Events

Beyond the Launch: Scaling Brands for the Long Term with Julissa Prado, Founder & CEO of Rizos Curls

​What does it really take to scale a beauty or personal care brand without losing trust, culture, or the community that made it successful in the first place? ​Join us for a live session with Julissa Prado, Founder and CEO of Rizos Curls, for a candid conversation designed for early-stage consumer founders, especially those building in beauty and personal care.

Date

Thursday, February 12, 2026, 4:00 PM EST

RSVP HERE - REQUIRED TO ATTEND

​What does it really take to scale a beauty or personal care brand without losing trust, culture, or the community that made it successful in the first place? 

​Join us for a live session with Julissa Prado, Founder and CEO of Rizos Curls, for a candid conversation designed for early-stage consumer founders, especially those building in beauty and personal care.

​Rizos Curls is often referenced as a standout example of values-led, community-driven growth. Built from Julissa’s own lived experience and a deep understanding of an underserved customer, the brand scaled by prioritizing education, trust, and representation long before those became industry buzzwords.

​In this conversation, we’ll explore:

  • ​What founders should focus on when evolving from scrappy startup to scaled brand

  • ​When to bootstrap vs when to fundraise

  • ​How to build a beauty brand with your community, not just market to it

  • ​The realities of scaling through the “messy middle” without overextending or diluting your values

  • ​Navigating DTC and retail growth while staying close to your customer

  • ​Lessons from building in a crowded category

​This session is especially relevant for founders thinking about long-term brand building. This is for those founders who are balancing growth, capital decisions, retail expansion, and staying true to the customer who got them here.

ABOUT THE GUEST

​Julissa Prado is the Founder and CEO of Rizos Curls, a curly haircare brand known for its loyal community, inclusive approach, and strong omnichannel presence. What began as a solution to Julissa’s own unmet haircare needs grew into a nationally recognized beauty brand rooted in education, authenticity, and representation.

​As a founder, Julissa has remained deeply hands-on across brand vision, product development, community engagement, and leadership, guiding Rizos Curls through growth while maintaining the values that define the brand. Her journey is frequently cited as a blueprint for building beauty brands that last by leading with trust, not hype.

Events

Upcoming Events

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Jan

28

City Sessions

New Year Refresh: FFC x BELONG Happy Hour

Wednesday, January 28, 2026, 6:00 PM EST

Ring in the new year with an evening hosted by the Female Founder Collective and BELONG.

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Jan

28

City Sessions

{SANTA MONICA, CA} FEMALE FOUNDERS AFTER HOURS

Wednesday, January 28, 2026, 5:30 PM PST

Join us for an intentional happy hour designed for female founders who value meaningful connection, thoughtful conversation, and real business support.  

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Jan

28

City Sessions

{SAN DIEGO, CA} Member Mingle

Wednesday, January 28, 2026, 6:00 PM PST

Join us for an intimate gathering of San Diego based female founders, created to foster meaningful connection, shared insight, and genuine community.

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Jan

29

City Sessions

{SANTA MONICA, CA} FEMALE FOUNDER FLOW & FOCUS

Thursday, January 29, 2026, 12:30 PM PST

Join us for an intentional afternoon designed for female founders who want space to reset, connect, and gain clarity in their marketing and business.

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Feb

7

City Sessions

{LAS VEGAS, NV} Member Mingle

Saturday, February 7, 2026, 5:00 PM PST

​Power in partners-- let's link up with our 2026 collaborator!

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Feb

8

City Sessions

{CHICAGO, IL} Member Mingle

Sunday, February 8, 2026, 10:00 AM CST

Join us on February 8th for a reset Pilates class, followed by a relaxed brunch gathering for those who’d like to continue the morning together.

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Feb

18

City Sessions

{NEW YORK, NY} Member Mingle

Wednesday, February 18, 2026, 6:30 PM EST

Join NYC chapter lead Molly Godfrey for an intimate, winter-themed evening at the stunning Bedford Studios in the West Village. 

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Feb

26

City Sessions

{PORT WASHINGTON, NY} Member Mingle

Thursday, February 26, 2026, 6:30 PM EST

Join us for sips, snacks & good company at this Long Island member mingle!

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Mar

8

City Sessions

{SAN DIEGO, CA} Member Mingle

Sunday, March 8, 2026, 7:00 PM PDT

Join us for an intimate gathering of San Diego based female founders, created to foster meaningful connection, shared insight, and genuine community.

Register now