Today we’d like to introduce you to Saraa Green.
Hi Saraa, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
This story starts with my mother, Angela Green. As a Black mom to two girls who loved wearing braids, she wanted to help us rock the styles that we loved. When it was time to take down our braids, she would spend hours using anything she could find around the house. Finally, she decided to take matters into her own hands and developed TheBraidReleaser, a time-efficient and pain-free tool that made it easy to take out braids and maintain natural hair. While she had invented a tool that so many needed, the 90s were sorely lacking in incubators or accelerators for Black women entrepreneurs. While it was clear that this problem addressed the market, countless rejections by bankers forced her to table the idea. In 2019, I decided to pick up the baton to realize a dream that my mother first had over 20 years ago. With my lived experience as a Black woman who wears braids, my professional experience in design and technology, and inspiration from my pioneering mother, I launched TheBraidReleaser.
Due to COVID-19, Black women have been forced to change their hair care regimen. As opposed to other styles that make Black women more susceptible to traction alopecia, braids cause less strain. However, the braid takedown process can cause considerable hair loss if done with the wrong tools.
I feel privileged to bring my mother’s idea to Black women. I believe that we’re well on the way to being first in mind for braid hair care.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
The business was solely funded by my mother and me. We realized quickly funding the business wasn’t going to cut it. I took all of my savings and invested into the business, which I do not regret. I believe in what my mother and I are doing and failing isn’t an option for us. As a Doctorate student, taking out a business loan was too much of a risk. We had to think of a creative way of raising capital for TheBraidReleaser. Crowdfunding became a viable option for us. We had an active Kickstarter campaign, but unfortunately due to COVID, we lost over $8,000 due to their all or nothing category. This was devastating to say the least. It was tough losing over $8,000. I felt like I failed my mother because she entrusted me to handle the business operations. When I spoke to my mother, I could hear the concern in her voice. This wasn’t because she didn’t have faith in me. It was because I didn’t have an immediate plan for next steps. It didn’t stop us, so we partnered with Renee King’s FundBlackFounders. This partnership was a huge deal for us because their platform specifically focused on funding black-owned businesses. We were grateful for the opportunity, and it helped us bring our hero tool out into the market.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am currently working as a footwear developer for Adidas North America in Basketball. I’ve had the greatest privilege of developing products for athletes such as Donovan Mitchell, James Harden, Derrick Rose, Candace Parker, etc. As the only Black female footwear developer in North America for Adidas, seeing my projects on the court has been so satisfying. I’m so proud to hold a position of influence and be a representative for women of color in this space. That only lets me know I’m creating a pathway for more to come.
What matters most to you?
Staying true to myself has always mattered the most to me. As a people, we adapt and function in any environment to survive either for ourselves or family. Climbing the corporate latter while building a business is tough, but you have to remember to not lose yourself on the way to success. We all measure success differently; however, I have shifted my mindset to celebrate my small wins and refuse the ideology of being “a strong black woman”. I am flawed, imperfect and make mistakes. But within that, I give myself grace. Grace allows me to remember I have a purpose and I don’t need to jeopardize my integrity to win.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.thebraidreleaser.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebraidreleaser/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebraidreleaser/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saraa-green-mba-79a08141/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/braidreleaser
Image Credits
Image# 3 – Textured Tech, Carson California Image # 2 – Girl Cave LA, Inglewood California (Myself and Mother (Angela Green)
