Betsy Fore’s journey from toy designer to venture capitalist shows that bold ideas, persistence, and values-driven leadership can transform industries. On this episode of The Female Founder, she shares her path, lessons from building multiple companies, and how aspiring entrepreneurs can turn challenges into opportunities.
Fore begins her journey as the first person in her family to attend college. Growing up in her father’s garage surrounded by motorcycles, she discovered a love for invention. Her early career brought her to iconic brands such as Mattel, Hasbro, and Star Wars, where she designed toys and games. Every project she took on built a foundation of skills and resilience that would later guide her entrepreneurial ventures.
“If we all look deep within ourselves, we actually all have that opportunity every day to do something that scares us and to say, 'Yeah, why not me?'”
Her first major entrepreneurial leap came with WonderWoof, the first Fitbit for dogs. Fore created the product to help her dog lose weight and launched it at high-profile venues like Harrods in London and Colette during Paris Fashion Week. She eventually expanded distribution to North America, including Petco and Best Buy, achieving recognition on Oprah’s Favorite Things list and Forbes. She raised capital strategically, starting with grants and angel investors, eventually securing tens of millions in funding.
Fore’s second venture, Tiny Organics, focused on childhood nutrition. Motivated by her first child’s health and inspired by her own experiences growing up with family members affected by diabetes and heart disease, she developed a line of vegetable-based foods for children. Starting with 100 “founding families,” she scaled the company to over $13 million in revenue within 24 months. Tiny Organics partnered with Michelle Obama’s Veggies Early and Often initiative, amplifying its mission to rewire the next generation’s taste preferences toward vegetables. Fore became the first Native American woman to raise a Series A for the company, paving the way for other underrepresented founders.
Today, Fore channels her experience into building Native Rising, a nonprofit supporting Native founders and technologists, and Velveteen Ventures, a venture capital fund investing in children and the planet. Velveteen focuses on high-impact opportunities and hands-on support, combining Fore’s expertise in children’s products with her partner’s climate-focused work. Together, they are the first Native women to launch their own venture capital fund, aiming for significant returns while supporting generational wealth and indigenous communities.
Fore emphasizes the importance of understanding personal values and aligning them with business decisions. She integrates neuroscience, breathwork, and mindfulness into her entrepreneurial philosophy to cultivate clarity, resilience, and purpose. She encourages founders to start by exploring their unique values, practicing heart coherence, and creating a foundation for both personal and professional growth. Her latest book, “Built On Purpose,” offers practical exercises and insights from 26 founders, helping entrepreneurs connect their inner values with the work they create.
Her journey demonstrates that perseverance, creativity, and a strong connection to personal values can fuel extraordinary entrepreneurial success. Her story inspires aspiring female founders to act boldly, stay true to their vision, and create meaningful impact while showing how intentional practices can guide both their business and personal growth.
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