Grant Winner Interview: Jacinta Meyers, Founder of F.A.C.T.S - Round 12 $5k Winner

https://cosmetictestingservices.com/

In this episode we talked about...

* The pivot: after being a cosmetic brand owner since 2011, Jacinta stopped competing in a crowded market and built a business around her real strength - R&D and the lab bench -creating her own cosmetic testing laboratory and small-batch manufacturing facility.

* How she knew it was the right move: she wasn't sure at first, but everyone told her she started smiling whenever she talked about it. That must be my happy place.

* What the $5k bought: a new, larger incubator and an upgraded pH meter - because as she puts it, anything for the laboratory is so expensive.

* Why the kit matters: the incubator powers her stability testing (working out expiry dates by storing products at different temperatures), means no more worrying about breakdowns,and lets her take on more client samples - and the pH meter keeps products right for whatever they're made for, skin or hair.

* The persistence story: her family kept asking if she'd heard back, quietly gave up... and had no idea she'd kept applying, until she rang them all on the same day with the news.

* How she improved each application: a few more takes on the video (not her strength, and that's fine), showing the judges her cramped old incubator, and sitting down first to ask -what are my real pain points, and how would this money solve them?

* Her advice: keep applying, it's really worth it and good practice too. No AI, all from the heart - just answer every question clearly, answer all of them, and you'll be fine.

Feeling inspired? The SPARK $15k Quarterly Cash Grants for Women in Business are open to women in business all over the world, and yes, you can apply more than once. Apply here |https://sparkbusiness.global/spark-women-in-business-grants

Thank you to IP Australia for supporting the SPARK podcast and women in business.