Five questions for… Hellen Lawuo-Meena and Maria Magembe

What does your firm do?

Daughter of the Soil is a British-blended, African-heritage beauty brand. Our 100%-naturally-derived products are blended with antioxidant and nutrient-rich African botanicals proven to hydrate, nourish and support the skin in regenerating. We have also established the Daughter of the Soil Foundation, with a vision of building an empowered and thriving community of women across agriculture in Africa.

What has been your greatest achievement so far?

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We have six gorgeous products on the market with a further three fully tested and ready to go, free from harsh and synthetic chemicals that typically cause skin irritation or have toxic effects when absorbed via the skin.

What has been your biggest challenge?

We have funded the business ourselves, which has meant we have had to save money on expenses such as marketing. We are active on social media, using blogger reviews and conducting product sampling to build brand awareness, but having an investor back us would really help us to market our products better.

What are your plans for hitting your targets this year?

We are working with distributors and a fast-track sales force to reach a broader market quicker, and this has helped accelerate listing opportunities.

What's the one piece of advice you'd give fellow entrepreneurs?

Don't lose focus. Always have goals and a plan to achieve your vision. The goals need to be realistic focus on what is right for today and work with the resources that you have available. Keep moving forward, one step at a time.