At Future Planet Capital (FPC) Regional, our investment strategy is focused on identifying ambitious founders and businesses addressing significant market gaps, including opportunities to create value in underserved communities.
One example of this approach is Nylah’s Naturals, a Birmingham-based haircare company developing science-backed, non-toxic solutions for textured hair wellness. The company secured a £530,000 seed investment led by FPC Regional, with funding from both the Midlands Engine Investment Fund (MEIF) through the MEIF West Midlands Equity Fund and the West Midlands Co-Investment (WMCO) Fund, alongside a syndicate of angel investors.
We spoke with founder of Nylah’s Naturals, Kameese Davis, and FPC Regional Investment Director, Rupert Lyle, about the journey behind Nylah’s Naturals, the opportunity ahead and why the business stood out as an investment opportunity.
What inspired you to launch Nylah’s Naturals, and what stood out about the business to Future Planet Capital Regional?
Kameese: Nylah’s Naturals was born from one of the most personal experiences of my life. As a mum, I watched my daughter, Nylah, suffer from eczema, including seborrhoeic dermatitis on her scalp. I was desperate to make her feel more comfortable, but I quickly realised there were very few products specifically designed for textured hair that were both gentle enough for sensitive skin and genuinely effective.
In fact, the products I was using on my own hair were irritating hers. This led me to become much more conscious of the ingredients being used in products marketed towards Black women, and the more I researched, the more concerned I became.
Today, we consciously exclude more than 1,500 ingredients from our formulations because we believe consumers shouldn’t have to choose between efficacy and ingredient integrity.
As my own journey evolved, I was also diagnosed with Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia. Experiencing hair loss personally deepened my understanding of how underrepresented Black women are within the hair loss space and strengthened my determination to create solutions that address the root causes of common hair concerns.
Rupert: What stood out for us was Kam’s clarity of purpose. Nylah’s Naturals wasn’t created to capitalise on a consumer trend or launch another beauty brand. It came from lived experience and a determination to solve a problem that had been overlooked for far too long.
The opportunity is significant. The global Black haircare market is worth more than US$10 billion, yet there remains a clear gap for science-led solutions focused on textured hair wellness and long-term scalp health.
Hair is deeply connected to confidence, identity and wellbeing, yet many areas of hair health remain underserved. What gave us conviction wasn’t simply the science, although that was clearly compelling. It was Kam’s understanding of the problem and her long-term vision for solving it.
Exceptional businesses are built by exceptional founders. Kam has an authentic mission, a deep understanding of her customer, and the resilience to build something with global potential.
How is Nylah’s Naturals using science and innovation to address an underserved market?
Kameese: From the beginning, our ambition has been to create products that are not only effective but also give consumers confidence in what they’re putting on their bodies.
We wanted to move beyond simply addressing symptoms and instead focus on understanding the root causes of common hair concerns. That meant investing in research, developing science-backed formulations, and creating solutions specifically designed for textured hair and the needs of our community.
Our vision is to bridge the gap between haircare and wellness, combining product innovation with education and clinical expertise to help people make more informed choices about their hair health.
Rupert: What makes Nylah’s Naturals particularly compelling is that it has built a science-led platform rather than simply creating another consumer product.
The business combines effective products, education and clinical expertise, giving it the opportunity to build a deeper relationship with customers over the long term.
The strongest consumer businesses are built around a genuine understanding of the customer and a clear sense of purpose. We’re also seeing growing demand for science-led hair wellness solutions, as consumers increasingly prioritise efficacy, education and long-term scalp health. Nylah’s has identified that shift early and developed a differentiated approach to meeting it
As a Birmingham-founded business, what does Nylah’s Naturals’ journey demonstrate about the potential of the West Midlands?
Kameese: The West Midlands has played a huge role in our journey.
Birmingham has an incredibly diverse and entrepreneurial community, and we’ve benefited from a supportive ecosystem of business organisations, mentors, investors and networks that genuinely want to see regional businesses prosper.
Being based here has also kept us closely connected to the communities we serve. The diversity of the region reflects our customer base, allowing us to continually learn from real experiences and develop products that genuinely meet people’s needs.
As we continue to grow, we’re proud to represent Birmingham on a national and international stage.
Rupert: Nylah’s Naturals is proof that globally ambitious businesses do not have to be built in London or Silicon Valley.
Kam has built this company in Birmingham because that’s where the insight originated, where the business was founded, and where she has continued to grow it. Along the way, she’s attracted experienced people around her, secured national retail listings and laid the foundations for international growth.
That is exactly the type of journey we want to see more of.
The West Midlands has outstanding entrepreneurial talent, diverse communities, strong universities, and an increasingly mature investment ecosystem. When those ingredients come together, there’s no reason why businesses founded here cannot compete on a global level.
What are the next milestones for Nylah’s Naturals?
Kameese: Since securing investment, we’ve continued to build on our ambition to become one of the world’s leading science-led textured hair wellness brands.
Our focus is on accelerating product innovation, expanding into new international markets, strengthening our digital presence and continuing to build one of the world’s leading science-led textured hair wellness brands.
Alongside this, we’re investing heavily in research, education and community, ensuring we continue to bridge the gap between haircare and wellness.
While our ambitions are global, our values remain firmly rooted in Birmingham. This is where our journey began, where our purpose was shaped, and where we’ll continue creating opportunities, investing in talent, and demonstrating that globally recognised brands can be built from the heart of the West Midlands.
Rupert: I think Nylah’s Naturals has all the ingredients to become one of the region’s standout consumer success stories.
The best brands are not built purely around products. They’re built around a genuine understanding of the customer and a clear sense of purpose. That’s what creates relevance over the long term.
What is exciting is that the need exists well beyond the UK. Kam has built a business around a challenge that affects millions of women globally, with an authentic voice and a science-led approach that genuinely differentiates the company.
If Nylah’s Naturals achieves its ambition, it will be another example of what the West Midlands is capable of producing: exceptional founders, globally relevant companies, and businesses that combine commercial success with meaningful impact.