Billionaire at 30: Lucy Guo’s 5:30 AM, 90-Hour Week Hustle

Also, You don’t need Silicon Valley “uncles” to open doors — with the WE playbook, you can build your own one-call-away advantage.

Author

Keren Hod
September 04, 2025

🚀 What’s New in Business & Entrepreneurship

AI Bubble Worries Shake Wall Street
Tech stocks slid as Sam Altman admitted there is an AI bubble, while MIT revealed that 95% of corporate AI pilots aren’t delivering ROI. Investors are bracing for a reset.

Target’s Big CEO Switch—Wall Street Shrugs
Target’s COO Michael Fiddelke is stepping up as CEO after starting as an intern 20 years ago. But investors wanted an outsider, and shares dropped 6% on the news.

VC Funding Still California-Heavy
Nearly two-thirds of all US venture capital in 2025 went to California startups—over $110B—while New York trailed far behind in 2nd place with $13B. Massachusetts and Texas followed in 3rd and 4th, pulling in around $6B and $5.2B each.

Creator Economy VC Is Back on the Rise
VCs are doubling down on creator tools: Whatnot raised $265 million, Substack $100 million, and ShopMy $77.5 million—reflecting a $480 billion market expected by 2027.

Startups Are Struggling to Hit Series A Milestones
Only 11% of startups（2020–mid-2025 cohort) have reached Series A, down from 1.5 years to 2.5 years on average. AI is helping lower costs—but founders face equity squeeze, delayed exits, and bridge rounds.

👩‍💼 Female Founders News

Lucy Guo of Scale AI Hits Billionaire Status at Age 30
Lucy Guo, co-founder of AI startup Scale AI, has become the youngest self-made female billionaire, spurred by a Meta-led valuation surge. Her disciplined work ethic—starting days at 5:30 AM, often skipping lunch, and encouraging 90-hour workweeks—sparks important conversations around founder culture and sustainability.

Daniela Amodei’s Anthropic Eyes Massive Valuation
Anthropic, co-founded by Amodei, is inching toward a $170B valuation as women continue to lead at the AI frontier.

Brynn Putnam Reveals Her Next Game-Changing Venture on the TechCrunch Stage
Mirror founder Brynn Putnam is making her long-anticipated return at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025—this time with a brand-new gaming hardware startup. Seven years after building Mirror into a $500 million acquisition for Lululemon, she's taking the spotlight again in San Francisco this October.

📚 A How-To Guide: How WE Women Create Big Opportunities

(Spoiler: it’s not cold applications.)

Let’s be real: many people get ahead because they grew up in the right circles. One phone call and — poof — an investor meeting, a partnership, or a keynote stage. But what if you don’t have those inner-circle connections?

Good news: you can absolutely build your own “one-phone-call-away” advantage. Here’s how women entrepreneurs in WE do it every day:

Strategy #1: IRL Networking that Opens Doors

In-person networking is still one of the fastest ways to unlock opportunities — from partnerships to media features. Unlike email or LinkedIn messages, face-to-face conversations can’t be ignored.

But most people sabotage themselves by leading with a pitch. Instead, lead with curiosity, then build trust:

  • Open with something simple: “Are you working on anything exciting right now?”

  • Let them share, then connect the dots to your own work.

  • End with a clear, light ask: “Would you be open to introducing me to someone who…”

The key is to make it authentic, not desperate. People share their network when they feel you’ll bring value to it.

👉 WE Tip: Target events where high-value people gather — founder dinners, accelerators, university hubs, women-in-tech panels. The energy is collaborative, and doors open faster than you think.

Strategy #2: Your Digital Presence is Your Deal Flow

Not in NYC, SF, or London? Your online presence is your 24/7 networking machine.

Forget the “apply here” mentality. Opportunities flow to the people who are visible.

How to build that visibility:

  • Share quick posts on what you’re learning or building (don’t wait until it’s “perfect”).

  • Comment meaningfully on investors’, founders’, or journalists’ content.

  • Show up consistently so the algorithm (and the community) puts you in the right rooms.

Often, the first response you’ll get isn’t, “Let’s invest.” It’s, “Curious to hear your take on this.” That’s your opening. Use it to show value — and you’ll be top of mind when the right opportunity comes up.

Remember: most partnerships, funding rounds, and collaborations don’t start with formal applications — they start with conversations.The WE Opportunity Challenge: 7 Days to Expand Your Circle

The WE Opportunity Challenge: 7 Days to Expand Your Circle

Here’s a simple rhythm that works:

  • 2 in-person conversations (coffee chats, events, or founder meetups).

  • 5 online contributions (posts, comments, or insights in your industry).

  • 1 bold ask (an intro, a collaboration idea, a speaking opportunity).

Do this every week. Opportunities will start compounding.

💡 Bottom line: You don’t need to be born into the right network. You can build it. With consistency, authenticity, and the WE community at your back, you’ll be just one conversation away from your next investor, customer, or stage.

💌 From the Editor’s Desk

This week shows the power of contrast: an AI bubble on one side, and women like Lucy Guo, Daniela Amodei, and Brynn Putnam building billion-dollar futures on the other.

The lesson? Opportunity doesn’t wait for perfect conditions — it rewards those who show up, connect, and make the bold ask.

With you,
Keren
Founder, WE – Women Entrepreneurship