From Hairstylist to Tech CEO, How Freebyrd Founder Cameron Bannister Built a Beauty Tech Startup Without VC Funding

In this episode of Built to Scale: B2B Growth, host Rym Benchaar sits down with Cameron Bannister, Co-Founder and CEO of Freebyrd, to unpack her journey from working as a traveling hairstylist to building a tech platform that supports independent beauty professionals.Cameron shares how firsthand experience in the beauty industry helped her identify real operational pain points, from scheduling challenges to income instability. She explains how those insights shaped Freebyrd, why pivoting was essential to the company’s survival, and how navigating the COVID 19 pandemic forced hard decisions and rapid adaptation.The conversation also offers an honest look at entrepreneurship without venture capital. Cameron discusses why she chose to remain independent, the realities of fundraising, and how focusing on customers instead of investors helped her build a more resilient business.This episode is a must-listen for founders, bootstrapped SaaS operators, and anyone building technology for service-based industries.Key Topics CoveredTransitioning from service provider to tech founderIdentifying real pain points through lived experienceWhy pivoting is a healthy part of startup growthLessons learned navigating COVID-19 as a founderThe pros and cons of raising capital versus staying independentBuilding resilience and confidence through failureWhat’s next for Freebyrd and the focus on simplificationCameron Bannister LinkedIn Profile: ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠ Freebyrd Website: ⁠⁠https://freebyrd.pro/