South Africa - Startup under 3 years old

Describe your project or startup in a few words

Naturally Nirvana is an eco-friendly haircare brand aimed at inspiring individuals to love and embrace their crowns. Perfectly crafted/curated for different hair textures and hair needs.

01.01 Describe your startup in more detail

Naturally Nirvana makes use of plant-based ingredients sourced from our garden thus alleviating the fight against global warming and climate change. Our business is scalable, reasonable and sustainable as its main focus is improving the profitability of our services even when the workload increases. We are the first known haircare brand in South Africa to grow our own plants and use them in our final products. Thus it is an improvement over current methods as it contributes towards a sustainable environment, while also tackling various hair issues of our clientele.

01.02 What is the main problem you are trying to solve?

My innovation is trying to solve the issue of climate change by using plant-based ingredients within our products which we produce by using actual plants that we grow and also issues such as tackling different hair care issues such as low moisture retention, split ends, hair growth (which takes place from 2 weeks onwards when using our haircare products).

01.03 Tell us the major benefits and/or advantages of using the product/service that your startup provides (at least 3).

Guaranteed hair growth from 2 weeks onwards of using our products, healthier and fuller hair.

01.04 Please describe who exactly your startup’s product/service is aimed at serving. Who are the targeted beneficiaries?

Our target market is males and females of all ages, they live in the rural and suburban areas. Their races are Black, White, Coloured and Indian.

01.05 When was your company established?

2022-04-05

01.06 Are you already selling your product/service?

Yes

01.07 How many other owners are there within your startup?

1

01.08 Among the other owners, how many are female?

0

01.09 Please describe the profile of the other owners within your startup (skills, experience, etc.)

The CEO and Founder of Naturally Nirvana is Nicole Louw a 29 year of age. Business Studies graduate of Nelson Mandela University completing her Diploma in Management majoring in Finance. I also completed various courses in formulations and was a finalist in the EDHE Pitch competition in 2022 and a panellist in 2023

01.10 If you have a website, a social media page (Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin…), or app, please provide the link(s) here:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-veronica-louw-9a8b48290/

01.11 Which industry best describes your project?

Other: Haircare and Cosmetics

02.01.01 My startup contributes to the No poverty goal

5

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification for my startup

N/A

02.02.01 My startup contributes to the Zero hunger goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification for my startup

N/A

02.03.01 My startup contributes to the Good health and well-being goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.03.02 Good health and well-being - Justification for my startup

N/A

02.04.01 My startup contributes to the Quality education goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification for my startup

One of the things we pride ourselves in as an organisation is the fact that we donate sanitary towels within my community to underprivileged children where I also speak about how important education is and I inform young girls about the importance of entrepreneurship, where they can find the necessary resources and tools to succeed as I myself come from a disadvantagous background.

02.05.01 My startup contributes to the Gender equality goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification for my startup

When I go to schools my main focus is females as I feel that there is still a gap in inequality of males to females. I also try to educate them on how to succeed in the business world which is very male dominated.

02.06.01 My startup contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification for my startup

N/A

02.07.01 My startup contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification for my startup

N/A

02.08.01 My startup contributes to the Decent work and economic growth

7 - Strongly Agree

02.08.02 Decent work and economic growth - Justification for my startup

By creating employment for myself and unemployed graduates I have already contributed towards economic growth within my beloved country.

02.09.01 My startup contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification for my startup

N/A

02.10.01 My startup contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification for my startup

N/A

02.11.01 My startup contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification for my startup

N/A

02.12.01 My startup contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification for my startup

Our products are PH Balanced therefore responsibly consumed and produced.

02.13.01 My startup contributes to the Climate action goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification for my startup

As mentioned we make use

02.14.01 My startup contributes to the Life below water goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification for my startup

N/A

02.15.01 My startup contributes to the Life on land goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification for my startup

N/A

02.16.01 My startup contributes to the Peace Justice and Strong Institutions goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.16.02 Peace Justice and Strong Institutions- Justification for my startup

N/A

02.17.01 My startup contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification for my startup

N/A

06.01 There are a large number of customers who already use a product/service very similar to the product/service we envision creating.

7 - Strongly Agree

06.02 The product/service represents an entirely new type of product/service.

6

06.03 The product/service could be described as a new technology.

4

06.04 The product/service is an improvement on an existing product or service.

7 - Strongly Agree

06.05 The product/service could be described as an extension of a range of products or services.

7 - Strongly Agree

06.06 The product/service responds to a demand or need that has not been satisfied by other products/services.

5

06.07 The product/service is a new version of an old product/service.

6

06.08 Justification for my startup

We make use of special blended oils in our haircare as well as plant-based ingredients that contribute towards hair growth.

06.09 Competitive Analysis

Khula cosmetics, Kanina and The Perfect Hair. What makes us stand out is the results are products deliver, and the time (from 2 weeks onwards of using our products).

11.05 Are you initiating actions within your community to promote the role of female entrepreneurs?

Yes, I often go to schools to speak on entrepreneurship, as well as event at university to share my story on entrepreneurship.