OWA Haircare CEO and founder Kailey Bradt secured $200,000 in pre-seed capital from RIT Venture Fund I, LLC, which is connected to Rochester Institute of Technology where she received undergraduate and graduate degrees.
WHO: OWA Haircare is the vision of founder Kailey Bradt. The yet-to-be launched brand has a mission to revolutionize the hair care industry through the creation of safe and sustainable products through the innovation of natural ingredients. The vision is to remake liquid hair formulas in a dry powder format that has a softer ecological footprint. The first product, Moondust Hair Wash, is expected to launch this fall in a direct-to-consumer distribution model.
WHY: The funds provided by RIT Venture Fund I, LLC will allow the company to bring Moondust Hair Wash to market later this year.
IN THEIR OWN WORDS: Dr. James Watters, Senior Vice President for Finance and Administration and Treasurer at RIT, commented “We are absolutely delighted to partner with OWA Haircare and its founder, and RIT alumna, Kailey Bradt. Kailey is the latest example of the extremely talented and passionate individuals coming out of RIT ready to make an impact. We look forward to supporting and celebrating Kailey’s many successes for years to come.”
“It’s great to see the university supporting alumni. They’re really pushing entrepreneurship, and I’m thrilled to be one of their first big investments,” Bradt said. “I’ve been talking about this product for over two years now, and I can’t wait to see it come to market. Getting it in the hands of people is so exciting. I’m hoping we can create a new wave in the hair-care space.”
“We aren’t restricting ourselves to just shampoo and conditioner. We will have a hair mask and a styling lotion. Everything will be delivered as a powder,” says Bradt. “It’s completely free of any added water, and everything is going to be travel-friendly. It has a lower impact on the environment, not just because of what’s in the packaging, but because of how it gets to you and where it comes from. We aren’t using artificial colors, silicones, sulfates or parabens.”
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