19 June 2012 by Tina
In the run-up to the 2012 Smarta 100 awards we are
catching up with previous winners to hear how they benefited from
scooping the award. Here Gem Misa, the founder of healthy dressings
company Righteous, tells us how she has grown the
business in the last year.
What stage was your business at when you won the Smarta
100 last year?
We had just been listed in two of the UK's top supermarkets,
Tesco and Waitrose. Up until that time, we had funded the business
on a shoestring budget and managed to grow it from a £10k turnover
in 2010 to £120,000 in 2011.
Why did you enter the Smarta 100?
We felt that it was a great way to tell more people about the
Righteous brand, not just as a start-up business, but also to
share our values and ethos.
What was the experience like?
It was really exciting. I found it was a great way to network
and meet other like minded entrepreneurs.
How has your business benefited from being a part of
the Smarta 100?
I still keep in touch with fellow Smarta100 winners and have
availed of their services: Crowdcube for crowdfunding and
CupcakeMum for childcare services are just two examples.
What has your business achieved since being named a
Smarta 100 winner?
We recently became the 14th business in the UK to be
successfully funded through Crowdcube. We have been listed in Ocado
and we are currently expanding to new markets abroad. We have also
aired our first TV advertisement.
What is your top tip for any company thinking of
entering the Smarta 100 this year?
Do it!
For all the information about the Smarta 100, together with O2,
and how to enter click here.