By Melissa Stewart, read full article on She Owns It
Meet Janice Williams Oliver, Founder of MisTeePRO – a game-changer for curly and coily hair, designed to meet the needs of 65% of the world’s population.
Janice Williams Oliver has been passionate about her hair since she was seven years old when she asked her Mom to use mayonnaise as a protein treatment on her hair. Being health conscious and transitioning from using a relaxer, she was inspired to launch the proprietary MisTee PRO handheld hair tool when she learned the Dysons/L’Oreals of the world do not sell a tool that detangles curly/coily hair. Also, per a Harvard study, over 50% of hair products sold to Black women contain harmful ingredients like Formaldehyde. A Procter & Gamble Beauty/WWD Media winner, Janice is a graduate of Hampton University, has an MBA from Kellogg, years of results-oriented/consumer packaged goods marketing/customer discovery experience, and will forever be a “Daddy’s Girl.”
We all face challenges. Looking back, what have been some of the biggest challenges and obstacles you’ve had to navigate?
The startup journey is full of hurdles, from securing funding, which is huge, to finding team members with the right expertise. Navigating this landscape isn’t easy so having the mentorship and resources provided by Stella Foundation has been immensely helpful in overcoming challenges. Their comprehensive support, including access to a network of industry experts and tailored guidance, has been invaluable.
Specifically, participating in Stella’s annual Women’s Fast Pitch contest has been an incredible experience, and I’m particularly proud to have made it to the finals! I will “pitch” (ie: compete) with other women entrepreneur finalists for $50K in grants, investments, and in-kind services at Stella’s annual Women’s Venture Summit in San Diego, CA this September. I am really looking forward to meeting my fellow contestants to exchange ideas and resources. I have found that to be particularly invaluable when participating in pitch competitions. It is how I found out about the Rochester Institute of Technology’s Venture Creations Program.
