9 Years, 4 Kids, 1 Kitchen Vision: How This Mom Built a Hair Extension Empire From Scratch

Standing alone in her parents' kitchen making a quesadilla, Whitney Rigby heard a male voice tell her to "create magnetic hair extensions" - and nobody else was home. Nine years later, that supernatural moment has transformed into the world's first magnetic hair extension company, with investors begging to get in and trade shows selling out instantly. In this episode of Startups with Stu, Whitney reveals how she went from aspiring celebrity hairstylist to bootstrapped entrepreneur while raising four kids, including the wild chain of "coincidences" that led a multi-million dollar CEO to mentor her after her father-in-law randomly installed blinds at his house. Host Stuart Draper dives deep into the strategic decisions that matter most - why Whitney turned down Shark Tank when pregnant, how she survived her husband losing his job twice during development, and the real reason it took six years to perfect a product that seemed simple. The conversation gets tactical when Stuart breaks down exactly why Whitney needs to raise money now, the difference between debt and equity financing, and how inventory challenges are actually the best problem to have. For entrepreneurs wondering how to balance family life with startup dreams, this episode offers a blueprint for building something meaningful without sacrificing what matters most.