Welcome to The Entrepreneur's Blueprint - a podcast series featuring three stories from female founders. In this first episode, Emilie talks to Farah Kabir, co-founder of HANX, the UK-based sexual wellness and intimate care brand. Discover how she turned a bold idea into a thriving, purpose-driven company, secured funding, and overcame the challenges of scaling.

You can listen (40 min) and subscribe here:

Now available on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Podlink

***

Here are some key takeaways from the discussion:

1. SPOTTING THE GAP AND TAKING THE LEAP

Farah Kabir’s journey with HANX began with an experience many women can relate to—feeling awkward in the condom aisle. Working in investment banking, Farah found herself embarrassed while buying condoms, not because she was taking control of her sexual health, but because the products on offer didn’t speak to her as a woman. They were garish, designed with men in mind, and didn’t reflect her needs or preferences.

After sharing this experience with her close friend, Dr Sarah Welsh, the two realised there was a bigger issue at play. Sarah, a doctor specialising in sexual health, had seen first-hand how women were dealing with products that didn’t quite fit their needs and were sometimes causing health issues. So, they decided to do something about it. Together, they founded HANX —a brand focused on women’s sexual wellness that aims to break taboos and provide products designed for real women, not just for the male gaze.

Farah Kabir & Dr Sarah Welsh, Co-Founders of HANX

"I was baffled by the choice. The products were garishly packaged, promoting a man’s conquest. There was nothing really in there that was designed with women in mind."

2. tHE BUMPY ROAD TO FUNDING

Starting HANX wasn’t all smooth sailing, especially when it came to funding. Despite Farah’s background in finance, she quickly learned that raising money wasn’t as easy as she had hoped. Many investors weren’t interested in supporting a business that operated in the “taboo” world of sexual wellness. Venture capitalists, it seemed, were hesitant, leaving Farah and Sarah to explore other options.

Angel investors became the way forward, and many of their investors were actually HANX customers—people who believed in the mission so much that they wanted to be part of it. This was incredibly meaningful for Farah, a sign that they were doing something right. After all, what better validation than to have the people using your product believe in it enough to invest in your business?

Their mission resonated with both customers and investors, enabling them to raise over £2.5million in funding, with many investors being loyal HANX customers who believed in the brand’s vision.

“The reality is like when you are setting up a company, you’re learning from scratch. So I would just absorb as much knowledge as I could on fundraising from going to events, networking, joining various communities.”

3. MASTERING THE NUMBERS

Even with passion and a great product, Farah knew that having a handle on the numbers was essential. Investors want to see more than just enthusiasm; they need clear financial projections and solid plans. Farah knew she had to be prepared—ready to walk into a room and make sure investors understood not just the brand’s potential but how they would get there.

Creating a pitch that resonated became a fine art. Over the years, she’s learned that being clear and concise is everything. Investors don’t have much time, and grabbing their attention quickly is crucial. In Farah’s world, pitching is a game of continuous refinement, and each version of the pitch deck has to be sharper and more focused than the last.

4. A BRAND BUILT BY THE COMMUNITY

What truly makes HANX stand out is its focus on building a real, engaged community. From the start, Farah and Sarah invited their customers into the heart of the product development process, asking for feedback and listening to what their community wanted. This approach has shaped the way Hanx operates—customers don’t just buy the products; they’re part of the journey, helping to shape what comes next.

Farah believes this close connection with their audience has been key to the brand’s growth. Rather than chasing quick sales, HANX has focused on fostering trust, creating products that genuinely meet women’s needs and speaking to them in a way that feels authentic. This connection isn’t just good for business; it’s what drives the brand’s mission to challenge taboos and have real conversations about women’s health.

5. LEARNING AS THEY GO

Neither Farah nor Sarah came from a marketing background, so in the early days of Hanx, everything was about learning on the fly. But they quickly discovered that creativity and adaptability were their best tools. They didn’t have big marketing budgets, but what they lacked in money, they made up for in ingenuity. One of their most memorable campaigns involved raising awareness around vaginismus—a condition many women experience but few talk about. Instead of running a typical Valentine’s Day campaign, HANX chose to focus on this under-discussed health issue, using bold billboards to get people talking.

"My mum always says this: go with your gut, it’s got your best interest at heart. And as a teenager, I never quite got it. But as you get older, you go through life experience, it becomes more and more clear that you should trust your gut."

6. TRUSTING THEIR INSTINCTS

Throughout the ups and downs of building HANX, Farah has learned that one of the most important things a founder can do is trust their gut. She’s had to make tough decisions and has often been told by others how to run her business, but she’s learned to rely on her instincts. After all, no one knows the brand like she and Sarah do, and they’ve built it from the ground up with a clear vision in mind.

For Farah, this inner confidence has been crucial. Being a woman in business can come with added challenges, but she’s determined to push through, staying bold and believing in the strength of her ideas.

7. FINDING THE RIGHT INVESTORS

One of the biggest lessons Farah has learned over the years is the importance of finding the right investors. In the beginning, it wasn’t always possible to be picky, but as HANX has grown, so has their ability to choose investors who truly align with their mission. Farah recalls one particularly negative experience with an investor who simply didn’t understand the brand’s vision, and it taught her the importance of working with people who genuinely believe in what Hanx is doing.

Today, Hanx works with investors who share their commitment to creating a brand that challenges norms and makes a difference in women’s health.

"What’s really lovely about our investors is a portion of those investors are actually our customers. And that is so beautiful to me, you know, customers reach out and have said, are you raising investment? How can we be part of this journey?"

8. SCALING WITH PURPOSE

As HANX continues to grow, Farah is mindful of maintaining the brand’s core values while scaling the business. It’s tempting to launch new products and expand quickly, but she’s learned the value of patience and careful planning. Each product HANX releases is thoughtful and deliberate, designed to fill a real need in women’s health.

Farah is proud of the brand’s growth so far, particularly their recent expansion into the US. While growth is exciting, she’s determined to ensure that Hanx never loses sight of its mission to empower women and change the way the world talks about sexual wellness.

9. A LEAN, ADAPTABLE TEAM

Running a successful brand doesn’t require a huge team, as Farah knows all too well. She and Sarah have built HANX with a lean, dedicated group of people who share their passion for the mission. By staying small and agile, they’ve been able to move quickly and adapt to the challenges that come with growing a business in a competitive industry.

"Launching a new product, you know, once a year or once every 14 months, is a great opportunity. We get a life cycle of a product, understand what customers like, and see what they engage with. And it’s worked really well for us."

10. THE POWER OF PERSEVERANCE

If there’s one piece of advice Farah would give to other entrepreneurs, it’s to keep going, even when things get tough. Building a business is hard work, and the road is full of obstacles. But with each challenge comes an opportunity to learn and grow, and Farah’s experience with HANX has taught her that perseverance is key.

PARTNER

Are you a UK-based female founder looking to scale your business? Well you’re in luck. The Female Founders Competition is open until the 16th September. It’s a collaboration between Virgin StartUp and Fiverr, offering four finalists £3,000 in Fiverr credits and 6 weeks of mentorship. The winner will receive an additional £15,000 in credits to use on Fiverr and a year’s free membership to Virgin StartUps new digital community. For more information on how to enter: https://www.fiverr.com/cp/female-founders-competition?

RESOURCES

HANX: https://www.hanxofficial.com/

HANX Insragram: https://www.instagram.com/hanxofficial/?hl=en

Scaling Up Your Business, with Farah Kabir