Hold It Lightly: The evolution of a founder’s idea

A mentor gave Ali two words that changed everything: hold it lightly.

In the FINNOVATION Fellowship Discovery Module, Ali Brueggemann came in ready to build Vulvacious, a design-forward body literacy platform she’d been nurturing for years.

But as she shared the idea, something unexpected happened: people didn’t just respond with interest… they responded with stories.

If you’re a founder, mentor, or builder navigating the tension between vision and reality, this one will stick with you.