea or the tech, but because in their eyes: young women couldn’t possibly do big things. And the data reflects that reality: only 2% of venture funding goes to female entrepreneurs. One bold investor told me because of the way I looked no one would ever invest in me.
That’s why I self-funded 1987. I built a small investment portfolio during my corporate career, and when it performed well, I used it to seed this company. It wasn’t millions—it was about $30,000. I bootstrapped, stretched every dollar, and got creative. Along the way, I met Sarah, and together with an incredible team we grew 1987 from nothing into what it is today.
My “why” has always been clear: to carve out a place for women in entrepreneurship, to prove that young women can and do build serious, successful companies.
And though I’ve carried that “why” with me since day one, 1987’s growth has given me a new kind of confidence. I don’t feel the need to prove myself or this company to anyone–I know what we’ve built. I know our growth and I know what’s coming next. And for every person who has ever clicked Add to Cart: thank you! You are part of this story and we love you so much for allowing us to build this company!
But this weekend, I was reminded of those early feelings.
Younger me would have fought back against this couple’s harsh words. I would have pulled out sharp vocabulary, data points, and cunning lines. I would have tried to win them over.
But now? I don’t need to.
And I hope that our story helps spark the next generation of women who won’t be silenced, underestimated, or dismissed.
Xoxo, Jen