July 1, 2021 • 25 mins
If protective gear doesn’t fit right, it may not offer complete protection. And for many women, fit is a problem, with gear often designed for men. Scientist Beau Wangtrakuldee realized that after she suffered chemical burns in a lab accident. Her solution: AmorSui, which she founded to make PPE with women’s size and needs in mind.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:05):
Welcome to Made by Women by the Seneca Women Podcast
Network and I Heart Radio. At a moment when businesses
face some of the biggest challenges in recent history, we
bring you inspiring stories, practical insights, and shared learnings to
help you successfully navigate in today's environment. Hello, I'm Sharon Bowen.
(00:29):
During the pandemic, the world became familiar with a new
term PPE, or personal protective equipment. We realized it was
crucial to saving lives, but most of us probably weren't
aware that PPE works better for some people than others.
It turns out that much PPE is not designed with
(00:52):
women in mine and ill fitting gear can be hazardous,
even lethal and dangerous situations. But a chemist named Bow
Wintracudi had been thinking about this for years. In two
thousand and eighteen, she launched a company called Arma Suite
to make PPE that takes women's sizes and needs into account.
(01:16):
And it all began because she had a lab accident
and several severe burns when her lab CoAP failed to
protect her. We'll hear how that incident motivated Bow to
build Amish Suite around a mission of inclusivity, sustainability, and
empowerment of women. Please enjoy my conversation with bow Wintracudi.
(01:42):
So tell us about almost Suite. Uh, what's this mission
and what gap in the market does it feel? And
please do tell us about the company's name. Great well,
thank you, Sharon. Armacity came from a lot in word
means self love. So our mission is to make if
they accessible to all, and we're doing that by providing
(02:04):
the best quality, gender inclusive and eco friendly personal protective
apparel direct to consumer, to the people and need. And
so there are several apparent challenges around PPE industry, especially
in the US. But one you see that there's limited
option of PPE in terms of sizing and feature designed
(02:26):
for women or particular like minorities and different races. Um Second,
PPE procurement ly like too much on product that I'm
not made in the US. And lastly, we depend too
much on plastic PPE, which is not only wasteful but
can be degrade easily and really bad for the environment.
(02:48):
So what Emerson is doing is modernizing the industry from
the ground up, focusing on delivering size inclusive products, making
USA products and then be usable and recyclable products. As
I understand it, you were inspired to start a suite
in part after your own accident and a lab Can
you tell us a little bit about this? Sure, So
(03:12):
it was my own experience that inspires me to innovate
in the PP industry. I am a PG chemist by
training and user or PPE myself UM, and at the time,
when I conduct experiment a lab, I use a lab
code to protect myself from toxic chemicals. UM. One day,
(03:35):
when I was running experiment with a really really toxic
chemical UM, I had a chemical spill accident UM on
myself and my lap code did not protect me UM.
The chemical burned right through UM. So my my right
leg was burned as a result. UM. And after I recover,
(03:59):
I was looking for additional protection for myself UM and
found that there is a limited option of PP, especially
for women. UM. As I said, there weren't a lot
of sizes aesthetic UM nothing that I can I can
find that I would actually wear all one to show
myself at work with AH. And you know, I share
(04:23):
this experience with a couple of my colleague at the time,
and we're really surprised that all of them kind of
say something in a similar that they have a similar experience.
And those small conversation end up being a hunted conversation
with women working across diffin field of them who said
that they can either either not find a product UM
(04:46):
or they're not comfortable with the product that's available in
the market. So for your your time of reference, you know,
like when I had an accent until I finished a
hunted conversation with this woman was the span of five
year and and during those five years, I look at
the market and still find that there's no one working
(05:06):
on innovative solution for these women and me UM. So
the early idea of Armoracuy to serve these women um
in in stem who is under served, um, under values
and not protected. And we have expanded Armoracery ever since
to offer product for health care professionals. And then now
you know both gender male and female. It's amazing. So
(05:29):
you this idea really involved because of a personal accident.
I mean, I am somewhat surprised that the products run
out there, but I mean I thank goodness that you
did the research to fill a gap that you know
was definitely definitely necessary. I kid myself sometimes that I'm
in the business of turning lemons into lemonade. So that's
(05:52):
that's a good that's not a bad skill set to have.
