“Let's have standards that are high, and let's be unapologetic about them” - Amanda Bradford
In this episode of Entreprenista, we sit down with Amanda Bradford, the mastermind behind 'The League' dating app, as she offers a candid peek into the world of app development tailored to the ambitious and discerning dater. Having navigated the challenging terrains of the tech industry, she sheds light on the obstacles female app developers often face, from gender bias to limited funding opportunities. Her bootstrap beginnings, despite raising $2 million, have led to innovative marketing strategies, leveraging local events, and Facebook ads to help build out The League’s presence in cities like San Francisco, LA, and New York.
But it wasn't just about the tech. Amanda grappled with press criticisms, labeling her venture as elitist and solely catering to the "1%". Rather than rebrand, she’s leaned in, pivoting her marketing with her clever “Gold Digger" campaign, which celebrates goal-driven individuals, rather than the materialistic chase. See? Genius. This episode is jam-packed with value as it delves into the crucial aspects of app development, discussing the significance of features like face recognition, the ever-evolving role of AI, and the importance of user feedback. As the conversation unfolds, Amanda offers invaluable insights into combating negative press, scaling businesses, and the essence of entrepreneurship – resilience, problem-solving, and turning a "no" into a "yes".
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Guests
Amanda Bradford
Hosts
Stephanie Cartin
Co-founder of Socialfly and Entreprenista.
Stephanie Cartin is the co-founder and CEO of Entreprenista, an all-in-one platform – which includes a private community & business membership called The Entreprenista League that's made up of over 2,000 women founders at all stages of business, a weekly newsletter received by 60,000 readers, two podcasts, in-person educational & networking events, and an award program – that women founders at all stages can turn to for everything they need to grow.
Stephanie is also the co-founder of Socialfly (acquired by Truform Media Group in 2024), Markid, and Pearl Influential Capital. She has won countless awards, including the SmartCEO Brava award, which recognizes the top women CEOs in New York, and a Stevie Award for Women-Run Workplace of the Year. She has also appeared in Bloomberg, Forbes, Entrepreneur, Refinery29, and more.
Courtney Spritzer
Co-founder of Entreprenista.
Courtney Spritzer is a serial entrepreneur, angel investor, author, and community builder with a passion for creating brands and platforms that empower women to lead, grow, and thrive.
In 2012, she co-founded Socialfly, a leading social-first digital and influencer marketing agency. Over the course of a decade, she helped scale the business into an award-winning agency working with Fortune 500 brands and emerging startups, building a powerhouse team and culture along the way. In 2024, Socialfly was acquired.
In 2018, Courtney launched the Entreprenista Podcast to spotlight the stories of inspiring women founders. That passion evolved into Entreprenista Media in 2021, a media platform and community supporting women entrepreneurs at every stage of growth. She now co-leads the continued expansion of The Entreprenista League, a membership-driven community and ecosystem for founders.
As an angel investor, Courtney supports female-led and mission-driven startups aligned with her vision for a more inclusive and equitable business landscape.
She is the co-author of Like, Love, Follow: The Entreprenista’s Guide to Using Social Media to Grow Your Business (2015), a strategic guide for leveraging social platforms to drive business success.
Her work and ventures have been featured in Bloomberg, Forbes, Inc., Entrepreneur, and The New York Times. She is committed to championing visionary founders and helping build the next generation of impactful, community-driven businesses.
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