From Opera to Owner: Frances Simowitz on Buying an Accelerator (23mile Podcast Ep 1)

In this conversation, Frances Simowitz shares her remarkable journey from aspiring opera singer to CEO and business owner. She discusses her transition into the startup world, the challenges she faced as a leader, and her experience with management buyouts. Frances emphasizes the importance of community, resilience, and self-awareness in entrepreneurship, while also highlighting the significance of mental health and support systems for founders. She provides insights into her current venture, QUAY Acceleration, and the future of startups in the U.S. market. 0:00 Intro 1:15 Frances’ 60-second snapshot 4:25 Why buy out an accelerator? 10:10 Financing and negotiating the deal 18:00 KPIs that impress Series A investors 23:30 Helping global founders break into the US 29:00 Lightning round + lottery question 32:40 Frances’ 3-point playbook 🔗 Resources Quay Acceleration – https://weveacceleration.com/ Full transcript & show notes – https://23mile.com/podcast/frances-si... 🎧 Prefer audio? Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/47iS... Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Subscribe for weekly tactics that help founders cross the Seed–A chasm.