Julie Duquette

I’m a multi-time founder with a passion for building purpose-driven, personality-packed ventures that solve real problems — profitably and creatively. I launched Dirty Girl, a custom uniform business, which I successfully grew over 15 years before selling in 2018. That experience sharpened my skills in design, overseas and domestic manufacturing, supply chain management, and marketing. Next came Frankenweenie, a bubble tea and gift shop that doubled as a community space for teens — complete with an anonymous podcast platform that gave youth a safe, judgment-free voice outside of social media. While not a financial home run, it was a meaningful, soul-filling venture that met the moment after COVID. My strengths lie in strategic thinking, cross-functional collaboration, and knowing when to lead and when to get out of the way. I believe in the power of staying in your lane — aligning teams around clear roles to move fast and stay effective. I’m most energized when solving complex problems creatively and connecting seemingly unrelated dots. Currently, I’m developing a new venture in the pet and human hygiene space — a natural, antifungal and antibacterial wash that’s already shown promising results across dogs, horses, and people. We’re now entering clinic testing with veterinary partners and have built a stellar advisory board. I’m in the early stages of seed funding and loving every minute of this wild ride.