Burt's Bees Natural Launchpad: Women’s companies represent breadth of natural products
Burt's Bees Natural Launchpad's third cohort includes businesses that address skin care, natural foods, low-sugar treats, supplements and more. Here's the class roster.
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Mavi Gupta, MD, a neurologist, and her husband, Jeremy Dyen, founded Best Nest Wellness after the birth of their second child. The company offers supplements for adults and children, as well as prenatal, men's fertility and sleep formula products. The company started in 2015 and is based in Colorado.
Mark and Megan Overbay started Big Spoon Roasters in 2011, making handcrafted nut butters from scratch. They source peanuts from North Carolina, where they live; almonds from California; pecans from North Carolina, Georgia and Texas; ginger from Fiji; and sorghum from North Carolina.
Who said hand sanitizer had to come in a clear plastic bottle? In 2015, New Yorker Jessica Postiglione created Birdie, a beautiful bird-shaped container. The sanitizer features bergamot, lemon and spearmint essential oils, as well as glycerin and aloe vera leaf juice to soften skin.
Naa-Sakle Akuete is a woman of two countries: Ghana, where she was born, and the United States, where, in 2015, she started Eu’Genia Shea Skincare, named for her mother. Akuete sources raw shea butter from Ghana, pays employees fair wages and donates 15 percent of her profits to an education fund for them.
Fran Ngong of Maryland started her company, Organic Bodycare, in 2008 to produce the highest quality natural body care products. Her FreeMe Natural Deodorant is free of aluminum, talc and perfume. Her company offers a variety of products for the face, body and hair, as well as for kids and men.
When Kaitlin Mogentale watched a friend juice a carrot, she was shocked at how much pulp remained. She took it home and made her own carrot cookies. Inspired, she designed a way to collect juice pulp on her college campus and in 2015 began selling her grain-free granola, Pulp Pantry.
“Be the aloha you wish to see in the world.” This catchphrase fits Shaka Tea, the Hawaiian company that supports sustainable farming and regenerative agriculture among its tea growers. Bella Hughes founded the company in 2016 and uses the island state’s native Māmaki tea.
Tara Bosch of British Columbia, Canada, had an unhealthy relationship with food. As she changed her life, she experimented with making low-sugar gummy bears. Smart Sweets, which she started in 2016, offers “the first candy you can feel good about enjoying,” she said.
After a career with corporate food companies, Liliana Cantrell decided to strike out, with the help of Olga Kerr, and create healthy snacks for toddlers. Based in North Carolina, Sweetie Pie Organics started in 2013. In 2016, its lactation smoothies were introduced at Whole Foods Markets nationwide.
Michelle Mills of Tennessee and her partner formulated and patented their over-the-counter pain reliever, Willow Balm. The company was founded in 2009, and the product is now available in 2,000 stores nationwide. In addition to white willow bark, the cream includes helichrysum, an essential oil known to be an anti-inflammatory.
Michelle Mills of Tennessee and her partner formulated and patented their over-the-counter pain reliever, Willow Balm. The company was founded in 2009, and the product is now available in 2,000 stores nationwide. In addition to white willow bark, the cream includes helichrysum, an essential oil known to be an anti-inflammatory.
Focusing this year on women-led businesses, Burt’s Bees has named the 10 leaders who make up the third cohort of the company’s Natural Launchpad accelerator program.
The decision to focus on women’s companies was inspired by Burt’s Bees co-founder Roxanne Quimby. Even with applications open only to women, the program received two-thirds as many applications that it has in the past. In addition, English-speaking Canadian women were eligible to apply—and one of them received a slot in the Launchpad.
"There are amazing natural entrepreneurs and brands around the world leading the charge on sustainability, and it’s exciting to see Burt’s Bees supporting these global thought leaders,” Mike Pilato, vice president and general manager of The Clorox Co.'s Canadian division, said in a released statement.
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