This week meet the founder of Radswan, Freddie Harrel. Freddie’s entrepreneurial journey began as a fashion and lifestyle influencer. A proud shapeshifter, hair is Freddie’s freest and earliest form of self-expression. But she struggled to find great afro hair products, and the market was both biased and constrained.

Seeking to solve this problem for herself, Freddie sought out a supplier in China who could help her to develop a better quality hair product. Not long afterwards, demand was high from Freddie’s online community - her followers wanted it too.

Freddie launched Big Hair No Care in 2017 and quickly experienced the downsides of high demand. Her supply chain couldn’t fulfil orders, and the business needed more resources to deliver the high quality, innovative products that Freddie was determined to bring to the community.

In 2019, Big Hair No Care rebranded to RadSwan and secured £1.5m of investment led by BBG Ventures with Female Founders Fund and Pritzker Private Capital, alongside high-profile industry angels. Recently relaunched, RadSawn is on a mission to disrupt and level up the $7bn black hair beauty market.

This conversation was recorded on 14th May 2021.

Want to share your view on something we discussed on the podcast? Email us [email protected].

Guest - Freddie Harrel
Host - Frankie Cotton
Sound Editor - Beth Davison

Tweet us https://twitter.com/raisehq_
Join us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/raisehq_
Visit https://raisethebar.world/

Connect with Freddie Harrel and Radswan
Website: https://radswan.co.uk/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/radswan/
Freddie Harrel on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freddieharrel/

Connect with Frankie Cotton
Website: https://www.frankiecotton.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FrankieCotton_
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frankiecotton_/