Hope Ventures, the investment arm of Hope Fund and producers of Beban TV show, co-invests USD 153k in Herbal Dose and L7 Chocolate alongside the private sector on the sixth episode of Beban Season 2, which can be streamed on Shahid platform for free, or watched at 6 PM on Bahrain TV and 9:30 PM on Alrai TV.

On the sixth episode, Herbal Dose, an organic brand for haircare and skincare products made with certified natural organic ingredients, scented with organic essential oils, founded by Ayda Mohamed, raised USD 100k from Hope Ventures and the private sector represented by Mr. Yousef AlSultan and Ms. Mashael Fairooz.

While L7 Chocolate, a bakery run by Lujain Hussain, a 15-year-old Bahraini pastry chef who bakes and creates products like cakes, ice cream, and sweets, raised USD 53k from Hope Ventures and the private sector represented by Mr. Akram Miknas, Mr. Yousef AlSultan, and Ms. Mashael Fairooz.

Fajer Al Pachachi, General Manager at Hope Ventures, said: “Beban was launched to shed light on promising entrepreneurs and encourage a new generation of youth to pursue entrepreneurship as a possible career path. Lujain Hussain is a prime example of an ambitious, hard-working, and dedicated 15-year-old who turned her passion into a business opportunity. With the support of her parents and through her will to succeed, she showcased her entrepreneurial skills and resilience and obtained investment from reputable investors to accelerate her growth journey.

She further added: “I am excited to be co-investing in both businesses alongside regional investment pioneers. Through the show, they will receive access to mentorship support through our co-investors’ expertise and will gain access to the required capital to accelerate their business growth.”

Mr. Akram Miknas, Chairman and Founder of Promoseven Holdings, commented on his co-investment in L7 Chocolate alongside Hope Ventures: “Lujain has successfully created a delectable dessert in her home through her tremendous determination and with some help from her family, showcasing the tenacity of youth, the leadership of adults, and a remarkable capacity for project management, creativity, and invention. I co-invested in this entrepreneurial girl’s project for several reasons; among them is my faith in her future success, my keenness to support her and other young people in her position, and the fact that I have an interest in food projects. I saw in her a future that flourishes with businesses that create jobs and advance Bahrain’s economy.”

Ms. Mashael Fairooz, Founding Partner at JEO Management, said: “As an investor, I typically invest in education and healthcare, but after witnessing the caliber, determination, level of skills, and proficiency of these two young ladies, I could not help but want to join them on their journeys and support them in building their success stories. It is crucial to support women to become entrepreneurs from a young age, and I look forward to providing them with strategic mentorship and guidance to expand and grow.”

Lujain Hussain, Founder and Head Chef at L7 Chocolate, commented on her fundraising through Beban TV show: “I am excited to have raised this investment from Hope Ventures and Beban investors because it is the fruit of my passion for baking and making sweets, and my efforts toward ensuring the quality and deliciousness of my products with the help of my family, who continue to support me. I believe that with the help of Hope and Beban investors, L7 Chocolate products can be seen on shelves all around the region and, hopefully, the world.”

On her part, Ayda Mohamed, Founder of Herbal Dose, also commented: “Herbal Dose started after noticing a locally-spread issue with henna that restricts a lot of users from benefitting from it: its scent. We are proud to be the first in the world to invest in scented herbs to remove the undesired odor of henna, all while including high-quality vegan and organic ingredients. I look forward to utilizing this investment to further develop the business and expand regionally and internationally.”

A new episode of Beban will air every Wednesday of this month. You can watch the next episode airing on the 15^th of February 2023, on Bahrain TV at 6 PM and on AlRai TV at 9:30 PM or anytime on the region’s first and biggest video-on-demand platform, Shahid.

To stay up to date with all-things-Beban, make sure you follow the show’s accounts on social media @bebanme.