UM So. One of the other things I have found
really interesting about your company UM is that all your
items are named after women's scientists and all your products
and manufactures that you mentioned in America, but in American
women on factories. So why is it important to you
(06:13):
that women be so heavily involved in the product. So
one of the important aspects about our brand um at
our mercy is to empower our customer and user to
feel good and be inspired to do their best at
work in our protective gear. And many women in the
(06:35):
industry that we serve our overlook and not recognized for
the accomplishment, whether that is system health care, UM and
and other industry. And since most of ourly customers are
women that we just expanded to mail you know this
year UM and actually late late, we want to celebrate
(06:57):
the amazing women who have made big impact they feel
UM in their own ways and to inspire the current
and future generations about customers and women that UM would
our product will serve that day too would be able
to do the same. UM So, in terms of why
(07:17):
we prioritize working with women, lead American made factory in
an early days, UM, we were being really careful about
um our quality control process. I mean, we're making product
to protect people, we want to make sure that it's
actually deliver upon promise. UM. So we were making sure
(07:39):
that products were made to fit women needs and also
at high quality. And it would just easier for us
to work with local vendor let um by women because
they can execute on our vision better because they understand
the woman needs and they have a lot to prove
that they could deliver high quality products. UM. So we
(08:02):
found that these vendors partner that work with us. UM.
They worked really hard delivery one of the best quality
products and we were really super happy to work with
them time after time, so we continue to prioritize working
with them over others. That's great. So as a woman
entrepreneur yourself, you're hoping to uh generate business and sustain
(08:24):
women lead factories and at the same time, you're giving
the youngest spiring women role models UM to look at
by providing names of scientists and being able to visualize themselves. UM,
you know, in uniforms or lab coats that look more
like them. So that just thank you for doing all that.
(08:46):
Definitely another thing to Sharon is that UM, as I
get into doing more business with women, I found that
it's harder for us to as women entrepreneurs and women
led businesses UM, to get funding assistant UM for their business. Uh.
(09:07):
If you look into the market, two percent of VCS
capital go to women, and especially last year during the pandemic,
women get less funding help from federal And because of this,
I think it's more important than ever that as as
myself UM, a woman led company, to support local women
(09:28):
led businesses UM, because those are what need our business
the most. You know, you're you're singing our song, and
you know we as Seneca women are promoting women entrepreneurs
especially And one of the reasons we created this this
this episode on program was to highlight success stories so
(09:49):
that other women entrepreneurs could could learn from you. So,
but before we get too far ahead of ourselves, UM,
I want to take you back to your early days. UM.
Where did you grow up and go to school? And
UM was founding a company always ago? Or did you
have other aspirations? So as you may be able to
(10:11):
tell based on my accents, I'm not born in the US, UM.
English is my second language. I grew up in Thailand. UM.
I live in Thailand. My family live in Thailand, and
I only came here um in two thousand and six
to go to school. UM. I fell in love with
(10:32):
science when I was in high school and decided came
to come to the US to be the next Nobel
Price scientists. Obviously, life take a different path. It's natualate
to be at a Nobel Prise. I would rather address
the Nobel Price scientists, and in fact, I actually addressed
(10:52):
one of the Nobel Price scientists in two thousand nineteen. UM.
And know, another fact that I could share with you
is that I grew up in a family of entrepreneurs. UM.
I have seen in a really at a very young
age that with passion and hard work, a really innovative
(11:15):
business idea could create jobs and make impact to the community.
My grandfather had a successful motorcycle supply chain business. My
parents has a real estate company. UM. So when I
was growing up, I always think that I'm going to
have my own venture one day. I just didn't know
what it would be. And when I went into science,
(11:39):
I thought I was going to start either a biotech
company or a direct discovery company. But again, you know,
as I share with you. You You know, life has out
of plans, so it's I mean, that's great. Your background
is it's really great and so um, what a pleasure
that you discovered science because we know how important that
is to to have more young girls fall in love
(12:00):
with science. And I'm glad you did that at an
early age. But hey, it was a science that kind
of drove me as a person to always seek solution
or seeking new ways to do things. And I think
it's a great part as an entrepreneur. I'm a data
driven entrepreneur before I am a sailing entrepreneur. If I was,
(12:24):
we'll be back with Seneca's Made by Women after this
short break, let's talk about the beginning sometimes that you know,
what was the first step in getting the company started?
