Startup Story
Most successful haircare brands start because they look to solve a problem for consumers, and in the case of Kintu Jovia, founder of Kia Cosmetics in Uganda, that was certainly true. Her inspiration was to give consumers the choice to use chemical free products that would be good for their hair and the environment.
LoA chatted to founder Kintu Jovia recently to find out more about her entrepreneurial journey and her aspirations for the business.
Tell us about yourself
My name is Kintu Jovia, and I am 21 years old. I am the founder and CEO of Kia Cosmetics. This is a company based in Uganda that manufactures and sells organic hair care products for women. I am looking at crafting products that will improve women's lives from the many side effects of products that contain many chemicals. I am a nominee in the Founder of the Year Awards 2021 in my country.
What does your company do?
“Our business is special because we work to help change people's lives using healthier measures.”
We manufacture and sell organic hair products for women in Uganda. Our products include, hair shampoo, hair conditioner, hair food, and hair growth drops. We are currently working on a range of products that will cater for men and children.
What inspired you to start your company?
Most of women's products contain a lot of chemicals that are harmful to our health. Some of the side effects include excessive dandruff, split ends, burns, among others. Through my own experience with chemicals, I decided to create products that will work out common hair problems without the risk of harmful chemicals.
Why should anyone use your service or product?
Our business is special because we work to help change people's lives using healthier measures. We use organic ingredients to create products that will help women in Uganda and beyond the borders of Uganda to love and cherish their hair without having to use chemical products.
“We use organic ingredients to create products that will help women in Uganda and beyond the borders of Uganda to love and cherish their hair without having to use chemical products.”
Tell us a little about your team
Our team is dedicated, hardworking and consistent to always produce products according to our customer's tastes and preferences, and to also help deliver the best to our customers.
Share a little about your entrepreneurial journey. And do you come from an entrepreneurial background?
My entrepreneurial journey started in high school with selling sneakers to my classmates. After high school I begin crocheting swimsuits that I sold throughout my vacation in 2019. This stopped when I had to join University and I had less time to crotchet. In January 2020, I organized a fashion show and art exhibition and had artists and fashion designers showcased. This was very successful. In March 2020, Uganda experienced its first lockdown due to Covid-19. Since I had less to do at home, I started crafting recipes that worked for me to be able to share with others. This was the start of Kia Cosmetics and we began making sales in June 2020.
What are your future plans and aspirations for your company?
Kia Cosmetics being the leading manufacture of organic hair and skin products in Africa.
“Being able to create products to solve a problem and improve someone’s life brings the most satisfaction as an entrepreneur.”
What gives you the most satisfaction being an entrepreneur?
Being able to create products to solve a problem and improve someone’s life brings the most satisfaction as an entrepreneur.
What's the biggest piece of advice you can give to other women looking to start-up?
The first thing is to put God first to show you your right purpose. The second thing would be to have a very good product that will improve someone’s life and make it better. And after starting up, the next thing would be to be very hard working, consistent and never giving up.
Contact or follow Kia Cosmetics
WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | EMAIL kiacosmeticsug@gmail.com
Why LoA loves it…
Successful entrepreneurs know that the best way to build a sustainable business is to find effective, affordable, quality solutions to customer problems. In the case of Kintu Jovia, she saw a need in the marketplace for an effective, accessible range of hair care products that did not contain harsh chemicals. Today, she has developed a branded range of products that help women to take care of their hair in the natural way, without the use of chemicals. She has found her market niche and now has ambitions to grow her brand to reach more customers in different markets. — Melanie Hawken, founder & ceo, Lionesses of Africa