In this powerful episode of Earn Your Leisure, we sit down with the legendary Pinky Cole, founder of Slutty Vegan, as she opens up about her entrepreneurial journey, the highs and the lows, and how she fought to reclaim her business and legacy.
Pinky reveals how Slutty Vegan fell into financial crisis even after reaching a $100M valuation, and why she lost ownership of the company for 43 days. She breaks down the official debt restructuring process, what led to the crisis, and how scaling too fast contributed to the company’s financial challenges.
She explains why taking investor money is like being in a marriage, and the important lessons entrepreneurs need to know before accepting outside capital. Pinky also shares how she “met God” during her fight to buy back Slutty Vegan, why owning the real estate for her restaurants is still a top priority, and the tough decision to sell her D.C. location to Robert Smith to stay afloat.
Now, she proudly owns 100% of Slutty Vegan again and is preparing to launch her new vegan restaurant. This is a must-watch episode for every entrepreneur looking to understand the real cost of success, ownership, and resilience.