Did you base any particular challenges You mentioned a science
(12:44):
background but not a business background. Did that have an
effect at all? Yeah? So um. When I first think
of idea of armacry, one of the challenge that I
have about wanting to pursue this idea is that it's
not about the business itself, but actually something that may
(13:06):
kind of steer me away from it, if I would
would be that I don't have any fashion designer or
garment design experience at all. And and obviously because of that,
you know, it's it's a major part of making all
this work designing protective apparel UM to make sure that
it fit well, it looked good, people actually comfortable wearing it. UM.
(13:30):
So again, the biggest challenges that I had no subject
matter expertise and government designed and UM. Because of that,
in an early days, UM, we actually have some failure,
you know, to meet the quality of the product that
we produce. And I actually have to recycle some of
(13:53):
some of the product just because I was not happy
with the quality. It was not happy with delivering that
to paying customer UM. And what I have done now
since then is to put a lot of people with
expertise and government design production with your experience behind me.
UM and I have a team. If they're not a team,
(14:15):
then they're consultant that have a touch point along all
our production process to make sure that it's not only
look good, it's fit well, it's comfortable UM, and the
quality is there that's great. So I mean that's a
recipe for success in terms of building the right team,
which you know, we've heard that lesson also from from
(14:36):
other people that have spoken to our audience. UM, So
what was the big first break then after you got
the company started, like, but what was that big breakthrough
moment for you? Obviously, when you start a business, you
can really cause something a business until you have paying customer. UM.
(14:56):
So when I start Armcery in two thousand eighteen, it
was originally an idea, and then I talked to potential customer,
which is those a hundred women that join me in
a conversation and told me that they have the same
issues and challenge in our ppe. UM. But one thing
(15:16):
that will really make the idea come to life is
we have paying customer UM. And to test that, I
create a crowdfunding campaign UM. I did that through I
Fund Women, which is at the time was an early
crowdfunding crowdfunding campaign that most of women entrepreneurs could raise
(15:39):
money and get paid right away UM. And I put
a prototype up and and trying to see that people
would be willing to pay for such products and raise
that money for the first production of the product itself.
And we were successfully re raised about UM twenty grand.
They would apply form UM and that funds our first
(16:03):
production UM in late two eighteen and UM our product
like grew from there. You know that that's one way
you have mentioned earlier that you know, one of the
bears gentry for women entrepreneurs is not having access to capital.
And in this I was always stubtled by the statistics
(16:23):
that that you had scited earlier. UM. Yeah, thanks to technology,
things like a crowdfunding platforms. UM. You know there's a
there's another resource UM to to address that that bear
to entry you mentioned. UM. You know PPE, which we
know is very important this past year. How did the
(16:46):
pandemic affect on my suite? Obvious, Lee, I recognize the issue.
A lot of things are wrong with PP industry even
before the pandemic, UM, Like I what I share with
you black and gender inclusive sizing, better quality ball sustainable products,
(17:06):
especially in the US market. But what the pandemic has done,
UM is to bring all those gaps around PPE to
the forefront, especially in the health care sector. UM. You
see that last year there's a lot of issues around
PPE shortage, UM, rising costs of PPE. UM. Women in healthcare, nurses, doctor,
(17:28):
you either have to face with wearing garbage bag or
you know, disposable gowns that very very fit them. UM.
And because we were already solving this problem, and we
were solving in a way that answer all those gaps.
I think that's one of the way why we grew
our business last year and a lot of people resonate
(17:50):
with what we what we're working on. I think, goodness,
your your idea was already there. You had the production
and capacity to help fill some of some of those
shortage is UM, you know what? You're right? What sort
of devastating seeing people were garbage backs as m M. Yeah,
as you come out of the pandemic, what are your
(18:11):
priorities now? And now what do you have in store
for the business? Going back to the issue around the
PP industry, UM, not only the product itself, like the
PPE that is high quality and fitting well, but it's
the whole it's the whole idea around the supply chain
(18:31):
that's set up for failure. UM. Do you see that
in the health care system? UM, most of hospital and
click are buying from big suppliers who buy product from
China or overseas UM because of the costs and bring
into United States. And most of the product they that
(18:51):
they bring is a disposable product that hurting the environment.
