From Survivor to Innovator: Kate Dilligan’s Journey with Cooler Heads
How a Breast Cancer Survivor Turned Entrepreneur Overcame Funding Challenges to Revolutionize Chemotherapy Care with the Support of The Brink SBDC
San Diego, CA—Cooler Heads—Kate Dilligan is a tech entrepreneur and breast cancer survivor. When Kate Dilligan started Cooler Heads in 2018, the business had limited resources. The entrepreneurial journey began with only Kate and the initial investment she secured after winning Quick Pitch at San Diego Startup Week. The challenge here was the need to scale the company from its startup stage with minimal funding and support. Cooler Heads had to navigate the additional hurdle of limited access and success in fundraising.
The support from The Brink SBDC included invitations to various events and networking activities, creating opportunities for Cooler Heads. Networking efforts led to acceptance into the Ad Astra accelerator, follow-on investments, engagement with NuFund for
investment, and recognition as one of Connect’s Cool Companies for 2023. These strategic moves helped overcome the challenges associated with fundraising for diverse founders.
Cooler Heads is not just a business success story but a company making a significant impact in the lives of cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.
Cooler Heads achieved significant growth through their dedicated efforts and strategic planning. Closing funding rounds totaling $8.2M and securing $2.1M in non-dilutive funding from the National Cancer Institute were pivotal in supporting the company’s scaling efforts and revenue generation.
