Winning Innovate
2022 was a big year for me (Shaleah Lawrence) that was the year i actually launched Earthwoven to the public. At the time i had no idea what the "plan" was. At the same time of launching, it was suggested i sign up for Innovate.
Innovate was a business accelerator programme run over about 12 weeks. The aim of the programme is to help people expand their business and prepare to pitch to an audience of people at the end of the programme.
I genuinely believed I didn’t stand a chance that final pitch night, and didn’t invite anyone to watch me in hopes of avoiding the embarrassment of losing. Reflecting on that now, I see how much I’ve grown. I was the youngest person to ever go through the programme and the youngest person to win. Aged 22 at the time.
Okay But Why Did You Win It's Just Skincare, Right?
Wrong, what i wanted to achieve with Earthwoven isn't as straightforward as most people think. As my journey started with my own skin problems (Blog Here) i learnt very quickly that there weren't a lot of alternatives that actually worked, or that i could actually afford.
At Earthwoven, it is all about studying pharmaceutical grade skincare and ingredients and then trying to replicate those results naturally, and in a way that delivers results long term, safely. The process of transforming a synthetic chemical into a natural active ingredients with the same efficacy is a complex journey.
So many of the options i was given had very serious side effects, most aren't long term solutions and there was little education given to me about what might actually be causing the problem.
After trying everything from 6-12 month courses of antibiotics, to accutane (isotretinoin). I even had invasive biopsies done to see if there was a specific bacteria/fungus causing it. This all led to some serious organ complications and the clinical/medical path no longer viable for me.
It was then time for me to find a solution on my own, after searching and researching for HOURS. I got to work. Talking with some of New Zealand's top skin scientists, dermatologists and cosmedical scientists about my idea. Slowly but surely we started to formulate products purely based off of my own needs and concerns. After this worked for me and a few other close friends, i knew i needed to take it further.
Que - Innovate!
Thank you for sharing this journey with me. If my story resonates with you or if you’re curious about how Earthwoven can transform your skincare routine, I invite you to explore more!
Discover Our Products: Check out our full range of innovative, natural skincare solutions designed for long-lasting efficacy.
You Can Read More Here About Winning Innovate And My Personal Story.