Local Entrepreneur to be Featured on Dragons Den

Pembroke ON: Local entrepreneur, Akosua Asare of Deep River, will be featured on an upcoming episode of Dragon’s Den on CBC and CBC Gem Thursday, November 12 at 9:00 pm.

Akosua Asare is founder and owner of Essence Luxe Couture, a company that designs and manufactures high quality wigs for the global market. Selling from Renfrew County into the global market was not daunting for Akosua. She utilizes social media platforms for marketing and client engagement and her own e-commerce platform, ETSY and Amazon to fulfil sales.

While one would be concerned that products as personal as wigs would be difficult to sell on-line, Essence Luxe Couture is addressing that challenge by developing an Artificial Intelligence (AI) system, called Muse, to assist customers to achieve a truly custom fit. It also presents users with a range of hairstyles suited to their physiology and fashion preferences. This unique AI capability will enable Essence Luxe Couture to have a globally uniquely capability of offering custom wig fitting to clients around the world.

Akosua recently completed the Starter Company Plus Program, provided by Enterprise Renfrew County and supported by the Ontario Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade. In addition to the valuable training provided in the four-month program, Akosua was one of the participants who competed in the business pitch contest where she was one of the highest scoring businesses and was awarded a grant to help grow her business.
The Starter Company Plus Program has guided eighty-six (86) local entrepreneurs to business success across Renfrew County. This comprehensive four month program prepares budding entrepreneurs and small business owners for the rigors of the business world with marketing, finance, legal, human resources and sales training and with coaching and mentorship from Enterprise Renfrew County staff and experienced and successful business operators and professionals.

For more information: visit our website at www.enterpriserenfrewcounty.com.

Colleen Sadler          Business Consultant, ERC Renfrew                613-432-6848
Alastair Baird            Manager, Economic Development                613-732-0354