Hatch Accelerateher Alumni – True by Tina Lobo

By Zuleika Buhar

Babies are no easy feat. Finding what’s best for your baby is even harder. Buying the best toys, and accessories can be extremely stressful. It has to be safe, fun and something your baby will interact with and enjoy! That is where True by Tina Lobo steps in. Having begun in 2020 True is an eco-friendly baby care brand that creates premium products for your baby angels to both entertain and occupy. Not only are these products eco-friendly but are also built to the highest safety standards to ensure the safety of your little one.

Being an alumni for accelerateher by Hatch we sat down with Tina and asked her some questions about what it feels like to be a female entrepreneur and how her journey has been thus far.

What makes True so unique from what already exists in the market?

When I started the brand, it wasn’t just about offering unique, premium baby products. It was about having long-lasting, safe, and eco-friendly products. We have very tailored design aesthetics. More than that we are a very inclusive brand, taking into account single parents, caregivers, and non-biological parents with our styling and look. Another unique aspect is that we’re a very conscious brand. Our focus is working with local products, building the community, and also giving back. With our brand, it’s all about giving back to our people. Especially with our proceeds as well which go directly to underprivileged children. 

What are the challenges you see faced by women in this industry, in Sri Lanka?

As a woman in general there are always so many challenges you face. In Sri Lanka, I suppose one concern I’m often met with, was being taken seriously.

My business which was always a passion project was always just called a side hustle. Even after it grew into the business that it is, I wasn’t taken seriously. It took a lot more effort to convince people that this was a real AND successful business.

How do you think you should overcome this stigma?

Somewhere along the way you need to build your confidence. Thinking of it from a business aspect, if you have an idea you need to persist. If you have that drive, you need to keep that confidence growing even if people along you are saying whatever it is. Persist and continue with your drive. Never lose your confidence.

If you had a message to give to young girls what would it be?

Stick on with what you have, because when I started True all I had invested was about 5000-10,000 rupees but I persisted with it. I had a lot of people questioning my idea. But this was my passion. If you find your passion, stick on and continue. When you are dedicated to that level, you can’t go wrong. Sure your qualities and abilities also have an impact on your business but to continue, is a decision you keep making. So to anyone aspiring to be an entrepreneur. Research. Find your passion and never give up. When you are driven. You always find a way somehow.

What do you tell yourself if you’ve ever felt like giving up?

There are always going to be hurdles and challenges and moments where you feel like you have hit rock bottom. You can give yourself a day or two to cry about it but then you pick yourself up. You have to have that confidence to know that your product has the potential to succeed. You can always try different methods and tactics if things aren’t picking up but you have to have confidence in yourself.

What is success in your terms?

I found business success to be not just profitability but creating value for the community. Building a brand that grows a community. 

If you could tell your younger self one thing, what would you tell her?

Maybe just take a little more risk! I was so possessive over my brand and project. I needed to push myself more. To go out and get it. The first year I treaded so cautiously. I was very risk-averse! I needed to be more confident in myself! 

Finishing off Tina tells us, 

“As a woman, we’ve been discriminated against in the business industry. Not being taken seriously till my husband or a man is involved. They have the existing expectation that simply because I am a woman, I can get walked over. Yet I persisted. I started this brand for my daughter. It was a balancing act, prioritizing my family responsibilities and my business. But when you have the right balance and confidence it all works out.”

An aspiring story, we know that True will have a lot more exciting things to come in the future. Looking forward to all its future endeavors and we wish Tina the best of luck!

Accelerateher is a curated 3-month program tailored to your startups’ needs and growth objectives.
The program mentors and experts are individuals with deep industry, investment, and entrepreneurship experience, and have worked across all stages of a startup.
They’ll be on hand to guide you and your team towards your growth objectives.

Head on over to their website to learn more!
http://www.accelerateher.asia/