So as a company, We're not only trying to offer
the better product that better sizing, modernized, modernized PPE to
be more stylish and up to date and benefit UM,
but also solving the challenge about the supply chain. And
(19:13):
the easy ways to do that is to offer high quality, washable,
recyclable products PPE UM. So we built UM technologies that
make those processes easier to utilize. Reusable, washable and recyclable
PPE made in the USA. So that helps to also address,
(19:36):
you know, the sustainability challenges that we have. And your
example also reminds me of UM. The entrepreneurs who are
making the facial mask here in the US, we're complaining
about UM the low quality masks that we're being produced
in huge quantities from trying to you know, coming into
(19:59):
our country, UM that you did not be the standards
UM that we we had in place. So supply chain
is really important. Yeah, So something that really important to
us is to be really transparent where each other component
of our product come from and you can trace it back.
(20:21):
That is made in the US, had been LAP tested
and technically tested to meet FDA, UM, c DC and
Ocean standard UM. And because it made in USA, the
it's less likely that you will have issue having a
shortage because we could always make more locally. It will
(20:41):
be available all the time, and some of our products
could be we used, we wash a hundred percent and
then recycle into power um that will full different cities. UM.
So there's no waste in the long run compared to
you know, a plastic that will take four years to
de great mouth in the landfield. So for women listeners
(21:04):
who are thinking about starting their own businesses, UM, what
advice do you have for them? If I learn anything
from my experiences to take smaller steps. UM. It takes
one or two actions a day um or for for
(21:25):
a business to start, you know, to be honest armacy
with start as an idea, and it took me a
couple of conversations with my colleague that moved the needle. UM.
So you know, like the business does not build in
one day or rome is not build in one day. UM,
take smaller steps, have clear goals, and work towards it.
(21:48):
That's great, that's really terrific advice. So, given what's going
on in the world right now, what makes you optimistic
for me? I think that depends. Damic was devastated for
many people and changing the way we live. But it
also offer us an opportunity to take a look at
(22:12):
things that are broken into society and how we could
fix them, improve them for the better future. UM. In
my case, it was a pp industry, but there's are
many sector whether it's the future of work, you know,
more inclusive, diverse work and funding UM. And that's what
(22:33):
keeps me optimistic that through the heart, you know, through
a hard challenge, UM of what's going on in the world,
there's always there's always, you know, a better ways of
doing things. And it takes innovators and people who brave
enough to solve that problem to create a better future.
(22:54):
And that's what I'm hoping that I myself would do
and my team at Omurcy will do it together. I'm
optimistic that entrepreneurs like like you will definitely a couple
of things. You'll help to you know, to empower the
economic recovery and you will bring you know, a better
new future. You supposed to going back to the to
(23:16):
the old way, You'll you'll bring UM, that's a better
way of doing things. Yes, yes, yes, And I like
your image about fixing broken things because the pandemic you're right.
We we saw a lot of things that were broken
um in all kinds of ways, and so I too,
am optimistic about our future. Thank you so much again
(23:38):
for the interview today. I really enjoyed our conversation. Thank
you fascinating Bo went took. Booty really walks the walk
and talks the talk when it comes to women's empowerment.
You are three things I took from that conversation. First,
must is a great lesson and what happens when women's
(24:00):
support other women. Bo's company is dedicated to helping women
succeed in science, but she takes compartment a step further.
Her products are manufactured by women owned businesses. These businesses,
both says, can execute on her vision because they understand
a woman's needs and because they're out to prove they
(24:23):
can deliver high quality products. Second, Bo reminds us how
important it is to recognize what your skill is and
get others to fill in the gaps. Bo describes herself
as a data driven entrepreneur, not a selling entrepreneur or
one with design experience, but she found the people who
(24:45):
could do those things and make her business a success. Finally,
both shows once again the challenges women face and raising
capital to get started her solution. Before launch, she created
about funding campaign that not only raised money, but showed
that people were willing to pay for her product. Made
(25:09):
by Women is brought to you by the Seneca Women
Podcast Network and I Heart Radio, would support from founding
partner PNG
Welcome to Made by Women by the Seneca Women Podcast
Network and I Heart Radio. At a moment when businesses
face some of the biggest challenges in recent history, we
bring you inspiring stories, practical insights, and shared learnings to
help you successfully navigate in today's environment. Hello, I'm Sharon Bowen.
