A Timely Counterpoint to Venture Fueled Growth
For more than a decade, the beverage startup ecosystem has rewarded speed. Raise capital quickly. Expand distribution aggressively. Prioritize valuation. That formula built brands but also left many founders overleveraged and underprepared for market shifts.
Felicia Gallagher believes there is a better way.
As Founder and Principal of ThreeStone Solutions, Gallagher has spent her career helping companies unlock more than 200 million dollars in working capital and revenue growth. Now she is bringing that experience directly to founders through her best-selling book, Built Not Borrowed: A Beverage Founder’s Blueprint to Financial Freedom. The book arrives at a critical moment as access to capital tightens and investors demand clearer paths to profitability.
From Corporate Finance to Founder Advocate
Gallagher’s financial philosophy was shaped under seasoned executives including Matt White, CFO of Linde Inc., and Kevin Foti, former President of Linde Inc. There she learned that disciplined financial leadership is not restrictive. It is empowering.
Through ThreeStone Solutions, she now provides strategic finance and fractional CFO services tailored specifically to purpose-driven founders. Her focus is on clarity. Cash flow visibility. Margin improvement. Strategic decision making rooted in long term thinking.
Rather than encouraging founders to chase funding rounds, Gallagher helps them build financial systems that support sustainable growth.
Character Before Capital
At the heart of Gallagher’s message is a belief that may feel countercultural in today’s startup world.
“The foundation of every lasting business is not capital but character. Build that first and the money will follow.”
Built Not Borrowed outlines frameworks that allow founders to grow without compromising control or values. It is not a rejection of capital. It is a recalibration of priorities.
Recognition and Industry Impact
Gallagher’s leadership has earned national recognition including Marquis Who’s Who inclusion, the 2025 Global Recognition Award, and Titan Awards for Outstanding Finance Executive and Outstanding CFO.
Yet her focus remains on founders. As the economic climate moves into a more disciplined era, Gallagher is helping entrepreneurs rethink what success truly looks like and how to achieve it on their own terms.
Learn more at www.threestonesolutions.com or contact Felicia Gallagher at fgallagher@threestonesolutions.com.
