TLTP
LONDON
It marks the beginning of the Duchess of Sussex establishing herself as an investor with a focus on supporting female-founded companies.
She has backed Clevr Blends, which chat show queen Oprah Winfrey promoted on Instagram after being sent a Christmas basket of its products by former Suits actress Meghan. Winfrey wrote: “On the first day of Christmas my neighbor ‘M’ sent to me…a basket of deliciousness!”
She said it was “Yes that M” followed by a crown emoji, and added: “My new drink of choice for the morning and night. Wish I had @clevrblends sooner cause I would’ve added it to my Favorite Things list. #HappyHolidays.”
Winfrey, who has 19.2 million followers, was filmed making a cup of her “new favourite” turmeric Golden SuperLatte to instructions she said she received from “M”. Meghan, who this year secured a multimillion-pound deal with Netflix, is beginning to build a portfolio of investments, and her involvement with Clevr Blends is the first to be made public.
The duchess said in a statement: “This investment is in support of a passionate female entrepreneur who prioritises building community alongside her business. “I’m proud to invest in Hannah’s commitment to sourcing ethical ingredients and creating a product that I personally love and has a holistic approach to wellness. “I believe in her and I believe in her company.”
Clevr Blends is run by Hannah Mendoza, has six staff and is based in Santa Barbara, California, where Meghan and the Duke of Sussex now live. It describes itself as a “woman-led, mission-driven wellness company”.
After tasting the lattes, Meghan contacted Ms Mendoza to learn more about the firm.
The duchess is working to help close the gap which sees all-female founding teams typically receive less than 3% of venture funding in the US. It is understood she will help Ms Mendoza’s business with financial support, mentorship and a shared vision for the product.
Mendoza described her excitement at her partnership with the duchess, saying: “I’m grateful to have found both in the Duchess of Sussex – her passion for what we’re creating is palpable, and I couldn’t imagine a more aligned partnership. We’re excited for the road ahead.”
