Four dudes from a kiwi startup Kiki.nyc get $7M for a startup idea and activation around subletting - that they then pivot (several times) and now are pivoting to something they have zero experience with... 

Supporting "corporate girlies" in NYC... but without making the first woman on their team a co-founder (who seems like the person who found this new niche). 

Shout out to all the existing communities like One Roof who spend everyday (for years and decades already) supporting women in business to be their best selves. 

It's clear these guys have something about them that makes them good founders… They've created a lot of attention, got a lot of customers, and have sparked some big discussions around startups and subletting. 

I don't want to doubt their ability to build a scalable business.... but I can't help but think about the many women who are solving bigger problems, who have their credibility questioned far more, and who are completely overlooked for funding. 

A quote from founder Lucy Wark's LinkedIn post about this situation: 

“...the sheer volume of "things the average female founder could never do, let alone be rewarded for" in this piece is staggering.”

A quote from the journo Jessica Sier’s LinkedIn post about this situation: 

“But a drastic pivot from a subletting start-up (innovative!) to somehow helping 'girls' make friends in New York City seems like a fine way to use the $7 million Kiki raised last year.”

I saw on LinkedIn about another not ideal news story, Jennifer Stojkovic said in a PR crisis, you’ve got to:

“Tell the story. Tell it fast. Tell it honestly.”

This situation has showcased huge lessons for startups and founders. 

I'm looking forward to learning what will happen next for this company and its millions of funding and how the founders will manage it. 

• Read more from Jessica Sier and Nick Bonyhady in the The Australian Financial Review about the pivot.

• Read more from Madeline Hislop in Women's Agenda about the news

• Read more from Tegan Jones in SmartCompany, along with Blackbird’s first public response to the pivot as their leading investor.
  

Blackbird broke its silence during the PR crisis to say that it acknowledges there's a problem/backlash and is taking on all feedback. Check out the original investment notes from Blackbird here.

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