On this episode of The Two Percent, host Anu Duggal sits down with Monique Rodriguez, Founder and CEO of Mielle Organics, to talk about building a community-first haircare brand from zero and selling to Procter & Gamble in a 9-figure exit.
Monique shares how she walked away from an eight-year nursing career, spotted a gap in the textured hair and natural haircare market by studying shelves at Target and Sally Beauty, and built a loyal customer base on social media before launching a single product.
She breaks down how co-developing with her community drove demand so high that Mielle sold out 95 Sally Beauty stores on day one and went chainwide in under six months. The conversation also gets into the financial mistakes that put the company $2M in debt, what she learned about raising capital the hard way, and how she structured a P&G acquisition deal that kept the brand's DNA, formulas, and founding team intact.
Episode Resources
Check out Mielle Organics: https://www.instagram.com/mielleorganics/
Follow Monique: https://www.instagram.com/exquisitemo/
Follow Anu: https://www.instagram.com/anuduggal/
Follow Female Founders Fund: https://www.instagram.com/femalefoundersfund/
Season 7 of The Two Percent is presented by J.P. Morgan.J.P. Morgan supports businesses at every stage of growth, from startups to mature companies, by providing access to dedicated banking teams with deep expertise across industries. J.P. Morgan helps startups navigate complexity with confidence and scale with purpose. Learn about how J.P. Morgan Partners with Startups: jpmorgan.com/growwithoutlimits
Disclosure: The Two Percent is hosted by Anu Duggal, Founding Partner of Female Founders Fund. Some guests featured on the podcast may be founders or leaders of companies that Female Founders Fund has invested in, or may have other professional relationships with the fund. Any views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Female Founders Fund or its affiliates. This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered investment advice.
Executive Producer: Anu Duggal
Series Producer / Editorial Producer: Julie Cerick
Production Manager: Rachel Braun
Post-Production & Editing: Rachel Braun, Don't Buzz, Melrose Podcasts Studios
