Wasn't hitting a million in revenue supposed to fix things?
So why is it that you're now working harder than ever?
The team that was supposed to take things off your plate still needs everything explained twice.Look away from the business for five minutes and something's gone sideways by the time you look back.If everything could just STOP for a few minutes so you can breathe and think, that would be INCREDIBLE.There is a way to catch your breath and think, and it doesn’t require a magic wand.
Introducing Founders Recess
It’s a business group dedicated to one simple idea:Make it fun, and it gets done.Founders Recess is for $1-10MM founders who are tired of networking and referral groups that feel like piling on more homework.Think of us as the anti-BNI.That's a place for the "neckties" of the business world, who prefer taking attendance, timing your intros, and obligatory referrals.We want to give you space to find the right next move, but that can't happen while strategic thinking time is at the bottom of the priority list.So let us help you MAKE time.
We're looking for phenomenal case studies, so the first 10 members lock in 70% off for LIFE.
Click "So how does this work?" for details.
You are not the problem...
Look, you hit over a million dollars in annual revenue. Clearly you’re doing something very right.Unfortunately, the hustle-and-grind that got you here won’t get you to the next stage. Now is about doing more with less, or you risk building something that's successful on paper and unsustainable in real life.So if any of these describe you…
Your team needs your guidance on ev.er.y.thing.
You've canceled more vacations than you've taken
You haven't opened your P&L since tax season... last year
You've got enough business that every few weeks you want to burn it down
The last "networking event" you attended felt like death by a thousand business card cuts
None of that means you're doing it wrong. It means nobody's helped you build space to actually DO the CEO work yet.
…You might need Founders Recess
Here’s how it works:
We meet twice a month to get important stuff done - specifically, finance and marketing. We're calling these sessions:
Treasure Map Hour (finance) - you won't know where you're going or what you can afford without the right map. My co-host (a fractional CFO and licensed tax pro) will help you build yours.
Treasure Hunt Hour (marketing) - you've already got revenue hiding in your business. I'll help you find it so you can quickly increase cash flow, and figure out where to invest (and where to reward yourself and the team).
PLUS
Monthly Meetups - you can come hang with us online and in-person for fun-on-purpose, no-business time (no weird corporate-style ice breakers either)
Access to the Tavern - our private, invite-only WhatsApp group where you can ask questions, share a win, vent about your week, or trade memes any time of day
Quarterly Sandbox Retreat - two days to get offline on purpose, have some fun, reflect on what happened last quarter, and create an actionable, custom-to-you strategic plan you can’t wait to implement
What life looks like after recess
Imagine if a month, a quarter, a year from now, you…
are looking at your P&L regularly, before your accountant threatens you with your life
have a lean, predictable marketing machine vs. six half-started ideas sitting in a Google Doc somewhere
have a group of founder friends who don't blink when you want to work through a $2MM problem
no longer feel like the only adult in the room, trying your hardest to herd all the cats
have strategic time and white space both blocked off in your calendar, so all you have to do is show up
We’ve got your calendar invite ready, and filled with events from now through August of 2027. Will we see you there?
It started at a tiki speakeasy
Katherine, a fractional CFO friend, was sponsoring a conference and slammed. She texted me: "I need something fun to keep me going. Can you plan a dinner?"We had apps and cocktails at a local tiki speakeasy, no business allowed. Everyone left feeling refreshed and ready.Weeks later, Katherine asked me to plan something for the end of tax season.We went to brunch and a rage room... and Founders Recess was born.
It wasn't my first event...
For years, I’d been hosting a white-space focused retreat called Eat Play Launch. At the first one, twelve of us drove bulldozers in the desert outside Vegas.Afterward we had hot seats, some light learning, and a huge amount of white space to work, nap, or do nothing at all.
("Ditches and hoes" is still one of the best subject lines of my career)
"The whole vibe and support [at Eat Play Launch]... everyone was so generous with their time and thoughts and feedback. We all had our own things to work on but were all helping each other along. It was collaborative and individual at the same time."
