Last night the nation saw Titi Bello, founder of Ori Lifestyle, win Emma Grede’s support on BBC One’s Dragons’ Den. 

Grede, an inspirational businesswoman, put her support behind Ori Lifestyle with a £60,000 investment for 25 per cent of the business.

In December 2019, Bello started Ori Lifestyle, a hair care brand primarily for Afro-textured hair.

Five years prior to starting her brand, Bello suffered significant hair loss from bad hair care practices and a lack of knowledge about how to properly care for her hair. 

Around the same time, her daughter started to ask when she too could start wearing the same styles that had contributed to Bello’s hair loss. This is when she committed to making a change. 

Bello immersed herself in learning about hair and scalp health, transformed hers and her daughter’s hair, and when the request for support from other mums became overwhelming, she started her hair coaching business.

Her background as a hair coach put her in prime-position for understanding the pain points and needs of Afro-textured hair. And crucially, how to develop products and services that services to meet this need. 

In less than two years, her products were in Selfridges and Harrods. But to withstand the economic downtown she knew she had to access investment and business support. 

Unfortunately, there is a worrying disparity amongst those who have access to business funding. 

Only 0.02 per cent of Venture Capitalist iinvestment in the UK, goes to black-owned female businesses. And 37.9 per cent of black business owners say they are discouraged from applying for a loan. 

The chance to appear on Dragons Den was too good an opportunity for the possibility of funding, but perhaps more importantly, the network and connections which also eludes many black owned founders. 

Bello considers her appearance on Dragons Den to be one of the most challenging things she has done, but she hopes that it inspires many, from similar background to hers, to keep dreaming and showing up.

She told the Voice Newspaper: “I am delighted I secured investment to begin the work to grow the business, but beyond that, I want to make a real impact on how black women and children view their hair, treat their hair, and enjoy their hair.”

She added: “We still underestimate the role of education in helping us to understand and care for our unique texture. This is why I started offering hair courses and consequently realised there was a gap in high performing hair products tailored to the needs of Afro textured hair. 

“Too Many black women don’t wear their own hair out in public, ever, and we have to be open and honest about the multifaceted reasons for this. But more importantly, the issues this decision poses for scalp and hair health. 

“We have to encourage Afro visibility, because our hair should be an option that we want to wear too. I am excited to be in this space because there is a lot of work to be done.”

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