Hatch Accelerateher Alumni- Lactoboost by Spicecarriage
Hatch Accelerateher Alumni- Lactoboost by Spicecarriage
by Zuleika Buhar
Breastfeeding is an amazing time for any mother and baby! It is a time for bonding, and for providing essential nutrients for a baby to grow and thrive. Sometimes though women aren’t able to provide as much milk as they want to due to a plethora of reasons. It was due to this reason that Lactoboost was started.
Spice Carriage (Pvt) Ltd initiated operations in lactation cookie manufacturing in August 2020. Starting from the side of a cabinet, this brand has come a long way since then. Spice Carriage produces lactation cookies under the brand Lactoboost which is the first ever lactation cookie manufactured in Sri Lanka. These cookies are used to increase breastmilk supply in breastfeeding mothers across the country.
We sat down with accelerateher alumni and founder of Lactoboost, Lasni Silva to discuss some challenges she’s faced as a female entrepreneur in this industry.
What makes your product different to what already exists in the market?
Our product is the first of its’ kind in Sri Lanka. We are the first food manufacture made to enhance production of breast milk. Inherently this makes our business very different to what exists in the market.
What were some unique challenges you faced as you began Lactoboost?
This business started very small. It was basically run out of a cabinet in my living room! We’ve been in business for two years now and it’s been a very difficult journey convincing people and making them believe in our product. Especially people who are not associated with the product. Mothers are easier to convince because they see a need for it. However, others that are related to the industry like pharmaceuticals and hospitals are a lot harder to convince. So, when we started stocking at hospitals and started reaching out to retail partners; that was actually a very difficult challenge to surpass.
How did you convince the retailers to trust your product?
It was not easy. I had to meet with a lot of people. I finally got an audience with the medical service Director of Ninewells hospital and I had to do a presentation for him. I showed a lot of proof, my customer’s testimonials, how are numbers had grown and things like that. It was very difficult but it worked!
Have you ever had to face any discrimination in the industry due to your gender?
I am expecting my second baby in September and I was working in the cooperate world before I started my business. I came from a chemical engineering background where I was working as a sales engineer for big cooperates before I stopped working and came into this business. When I was pregnant with my daughter, I experienced this sort of judgement because at interviews they would tell me I can’t get pregnant! If I wanted to keep working there, which I found was very strange!
How did you face and deal with this discrimination?
I had the same people who I had problems and issues with actually reach out and congratulate me after this whole accelerateher program. I would like to say that, I set my mind to a goal and I did what I set out to do. I will keep on going till I am satisfied with where I am. That’s how most women are despite the fact that we have bear children and raise them. Women can do it all. We’ve been doing it for all for so long despite the naysayers and people telling us otherwise.
Was it easy being a women entrepreneur in a predominantly male based industry?
My product falls somewhere in between pharmaceuticals and food. It’s a bit of a difficult area to tackle so I’m speaking on both sides of it. It has been very difficult to get the medical community to accept this. This was something they have never heard of. They ask for so many different things and there’s a lot of convincing that’s required. Definitely not easy but we’re getting things done.
Are there any female entrepreneurs who you look up to?
She’s not an entrepreneur but my mum is my source of inspiration and strength. She is the strongest woman I know. She is where I draw my example of being a strong woman from.
In terms of an entrepreneur, I would say Otara, founder of Odel. I remember when I was in school, she had come in for a speech of some sort and she mentioned that she started Odel from the back of a van. I thought if she can start at the back of a vehicle and get to where she is now why can’t I?
What message do you have for young girls who wish to be entrepreneurs?
I would say set your heart on something and keep working at it until you achieve it. If you’re in it for other benefits like money or fame or anything else, it’s not going to take you very far.
The whole purpose of your business or product or what you’re trying to achieve has to be close to your heart. Something that you believe in. If that’s the case you can achieve anything
Whenever you have your moments of doubt what keeps you going?
I have an amazing support system. Anytime I have a doubt or tend to trip up I talk to my husband. My husband has been my biggest support since the inception of this whole thing. I think having someone be it a friend or family who’s very supportive of you when you have your moments of doubt is so important.
How did you and your business persevere during this current economic crisis?
I’m definitely still “persevering” even today! Deliveries are stopped. It is difficult but I’m trying to tackle one thing at a time. I’ve sorted out my supply chain, stocked goods so the price hike isn’t going to affect us too badly. I think it’s silly to keep increasing the price of my product every time the prices go up in the market. I’m trying to tackle one side and then the delivery side falls through. It’s very difficult but we’re making it through
What’s the next big goal for Lactoboost?
Short term we have an event coming up in August which we’re excited for. A long-term goal would be getting my infrastructure and my certifications ready to go into the export market. I’m hoping to achieve this in the next 1-2 years.
Regarding the accelerateher program, what achievement are you most proud of?
Demo day. I got up and presented my brand. I’ve never had that confidence to get up and talk to an audience like that before. I was never a talking kind of person but accelerateher really coached us and pushed us to deliver it confidently.
If you could give your younger self advice, what would you say?
At the beginning I was disheartened that I wasn’t working in my chosen field as a chemical engineer. I would tell myself that it is okay if things don’t go according to plan, life has better plans for you.
In a business perspective what are you most proud of ?
When a customer calls me and tells me that my products worked. When they tell me they could feed their baby because of me. That is the key moment for me.
Being challenged during motherhood and turning that challenge into a successful business venture, truly makes Lasni an exceptional entrepreneur and sets her apart from the rest. We wish her all the very best for the rest of her journey in the program.
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They’ll be on hand to guide you and your team towards your growth objectives.
Head on over to their website to learn more!