My name is Angie Colee. I'm a marketing expert with 15+ years growing brands, including Lowe's, Product Launch Formula, Orzy Media, and Rich Dad Poor Dad.I believe in doing more with less, and Make Money First™: instead of dumping $20K into a brand new funnel because some guru said that's the latest magic "hack," let's find and double down on what's already working.There's a method to my madness... to date, it's produced well over $100MM in D2C sales. I pretty much stopped counting after that.
My friend and co-captain is Katherine Pomerantz (from the tiki story above).Katherine's a fractional CFO, corporate finance expert, and licensed tax professional. She also is a genius at removing complexity and anxiety around financial decision-making.Through her Money Storyteller Method®, she looks at your business holistically, from your own inner stories to the real-world impacts they manifest in your business and life... helping you understand what your numbers are really saying and decide what you want your money to do next.
We both believe in doing the simple things well and unfucking needlessly complex systems, so we can take time off to actually enjoy the lifestyles we're building.Combined we have nearly 40 years of business building experience across 80+ industries. No matter what you've built, we're confident we can help you knock it out of the park.
Ready to join Founders Recess?
Look, the work is always going to be there. That's the bad news. The good news is... that's what keeps us in business.If it's always gonna be there, I say we put it down when we want to and pick it up again when we're refreshed and ready... so come join us!
Online Membership
Monthly Treasure Map Hour with Katherine: build out your map to the kind of money you dream of making, professionally and personally
Monthly Treasure Hunt Hour with Angie: find opportunities that require minimal effort and cash to help bring in more revenue quickly
Monthly Meetups: an opportunity to connect with other founders in a no-pitch, no-pressure hang session
Access to the Tavern: our private, invite-only WhatsApp group where you can ask questions, share a win, vent, or trade memes any time
Quarterly Sandbox Time & Mini Retreat: two days to get offline on purpose, have fun, reflect on what happened last quarter, and create an actionable, custom strategic plan you're excited to implement
Members-only rates and priority booking for Eat Play Launch retreat
PLUS, when you visit Houston, come to an in-person event!
Day One Online Membership:
$299/month
$999/monthJoin as annual, save $598!
In-Person Membership
Everything in Online Membership PLUS:
Monthly In-Person Meetups at interesting, off-the-wall, and iconic institutions in and around the Houston area... with plenty of options to accommodate different dietary needs and drink preferences
Quarterly Full-Day Recess Experience to get you out of the office and fully disconnected from your business. You'll join other local founders for a 100% work-free event and recharge by doing something just for YOU. Past events have included a rage room, driving bulldozers, an interactive art installation, a day at the beach, and more.
Members-only rates and priority booking for the Eat Play Launch retreat
For all in-person events, all you have to do is block off the time in your calendar and show up. Food, bev, admission, and all other logistics are handled.
Day One In-Person Membership:
$599/month
$1999/monthJoin as annual, save $1198!
Katherine and I have already been reaching out to people we know privately and inviting them to the group. Because of that, several Day One memberships are already spoken for.But if you're reading this, you can still get one for yourself!
You'll be able to choose Online or In-Person membership in the application.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a guarantee?
No, because what you put into any group is what you will get back... and you're the one that controls that. HOWEVER, we don't lock you into a long-term contract, so if you join and figure out it's not the fit for you, leave any time with no hard feelings. And you're welcome to rejoin any time too!
We don't offer refunds, but you can cancel any time, for any reason, and keep your access through the end of your billing cycle. We'd rather have you choose to be here month after month - and if it's not the right fit, it's not the right fit. We'll still think you're awesome.
What if I miss a month?
This ain't BNI, friend. You're an adult with a business to run, and we're not taking attendance. You get to use your time the way you see fit. If you miss a month, there are no demerits and you don't need to scramble to find an "alternate". Miss when you need to, come every chance you get. Simple as that.
I'm not really "a numbers person"... how high level will the finance hour be?
Katherine knows how to translate complex, jargony finance bro stuff into everyday language even the most stressed-out and distracted founder can understand. That time is for founders who avoid the P&L like the plague, not people who casually throw around words like "contango" or quote Wolf of Wall Street for funsies.
How is this different from a mastermind or business coach?