(00:29):
During the pandemic, the world became familiar with a new
term PPE, or personal protective equipment. We realized it was
crucial to saving lives, but most of us probably weren't
aware that PPE works better for some people than others.
It turns out that much PPE is not designed with
(00:52):
women in mine and ill fitting gear can be hazardous,
even lethal and dangerous situations. But a chemist named Bow
Wintracudi had been thinking about this for years. In two
thousand and eighteen, she launched a company called Arma Suite
to make PPE that takes women's sizes and needs into account.
(01:16):
And it all began because she had a lab accident
and several severe burns when her lab CoAP failed to
protect her. We'll hear how that incident motivated Bow to
build Amish Suite around a mission of inclusivity, sustainability, and
empowerment of women. Please enjoy my conversation with bow Wintracudi.
(01:42):
So tell us about almost Suite. Uh, what's this mission
and what gap in the market does it feel? And
please do tell us about the company's name. Great well,
thank you, Sharon. Armacity came from a lot in word
means self love. So our mission is to make if
they accessible to all, and we're doing that by providing
(02:04):
the best quality, gender inclusive and eco friendly personal protective
apparel direct to consumer, to the people and need. And
so there are several apparent challenges around PPE industry, especially
in the US. But one you see that there's limited
option of PPE in terms of sizing and feature designed
(02:26):
for women or particular like minorities and different races. Um Second,
PPE procurement ly like too much on product that I'm
not made in the US. And lastly, we depend too
much on plastic PPE, which is not only wasteful but
can be degrade easily and really bad for the environment.
(02:48):
So what Emerson is doing is modernizing the industry from
the ground up, focusing on delivering size inclusive products, making
USA products and then be usable and recyclable products. As
I understand it, you were inspired to start a suite
in part after your own accident and a lab Can
you tell us a little bit about this? Sure, So
(03:12):
it was my own experience that inspires me to innovate
in the PP industry. I am a PG chemist by
training and user or PPE myself UM, and at the time,
when I conduct experiment a lab, I use a lab
code to protect myself from toxic chemicals. UM. One day,
(03:35):
when I was running experiment with a really really toxic
chemical UM, I had a chemical spill accident UM on
myself and my lap code did not protect me UM.
The chemical burned right through UM. So my my right
leg was burned as a result. UM. And after I recover,
(03:59):
I was looking for additional protection for myself UM and
found that there is a limited option of PP, especially
for women. UM. As I said, there weren't a lot
of sizes aesthetic UM nothing that I can I can
find that I would actually wear all one to show
myself at work with AH. And you know, I share
(04:23):
this experience with a couple of my colleague at the time,
and we're really surprised that all of them kind of
say something in a similar that they have a similar experience.
And those small conversation end up being a hunted conversation
with women working across diffin field of them who said
that they can either either not find a product UM
(04:46):
or they're not comfortable with the product that's available in
the market. So for your your time of reference, you know,
like when I had an accent until I finished a
hunted conversation with this woman was the span of five
year and and during those five years, I look at
the market and still find that there's no one working
(05:06):
on innovative solution for these women and me UM. So
the early idea of Armoracuy to serve these women um
in in stem who is under served, um, under values
and not protected. And we have expanded Armoracery ever since
to offer product for health care professionals. And then now
you know both gender male and female. It's amazing. So
(05:29):
you this idea really involved because of a personal accident.
I mean, I am somewhat surprised that the products run
out there, but I mean I thank goodness that you
did the research to fill a gap that you know
was definitely definitely necessary. I kid myself sometimes that I'm
in the business of turning lemons into lemonade. So that's
(05:52):
that's a good that's not a bad skill set to have.
