In this episode of Startup CPG, Grace Kennedy sits down with Akua Boakye Okunseinde, one of the co-founders of Karité, a skincare brand rooted in the power of shea butter. Akua shares the inspiring story of how she and her two sisters—each with distinct professional backgrounds—came together to build a brand that blends Ghanaian heritage with dermatologist-backed skincare.

Akua shares the brand’s evolution from a passion project to an established business, detailing key milestones such as securing retail partnerships, expanding to Amazon, and conducting clinical testing to validate product efficacy. She also provides insights into the challenges of scaling a beauty brand, the importance of omnichannel distribution, and the role of education in driving consumer engagement. Plus, Akua discusses Karité’s commitment to ethical sourcing through women-led cooperatives in Ghana, reinforcing the brand’s dedication to quality and impact.

If you're an entrepreneur looking for insights on brand differentiation, breaking into retail, and building a mission-driven business, this episode is packed with valuable lessons. Listen now!

Listen in as they share about:

• About Karité
• Retail vs. Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) Strategy
• Amazon & E-Commerce Expansion
• Marketing & Brand Awareness
• Clinical Testing & Product Differentiation
• Challenges & Lessons Learned
• Product Expansion & Future Plans

Episode Links:

Website: https://www.mykarite.com/ 

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/mykarite
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/akua-boakye-okunseinde-345a7412/ 

Don't forget to leave a five-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify if you enjoyed this episode. For potential sponsorship opportunities or to join the Startup CPG community, visit http://www.startupcpg.com.

Show Links:

• Transcripts of each episode are available on the Transistor platform that hosts our podcast here (click on the episode and toggle to “Transcript” at the top)
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• Questions or comments about the episode? Email Daniel at [email protected]
• Episode music by Super Fantastics