Lucie Macleod, founder and chief executive of Hair Syrup, has unveiled The Hair Syrup Honey Pot, a competition offering one UK entrepreneur £5,000 in cash alongside four hours of personalised, one-to-one mentoring.
The award comes with no equity attached and no commercial strings, with the aim of providing practical support at the earliest stages of building a business.
The initiative invites UK-based founders aged 18 and over to submit a short pitch video on TikTok or Instagram outlining their business idea. Entrants must tag @hairsyrup, use the hashtag #thehairsyruphoneypot and complete an online application form. A shortlist of applicants will then be invited to pitch in person, with one winner selected to receive the funding and mentoring sessions.
Macleod said the scheme was inspired by her own experience of rejection and self-funded growth. “One year ago I appeared on Dragon’s Den and was rejected on national TV,” she said. “That moment became one of the best things that ever happened to me because it pushed me to believe in myself, connect with our community and build something real. I know how hard it feels to start with nothing, so this is my way of giving back.”
Hair Syrup began as a student-kitchen experiment before finding rapid traction on TikTok, where Macleod shared her own hair transformation story. A single viral video helped catapult the brand into national attention, driving strong organic growth and a fast-growing social following. The business has since expanded rapidly into retail, fuelled by community demand rather than external investment.
In 2025, Macleod was named Young Founder of the Year at The Sunday Times 100 Awards, recognised for building one of the UK’s fastest-growing beauty brands from a grassroots start.
The Honey Pot initiative reflects a growing trend of founder-to-founder support, offering early-stage entrepreneurs both capital and hands-on guidance at a point where access to funding and mentorship can be limited.
The competition is open to UK residents aged 18 and over, with terms and conditions applying.
