In November, we got up on stage and pitched My Hapii in front of a room full of strangers. It was one of the most nerve-wracking things we've done as a small business, and one of the most rewarding.
The event was That THiNG, Liverpool City Region's live pitch and performance night, held at District Liverpool. If you haven't heard of it, it isn't your typical pitch competition. Four people take the stage to pitch their ideas. Four performers keep the energy up in between. And at the end of the night, the audience decides who wins. The winning pitch walks away with funding to help bring their idea to life. It's community powered, grassroots, and genuinely personal, which is rare to find at events like this.
Why We Wanted to Pitch at That THiNG
When the chance to pitch at That THiNG Liverpool came up, it felt like the right fit straight away. My Hapii was built on the idea of getting back to the root of things. "Hapii" means roots in Mende, a language from Sierra Leone, and everything we make, starting with the Our Roots Hair, Beard and Body Oil, is about reconnecting people with nature, heritage, and the simple things that actually work.
That THiNG's whole approach, the idea that the next big thing might just be a collection of small things built by real people and funded by their community, felt like it was speaking the same language we've been trying to speak since day one. So we said yes. Then the nerves set in.
Pitching My Hapii: Was It Nerve-Wracking? Absolutely
Standing in front of a room and talking about something you've poured yourself into is never easy. There's a particular kind of vulnerability in pitching a small, handmade, deeply personal business next to other brilliant ideas, knowing the room is about to vote with their hands and their hearts.
That nervousness came with something else too. We got the chance to actually share what we're building out loud, to people who came ready to listen. We got to talk about where My Hapii comes from, what "Hapii" means to us, and why we believe wellness starts at the root, not the surface. We got to connect with genuinely inspiring people, other pitchers, performers, and audience members who are all building something of their own in Liverpool. And in a room full of new faces, there were familiar ones too, which made the whole night feel a lot warmer.
We Placed Joint Third, and We're Genuinely Happy About It
We didn't take home the win. We placed joint third on the night, and honestly, we're at peace with that.
The pitch that won is supporting and uplifting the community in a real, tangible way, and that's exactly what nights like this are for. Sometimes the win isn't the prize. It's showing up, telling your story, and taking part in something bigger than yourself. That's the version of victory we're choosing to hold onto from That THiNG Liverpool.
What We're Taking Away From the Night
Every pitch, every conversation, and every nervous breath before walking on stage taught us something. We're walking away from That THiNG with new connections, a bit more confidence in telling the My Hapii story out loud, and a real appreciation for what Liverpool's creative and entrepreneurial community is building together.
We're forever grateful for the chance to have been part of it, and we can't wait to see what the next THiNG brings.
If you want to follow more of the My Hapii journey, from pitch nights to product launches, sign up to Join Di Fambul, our newsletter, or come find us at our next pop up.
