This summer, the Dingman Center will be conducting interviews with the ten student startups who are participating in the Terp Startup summer accelerator phase of our Fearless Founders program. Participating student entrepreneurs received a stipend up to $5,000 that would enable them to work exclusively on their startups over eight weeks in the summer.
SLAY Naturals
Founder and CEO: Breonna Massey ’18, Government & Politics major
DC: Tell us about your startup. What problem are you solving and for whom?
Massey: SLAY Naturals is a skincare line designed for the naturalista that doubles as a fashionista. We provide an alternative for those who are in the process of living a holistic lifestyle but are not quite ready to commit to the earthy smells and packaging. Going natural should be fun and not intimidating. With our bright colors and bold smells, SLAY Naturals ensures that you will enjoy your entire natural experience.
DC: How did you first come up with your idea?
Massey: I have always taken great care of my skin. I would use things like coconut oil, honey and shea butter to take care my skin and my hair. However, I would often feel ashamed of the containers these products would be packaged in. They would often be packaged in things that would be similar to food containers. Another downfall would be the scent. It would usually be in its original scent or have a fragrance based on some form of herb. As someone who keeps up with fashion, this was a huge problem. Thus, I created SLAY Naturals to combine all the ingredients I have always used with bold fun fragrances and colors. I hope to create a little oasis for women like me, the naturalistas that double as fashionistas.
DC: What are some major milestones you’ve achieved so far?
Massey: One major milestone is being able to talk to different retail stores and spas in the area to get at least one of my products into a store. Another major milestone is applying to be an LLC.
DC: What drives you to keep going?
Massey: Seeing the joy my products bring to customers is what keeps me going when things get tough. I value my customers. Knowing that I am helping others on their natural journey is why I continue to make progress. SLAY Naturals will always be a company that is focused around the needs and desires of its customers.
DC: How do you feel about working in a cohort with fellow student entrepreneurs?
Massey: Working in a cohort with fellow student entrepreneurs is an amazing experience. The most enjoyable aspect is being able to talk to each other about our companies and actually share ideas with one another. We get to learn similarities among our companies and collaborate with one another.
DC: What are you hoping to achieve during Terp Startup this summer?
Massey: This summer I am hoping to build lifelong connections with members in the summer cohort. I am also looking to walk away with ideas on how to turn my dream into a reality. One of the major goals I have this summer is to finalize the formula to the existing products as well as expand to more products. I would like to work on manufacturing products in a way that make them easy to sell in other retail stores.