UM So. One of the other things I have found
really interesting about your company UM is that all your
items are named after women's scientists and all your products
and manufactures that you mentioned in America, but in American
women on factories. So why is it important to you
(06:13):
that women be so heavily involved in the product. So
one of the important aspects about our brand um at
our mercy is to empower our customer and user to
feel good and be inspired to do their best at
work in our protective gear. And many women in the
(06:35):
industry that we serve our overlook and not recognized for
the accomplishment, whether that is system health care, UM and
and other industry. And since most of ourly customers are
women that we just expanded to mail you know this
year UM and actually late late, we want to celebrate
(06:57):
the amazing women who have made big impact they feel
UM in their own ways and to inspire the current
and future generations about customers and women that UM would
our product will serve that day too would be able
to do the same. UM So, in terms of why
(07:17):
we prioritize working with women, lead American made factory in
an early days, UM, we were being really careful about
um our quality control process. I mean, we're making product
to protect people, we want to make sure that it's
actually deliver upon promise. UM. So we were making sure
(07:39):
that products were made to fit women needs and also
at high quality. And it would just easier for us
to work with local vendor let um by women because
they can execute on our vision better because they understand
the woman needs and they have a lot to prove
that they could deliver high quality products. UM. So we
(08:02):
found that these vendors partner that work with us. UM.
They worked really hard delivery one of the best quality
products and we were really super happy to work with
them time after time, so we continue to prioritize working
with them over others. That's great. So as a woman
entrepreneur yourself, you're hoping to uh generate business and sustain
(08:24):
women lead factories and at the same time, you're giving
the youngest spiring women role models UM to look at
by providing names of scientists and being able to visualize themselves. UM,
you know, in uniforms or lab coats that look more
like them. So that just thank you for doing all that.
(08:46):
Definitely another thing to Sharon is that UM, as I
get into doing more business with women, I found that
it's harder for us to as women entrepreneurs and women
led businesses UM, to get funding assistant UM for their business. Uh.
(09:07):
If you look into the market, two percent of VCS
capital go to women, and especially last year during the pandemic,
women get less funding help from federal And because of this,
I think it's more important than ever that as as
myself UM, a woman led company, to support local women
(09:28):
led businesses UM, because those are what need our business
the most. You know, you're you're singing our song, and
you know we as Seneca women are promoting women entrepreneurs
especially And one of the reasons we created this this
this episode on program was to highlight success stories so
(09:49):
that other women entrepreneurs could could learn from you. So,
but before we get too far ahead of ourselves, UM,
I want to take you back to your early days. UM.
Where did you grow up and go to school? And
UM was founding a company always ago? Or did you
have other aspirations? So as you may be able to
(10:11):
tell based on my accents, I'm not born in the US, UM.
English is my second language. I grew up in Thailand. UM.
I live in Thailand. My family live in Thailand, and
I only came here um in two thousand and six
to go to school. UM. I fell in love with
(10:32):
science when I was in high school and decided came
to come to the US to be the next Nobel
Price scientists. Obviously, life take a different path. It's natualate
to be at a Nobel Prise. I would rather address
the Nobel Price scientists, and in fact, I actually addressed
(10:52):
one of the Nobel Price scientists in two thousand nineteen. UM.
And know, another fact that I could share with you
is that I grew up in a family of entrepreneurs. UM.
I have seen in a really at a very young
age that with passion and hard work, a really innovative
(11:15):
business idea could create jobs and make impact to the community.
My grandfather had a successful motorcycle supply chain business. My
parents has a real estate company. UM. So when I
was growing up, I always think that I'm going to
have my own venture one day. I just didn't know
what it would be. And when I went into science,
(11:39):
I thought I was going to start either a biotech
company or a direct discovery company. But again, you know,
as I share with you. You You know, life has out
of plans, so it's I mean, that's great. Your background
is it's really great and so um, what a pleasure
that you discovered science because we know how important that
is to to have more young girls fall in love
(12:00):
with science. And I'm glad you did that at an
early age. But hey, it was a science that kind
of drove me as a person to always seek solution
or seeking new ways to do things. And I think
it's a great part as an entrepreneur. I'm a data
driven entrepreneur before I am a sailing entrepreneur. If I was,
(12:24):
we'll be back with Seneca's Made by Women after this
short break, let's talk about the beginning sometimes that you know,
what was the first step in getting the company started?
