The Equity Studio and Makers Mindset have unveiled the five recipients of their inaugural grant.
The $50,000 Makers Mindset x The Equity Studio Grant was founded by investors Anna Sweeting and Nancy Twine and is aimed at budding consumer brands across beauty, health and wellness. Each brand will receive a $10,000 equity-free grant paired with mentorship.
The winners are:
- Alodia, a scalp care brand founded by Dr. Isfahan Chambers-Harris specifically for textured hair. The brand is sold in more than 1,500 retail doors including Target, CVS and Walmart.
- Cranel, a supplement brand founded by Erica Schultz and Christine Jurzenski and focused on women’s intimate health with functional ingredients.
- Gently Soap, a plant-based, eczema-conscious bath product brand founded by Kristen Dunning that is poised to launch at Walmart.
- Squigs, founded by Nikita Charuza, is ushering Ayurvedic rituals into the Gen Z and Gen Alpha era with hair and self care essentials like Gooseberry Delight Hair Oil, Squiggly Neem Comb and Double Shot Face Serum.
- Viv For Your V, founded by Katie Diasti, offers period care targeted at Gen Z. In three years the brand has expanded to more than 2,500 retail doors across the U.S., including Whole Foods.
“These awardees represent exactly the kind of thoughtful, culturally relevant innovation we launched this grant to support,” said Twine, founder of Makers Mindset. “From redefining wellness to championing sustainability and inclusion, these founders are changing the game, and we’re thrilled to champion them.”
“Wellness is transforming every corner of the consumer landscape, and this program exists to support founders already redefining daily habits with science and community — while demonstrating clear commercial momentum,” added Sweeting, founder of The Equity Studio. “These women are building with remarkable focus and when you add capital and a community that accelerates visibility and decision-making, they can move faster and with greater conviction.”
Sweeting is founder of The Equity Studio, which invests in and offers strategic support to emerging beauty, wellness and lifestyle brands, while Twine is the woman behind Makers Mindset, a platform that offers aspiring founders with business tools, knowledge and a community of like-minded people. Twine is also the founder and former chief executive officer of Briogeo, a hair care brand that she sold to the Wella Co. in 2022.
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