A lot of masterminds focus on access or proximity to "celebrity" business owners. And we LOVE good business coaches, but dropping 6-figures on a personal mentor isn't always the solution. If you need someone to walk you through your challenges privately, absolutely hire a coach. Katherine and I consult with people 1:1 too!
Founders Recess is a new hybrid, serious business strategy meets serious white space and recharge time, scheduled and consistent. We're here to make marketing and finance fun, so it gets done and you are in the proactive CEO role.
What if I need help with both finance and marketing, not just one?
That's exactly why Katherine and I teamed up. Every decision in your business is marketing. Every decision in your business is finance. Sourcing, customer service, automations, tech stack... it's ALL intertwined. So rather than treat them like two things that never touch, we are showing you how to tackle both marketing and finance with confidence... even if they're not your forte.
Can I bring someone from my team?
Absolutely. We love getting the whole team on board with our "fun gets it done" philosophy! Reach out to [email protected] and we'll get you set up.
How do I know the room will be my people?
We know what it's like to drive across town, sit down, and realize these aren't your people inside 5 minutes. That's why Katherine and I personally vet every single application ourselves. Protecting this space is important... and we're prepared to grow slow if that's what it takes to get the right people in the rooom.
You'll be able to choose Online or In-Person membership in the application.
The proof
Angie's got receipts!
I always follow the same approach: find money first, then use that to create whatever comes next. Here are just a few examples:
$1.88MMIN 12 MONTHS, PRESS MODERN MASSAGE
Mining for gold in the back end with no new spend
The bulk of clients were one-and-done. So we created a system to bring past clients back in, and turn current clients into repeat visitors. Then we tweaked several of the annual promotions and together, those moves brought in $1.88MM in additional revenue over 12 months.
"We found immediately that we had a massive increase in our email opens, increased website traffic, everything from increased sales. We actually called it 'the Angie Effect' because that's how dramatic the result was."
— Rachel Beider, CEO of One Big Venture and Press Modern Massage$8.4MMIN 60 DAYS, ORCHARD SUPPLY HARDWARE
An opportunity hiding in plain sight
I created a re-engagement sequence for the unresponsive million-person segment of a 3MM-person list. Not only did we bring a lot of them back to our stores, we tracked their activity by loyalty accounts and saw a massive revenue increase. Then we automated that sequence to fire every time someone went quiet again, turning it into a revenue-generating asset.
Orchard Supply Hardware (Lowe's subsidiary)$93KPRE-LAUNCH, WITH NO PUBLIC PROMO
An email-only launch, before the product existed
Dozens of people were asking how he built his agency. Instead of a big, involved launch, we started with private invitations via email. With no slides and no webinars, we generated $93K in advance revenue before we even finished building the training program.
"We've more than doubled our revenue since she came aboard. You won't find a marketing problem that Angie can't solve."
— Chris Orzechowski, Founder of Orzy Media230ENROLLED, $17K FROM ONE DAY
When launching a new offer was overwhelming
Jimmy had a big following and a big idea, but was overwhelmed with figuring out how to launch it. We did a revenue intensive, mapped out a plan, assets, and copy inside one day.
"I launched right away and enrolled 230 people into the program and generated $17K in revenue."
— Jimmy Parent, Persuasion Scientist and Founder of Snappy Ads<10EMAILS TO A RECORD LAUNCH
The team was stuck and needed something new.
We surveyed the top 20% of buyers and learned what they wanted. Then we built a quick launch to past buyers while the program was being filmed, and leveraged those early results to bring in non-buyers and new people. It became the biggest launch in company history.
"Angie's launches and automations were still generating sales long after we'd both moved on. If you want someone who builds things that keep working after the contract ends, Angie's who you call."
— Megan Cahak, Copywriter for PowerAbs And more where that came from
"
"That's $2,000 of time back for me, and a few extra dinners with my wife."
Behdad "Bee" Jamshidi
Founder of CJAM, The Marketing Connector
"
"Angie was able to come in and nail my voice... for the first time ever I had copy that sounded like me, but that I DIDN'T WRITE."
