Stella Langat co-founded Double Dee’s with three other ladies. Read about how she raised funds and her advise on how to pursue your future aspirations.
1.Who is Stella Langat?
I was born and raised in a small village in Kericho. I have 9 amazing siblings that have supported and believed in me since day one. My father passed away when I was very young. I was raised by a strong and resilient mother, who is a teacher, that wants no jokes when it comes to grades. I attended Kapropita Girls’ High School for my O-levels.
After high school, I was fortunate to be awarded a full scholarship to pursue my degree overseas where I met Charity( one of Double Dee’s founders). I graduated in 2016 with a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and I’m currently based in Austin, working as a data analyst. While in college I participated in multiple projects that expanded my horizons.
I have an outgoing personality which has helped me to navigate and fit into different discussions and scenarios. I take networking very seriously. On a monthly basis, I attend two or three networking events. I am a young entrepreneur that hopes to support the private and public sector to accomplish their vision in alliance with environmental and social interest.
In my interactions with diverse people, I express the importance and benefit of providing young people with the capital and opportunities necessary to succeed and reach their fullest capacities and potential. Apart from Double Dee’s LLC , I also co-founded Green Coal Movement Madagascar, a grass root initiative that aims to educate locals to adapt creative and sustainable lifestyle. The project received a $10,000 grant from the Shelby Davis Foundation.
2.Tell us about your business
Double Dee’s LLC was co-founded by four young busty ladies who decided enough was enough with regards to busty girls struggles of acquiring a bra. We opened our doors last year, June 2016, and we are the pioneers in Nairobi to open a bra shop that exclusively caters for busty ladies regardless of the size.
co-foundersWe carry products of high quality, functional yet sexy. Gone are the days where bras for busty women were ugly and basic. Our sizes start from 30DD to 56K. We carry maternity bras too, and we are in the process of adding mastectomy bras to our collection.
3.How did you raise funds to start?
Successfully fund-raised the initial seed funding for Double Dee’s through business plan competitions at Skidmore College as well as at Harvard Business School. Additionally, all the four founders have a monthly contribution since 2014.
.4.What has been your biggest achievement so far?
For us, our biggest achievement is the fact that we have remained authentic and true to our story of why we started the business. Additionally, our customer service has remained exceptional since day 1. Lastly, I was featured among 34 women putting Kenya on the global map by Lionesses of Africa magazine.
5.What do you now know that you wished you knew before you started?
I now know that working with perfectionists can be really good yet at the same time can be a little time consuming. In our team, we are all perfectionists in one way or another. For instance, our website is still being worked on for 1.5 years because each of us always has something that needs to be changed. During our monthly skype sessions, we laugh about it but we are slowly becoming impatient and hoping to have the website go live before the end of the year. On the hand, all of us being perfectionists has helped us create a stellar business from idea to action.
6.Parting shot for the young Kenyan women reading this?
For Kenyan women with aspirations to start businesses, it doesn’t matter how small your idea may seem, it’s worth pursuing it. Especially right now where there is so much to gain from networking with other women.
Do you wish to be featured too? Reach us today: hello@herbusiness.co.ke