Did you base any particular challenges You mentioned a science
(12:44):
background but not a business background. Did that have an
effect at all? Yeah? So um. When I first think
of idea of armacry, one of the challenge that I
have about wanting to pursue this idea is that it's
not about the business itself, but actually something that may
(13:06):
kind of steer me away from it, if I would
would be that I don't have any fashion designer or
garment design experience at all. And and obviously because of that,
you know, it's it's a major part of making all
this work designing protective apparel UM to make sure that
it fit well, it looked good, people actually comfortable wearing it. UM.
(13:30):
So again, the biggest challenges that I had no subject
matter expertise and government designed and UM. Because of that,
in an early days, UM, we actually have some failure,
you know, to meet the quality of the product that
we produce. And I actually have to recycle some of
(13:53):
some of the product just because I was not happy
with the quality. It was not happy with delivering that
to paying customer UM. And what I have done now
since then is to put a lot of people with
expertise and government design production with your experience behind me.
UM and I have a team. If they're not a team,
(14:15):
then they're consultant that have a touch point along all
our production process to make sure that it's not only
look good, it's fit well, it's comfortable UM, and the
quality is there that's great. So I mean that's a
recipe for success in terms of building the right team,
which you know, we've heard that lesson also from from
(14:36):
other people that have spoken to our audience. UM, So
what was the big first break then after you got
the company started, like, but what was that big breakthrough
moment for you? Obviously, when you start a business, you
can really cause something a business until you have paying customer. UM.
(14:56):
So when I start Armcery in two thousand eighteen, it
was originally an idea, and then I talked to potential customer,
which is those a hundred women that join me in
a conversation and told me that they have the same
issues and challenge in our ppe. UM. But one thing
(15:16):
that will really make the idea come to life is
we have paying customer UM. And to test that, I
create a crowdfunding campaign UM. I did that through I
Fund Women, which is at the time was an early
crowdfunding crowdfunding campaign that most of women entrepreneurs could raise
(15:39):
money and get paid right away UM. And I put
a prototype up and and trying to see that people
would be willing to pay for such products and raise
that money for the first production of the product itself.
And we were successfully re raised about UM twenty grand.
They would apply form UM and that funds our first
(16:03):
production UM in late two eighteen and UM our product
like grew from there. You know that that's one way
you have mentioned earlier that you know, one of the
bears gentry for women entrepreneurs is not having access to capital.
And in this I was always stubtled by the statistics
(16:23):
that that you had scited earlier. UM. Yeah, thanks to technology,
things like a crowdfunding platforms. UM. You know there's a
there's another resource UM to to address that that bear
to entry you mentioned. UM. You know PPE, which we
know is very important this past year. How did the
(16:46):
pandemic affect on my suite? Obvious, Lee, I recognize the issue.
A lot of things are wrong with PP industry even
before the pandemic, UM, Like I what I share with
you black and gender inclusive sizing, better quality ball sustainable products,
(17:06):
especially in the US market. But what the pandemic has done,
UM is to bring all those gaps around PPE to
the forefront, especially in the health care sector. UM. You
see that last year there's a lot of issues around
PPE shortage, UM, rising costs of PPE. UM. Women in healthcare, nurses, doctor,
(17:28):
you either have to face with wearing garbage bag or
you know, disposable gowns that very very fit them. UM.
And because we were already solving this problem, and we
were solving in a way that answer all those gaps.
I think that's one of the way why we grew
our business last year and a lot of people resonate
(17:50):
with what we what we're working on. I think, goodness,
your your idea was already there. You had the production
and capacity to help fill some of some of those
shortage is UM, you know what? You're right? What sort
of devastating seeing people were garbage backs as m M. Yeah,
as you come out of the pandemic, what are your
(18:11):
priorities now? And now what do you have in store
for the business? Going back to the issue around the
PP industry, UM, not only the product itself, like the
PPE that is high quality and fitting well, but it's
the whole it's the whole idea around the supply chain
(18:31):
that's set up for failure. UM. Do you see that
in the health care system? UM, most of hospital and
click are buying from big suppliers who buy product from
China or overseas UM because of the costs and bring
into United States. And most of the product they that
(18:51):
they bring is a disposable product that hurting the environment.