Jeff Walker
NYT #1 Bestselling Author, Launch
"
"Bringing Angie on board to your company would be the equivalent of crossing off 'Entire marketing strategy and execution' from your to-do list!"
Marta Ravin
Award-winning Showrunner, Executive Producer and Speaker
"
"Angie is one of the most strategic marketers I know... a brilliant marketer who gets incredible results."
Kevin Rogers
Founder of Copy Chief, Podcast Host
"
"I hired Angie to run a major campaign for my company several years ago. Her coaching and mentoring has made me a far better leader."
Marcella Allison
Founder of Mentoress Collective
"
"Angie is a first class business coach and gets my highest recommendation."
Bob Beverley
Psychotherapist, Author, and Live Event Host
The proof
Katherine's got receipts!
Katherine's clients come to her not because they're on top of their numbers... but because they've spent years avoiding them. She'll sit beside you with zero judgment, and help you turn money into profit into true wealth.
"Katherine and the Money Storyteller team make taxes and payroll feel effortless. Instead of carrying the mental load of tax deadlines and financial tasks while running a business, their team stays one step ahead. They proactively notify me of what needs attention, provide valuable quarterly strategy calls, and respond quickly whenever I have questions.
As a newer S-Corp owner, payroll is handled with care and precision each month, which means I hardly have to lift a finger.
What truly sets Katherine apart is that she's not just a talented CPA. She's a creative strategist who understands my business and consistently offers thoughtful tax strategies and practical advice that help me operate more effectively as an entrepreneur.
If you're a business owner who wants to stay focused on your zone of genius while running a streamlined, well-managed business, I highly recommend Katherine and the Money Storyteller team."
Kristiana Corona, PCC
CEO, Worthy to Lead — Fortune 500 Design & Technology Leader (ex-Amazon, ex-Target), ICF Certified Executive Coach
$20KSAVED IN TAXES
Clarity on cash flow led straight to cash saved
"Since I worked with Katherine, I have a clearer understanding about my cash flow [...] I've been able to make strategic business decisions that support how I get clients and also cut costs. Some results I have experienced include saving $20k in taxes, implementing an automated system to save into my emergency fund and retirement, and having an empowering relationship with money so that I don't freak out when I check my numbers every week."
— Elaine Lou Cartas, Business & Career Coach2xINCOME GROWTH, YEAR OVER YEAR
From avoiding her numbers to doubling them
"Since working with Katherine, I experienced doubling my income each year and truly loving making, managing, and strategizing with money, easily and effortlessly."
— Tiffany Neuman, Brand Strategist and Agency Owner, Your Legacy BrandAnd more where that came from
"
"I've loved working with Katherine and her team... now we focus on making quality podcasts for our listeners, knowing that our books are in order and our company is in great shape."
Joe Saul-Sehy
Podcast Host & Producer, Stacking Benjamins Podcast
"
"Katherine has given my business the one-on-one attention that it deserves... she has helped me transform my business over the past 3 years. I feel empowered!"
Olivia Perez
Founder & Buyer, Shop NONNA
"
"We are thrilled with the personal service [Katherine] provides to all the members of our team... we have created longer-lasting processes after bringing [her] on."
Katherine Hennigan
Owner and Co-Founder, Collaborate-LA
"
"Katherine pushes me to dream bigger, supplies excellent advice around taxes and business operations, and is a trusted partner."
Morgaine Trine
Owner, Honestly Bookkeeping
"
"Since meeting Katherine and learning about her Chaos Money Framework, I have a renewed sense of control over my business and my goals feel attainable."
Jennifer Walschap
Director, Imagine Music and Arts
"
"Since working with Katherine, I was able to reorganize my business and take charge of my business financially... I never feel judged when chatting with her."
McKenzie Bigliazzi
Photographer
Not quite ready to commit?
We invite you to apply anyway.
That will add you to our interest list, where you'll get announcements, special offers, ridiculous entrepreneur adventure stories, and more.
We don't sell info. We don't spam. We just want to make the work more fun so it gets done. Maybe you wanna have more fun too?
© {currentyear} Colee Creative LLC.
All rights reserved.
