Fawn Weaver, the visionary founder and CEO of Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey, is carving a path for women and people of color in business by building a billion-dollar legacy on her own terms.
Speaking earlier this month at the #PowerWomensSummit in New York City, Weaver shared her philosophy on ownership and how she has navigated the challenges of the business world without relying on institutional money.
In her conversation with Forbes CCO Randall Lane, Weaver spoke about the importance of maintaining control over key assets.
“You make sure that you own what no one can take from you. So you own the trademarks, you own the patents, you own the land, and I own all of them,” she said.
Weaver’s approach to business ownership is grounded in keeping control of her company’s most valuable assets, ensuring that her vision remains intact.
Weaver also revealed her decision to steer clear of venture capital (VC) and private equity (PE) funding, which she observed has often led to founders being replaced within a short time after receiving investments.
“I could clock it with an egg timer. Within two years, they were being replaced,” she noted.
As a result, she chose to capitalize her business without outside institutional funding, a decision that has allowed her to maintain complete voting control and autonomy over her company.
In the seven years since founding Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey, Weaver has raised over $200 million while keeping full control of the company, building a brand that now stands as one of the fastest-growing American whiskey companies.
Weaver’s story is a powerful example of how entrepreneurs, especially women and people of color, can defy traditional business structures to create lasting legacies.
