The winner of the first Richard Hallt Young Entrepreneur Award is 23-year-old Anisha
Hathi who receives a £25,000 investment in her business, Chai Couture
Anisha is an Asian wedding planner based in Birmingham. During her time as a wedding planner, she noticed that attendees would always need to buy an outfit (usually a Lehenga – an Indian dress) for the occasion which are expensive and tend to be worn once.
Anisha founded Chai Couture, a peer-to-peer Asian fashion rental platform, to provide a sustainable and affordable alternative for borrowing and lending outfits. The platform enables owners to list their traditional garments, such as Lehengas, for rent, allowing borrowers to access fashion at a fraction of the cost of buying new outfits. This model not only makes fashion more accessible but also offers an additional income stream for outfit owners.
Chai Couture fosters a community of fashion-loving South Asians, promoting a circular fashion economy by reducing waste and extending the life cycle of clothing. By offering an alternative to discarding old outfits, the platform contributes to environmental sustainability while meeting the cultural and fashion needs of its users.
"Anisha’s concept is truly innovative — a digital platform that eliminates the need for inventory, reducing startup costs and allowing her to focus on marketing and community-building. By targeting the specialist market of South Asian fashion, she’s able to tailor her services and outreach with precision. But it’s not just the idea that’s impressive; Anisha’s drive, determination, and deep understanding of her audience show she has what it takes to scale this business successfully. We’re thrilled to work with someone so passionate and capable."
Matt Price, CEO of 10th Bridge Consulting
"I'm incredibly excited to work with Matt and the team at 10th Bridge Consulting.Their expertise and support will be invaluable as we continue to grow Chai Couture. I look forward to collaborating with them to take this vision to the next level and make sustainable South Asian fashion more accessible."
Anisha Hathi, Founder of Chai Coutureulting
The whole 10th Bridge team is looking forward to working with Anisha to establish her business and begin building the Chai Couture platform with a planned launch in 2025.
A special thank you to the other finalists of the Richard Hallt Young Entrepreneur Award
for their commitment and hard work in sharing their detailed business plans – we wish them every future success:
Phoebe Russell-Jones £500 cash prize
Tianna-Monique Ince £500 cash prize
Dylan Law £500 cash prize
“Although I didn't come first place I'm still super grateful for this experience, it's been an amazing opportunity to challenge myself and develop my skills in business. Writing a business plan was not the easiest part for me but it helped me so much and has provided me with skills that will last a lifetime. I just wanted to say thank you to yourself, Matt and I know she has left the company now but to my mentor Emily for supporting me throughout this process.”
Tianna-Monique Ince
© 2024 by Tenth Bridge Consulting Limited. All Rights Reserved.
“Working with 10th Bridge Ventures was an incredibly rewarding experience and I’m so thankful to have been apart of it. I had the opportunity to create my own business concept myself, which was both challenging, exhilarating and valuable in improving my skills. The process allowed me to think critically about every aspect of launching a business, from market research, creating a business plan and proposal and product development.
As a part of the competition, I not only had to refine my business idea but also create a business plan and present it to experts. The feedback and support I received throughout the project was extremely valuable in shaping my entrepreneurship skills as well as teaching me every aspect of creating and launching a business. Making it to the final round of the competition was a huge accomplishment for me as it gave me the confidence to continue pursuing my entrepreneurial goals.
Overall, my experience with 10th Bridge Ventures was an inspiring journey as it not only helped me grow in my experience but also provided me with a network of connections and mentors that will support me as it move forward in my career.”
Phoebe Russell-Jones
