THE REAL CO$T OF WINNING: OLAMIDE OLOWE IS JUST GETTING STARTED
From beauty disruptor to business architect, Olamide Olowe is showing the industry what it really means to bet on culture — and win.
Olamide Olowe didn’t just launch a skincare brand, she cracked open a space. Topicals made textured skin visible and unapologetic. It wasn’t about fitting in, it was about taking up space. And now, she’s expanding that philosophy with her next chapter: Co$t of Doing Business (CODB).
With CODB, Olowe isn’t just backing brands. She’s making a statement.
“CODB is here to show that backing cultural brands isn’t a feel-good move — it’s a smart business decision.”
Translation: culture moves the needle. And if you're not investing in the people creating it, you're already behind.
THE SHIFT
If Topicals was the entrance, CODB is the power move.
CODB isn’t about vibes — it’s about infrastructure. It’s about taking what Olamide has learned (the hard way) as a founder and building a system that actually works for community-first businesses. That means capital, yes, but also operational support, strategy, and space to evolve without losing what makes a brand singular.
“You can have the best product in the world, but if your operations aren’t built to scale, growth gets messy.”
And she would know. Topicals grew fast. What it taught her is that hype without foundation is a short game. What CODB is building is longevity.
STRATEGY REWIRED
Now that she’s on the other side — investor, advisor, acquirer — the lens has shifted.
“Being an investor made me way more intentional about resourcing. Money matters, but so does talent, time, and energy.”
She’s not looking for founders who just want funding. She’s looking for people with vision and the willingness to stretch it.
Q: When you look at a brand today, what signals tell you 'this has long-term value'?
A: It’s truly a mix, but people are the foundation. Product and story can evolve, but the people — their values and adaptability — determine staying power.
CULTURE AS CAPITAL
CODB’s acquisition of BREAD, the modern textured haircare brand, is a blueprint for the future: scale without sellout.
“BREAD’s creative DNA is sacred. Maeva built something special. Our job is to amplify that, not dilute it.”
That’s the edge CODB brings: an understanding that cultural value is business value. But it’s a language most investors still don’t speak.
“Investors still underestimate how Black women drive cultural trends — we’re not just consumers, we’re trendsetters. When they miss that, they miss out on billion-dollar markets.”
THE GUT CHECK
What sets Olamide apart is her instinct, her willingness to move when the numbers don’t. Case in point: launching Faded Serum before it was perfect.
“It smelled. People talked. But they also stayed. That ‘mistake’ built community and taught us to listen and evolve.”
That lesson? Show up imperfect, but ready to grow. Community will meet you there.
WHAT’S NEXT
She’s watching more than just beauty. Music. Food. Tech. Anywhere culture is being made — that’s where she’s looking. Because for Olamide, the future isn’t about following trends. It’s about funding the people who create them.
“Shifting the lens means listening earlier, betting bigger, and recognizing that cultural insight is an unbeatable business strategy.” — Olamide Olowe