So as a company, We're not only trying to offer
the better product that better sizing, modernized, modernized PPE to
be more stylish and up to date and benefit UM,
but also solving the challenge about the supply chain. And
(19:13):
the easy ways to do that is to offer high quality, washable,
recyclable products PPE UM. So we built UM technologies that
make those processes easier to utilize. Reusable, washable and recyclable
PPE made in the USA. So that helps to also address,
(19:36):
you know, the sustainability challenges that we have. And your
example also reminds me of UM. The entrepreneurs who are
making the facial mask here in the US, we're complaining
about UM the low quality masks that we're being produced
in huge quantities from trying to you know, coming into
(19:59):
our country, UM that you did not be the standards
UM that we we had in place. So supply chain
is really important. Yeah, So something that really important to
us is to be really transparent where each other component
of our product come from and you can trace it back.
(20:21):
That is made in the US, had been LAP tested
and technically tested to meet FDA, UM, c DC and
Ocean standard UM. And because it made in USA, the
it's less likely that you will have issue having a
shortage because we could always make more locally. It will
(20:41):
be available all the time, and some of our products
could be we used, we wash a hundred percent and
then recycle into power um that will full different cities. UM.
So there's no waste in the long run compared to
you know, a plastic that will take four years to
de great mouth in the landfield. So for women listeners
(21:04):
who are thinking about starting their own businesses, UM, what
advice do you have for them? If I learn anything
from my experiences to take smaller steps. UM. It takes
one or two actions a day um or for for
(21:25):
a business to start, you know, to be honest armacy
with start as an idea, and it took me a
couple of conversations with my colleague that moved the needle. UM.
So you know, like the business does not build in
one day or rome is not build in one day. UM,
take smaller steps, have clear goals, and work towards it.
(21:48):
That's great, that's really terrific advice. So, given what's going
on in the world right now, what makes you optimistic
for me? I think that depends. Damic was devastated for
many people and changing the way we live. But it
also offer us an opportunity to take a look at
(22:12):
things that are broken into society and how we could
fix them, improve them for the better future. UM. In
my case, it was a pp industry, but there's are
many sector whether it's the future of work, you know,
more inclusive, diverse work and funding UM. And that's what
(22:33):
keeps me optimistic that through the heart, you know, through
a hard challenge, UM of what's going on in the world,
there's always there's always, you know, a better ways of
doing things. And it takes innovators and people who brave
enough to solve that problem to create a better future.
(22:54):
And that's what I'm hoping that I myself would do
and my team at Omurcy will do it together. I'm
optimistic that entrepreneurs like like you will definitely a couple
of things. You'll help to you know, to empower the
economic recovery and you will bring you know, a better
new future. You supposed to going back to the to
(23:16):
the old way, You'll you'll bring UM, that's a better
way of doing things. Yes, yes, yes, And I like
your image about fixing broken things because the pandemic you're right.
We we saw a lot of things that were broken
um in all kinds of ways, and so I too,
am optimistic about our future. Thank you so much again
(23:38):
for the interview today. I really enjoyed our conversation. Thank
you fascinating Bo went took. Booty really walks the walk
and talks the talk when it comes to women's empowerment.
You are three things I took from that conversation. First,
must is a great lesson and what happens when women's
(24:00):
support other women. Bo's company is dedicated to helping women
succeed in science, but she takes compartment a step further.
Her products are manufactured by women owned businesses. These businesses,
both says, can execute on her vision because they understand
a woman's needs and because they're out to prove they
(24:23):
can deliver high quality products. Second, Bo reminds us how
important it is to recognize what your skill is and
get others to fill in the gaps. Bo describes herself
as a data driven entrepreneur, not a selling entrepreneur or
one with design experience, but she found the people who
(24:45):
could do those things and make her business a success. Finally,
both shows once again the challenges women face and raising
capital to get started her solution. Before launch, she created
about funding campaign that not only raised money, but showed
that people were willing to pay for her product. Made
(25:09):
by Women is brought to you by the Seneca Women
Podcast Network and I Heart Radio, would support from founding
partner PNG
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