Alice Holden, director of London-based Attollo Lingerie, explains why the business should win the innovation in funding category of the Guardian Small Business Showcase competition.
competition entryOur story began eight years ago when we became D+ customers at 14. At university, we commiserated with each others frustration, emphasising that the D+ lingerie selection was not only dire but unflattering. We founded Attollo so that this misery faced by D+ women could be a thing of the past. Our brand name, which means, ‘I lift up, I raise, I excite’ in Latin, is referenced in everything that we do, including fundraising.
Our fundraising is still very much in its infancy, but we secured initial funding from Virgin’s startup loan. We somehow managed to convince them that giving £15,000 to two 21-year-old, recently graduated students, was a good idea! Competitions are great – our first was a postgraduate university version of Dragons’ Den. We were thrilled to win the ‘best pitch’ prize.
We are about to embark on an equity crowdfunding round. We were inspired by the success of graduate Alfred Ajani, who stood in Waterloo asking to be hired. We, with a big banner, will be doing the same; asking the underground public to back our venture.
All entries which meet the competition criteria are published and our judging panel select a shortlist of the three for each category. Winners are announced at an awards ceremony in summer 2016.
