True Body Products Staying True to Its Roots

RICHMOND, Vt.True Body Products, maker of all-natural soap, Janice Shade, founder and owner, just closed a round of angel/venture capital investment, is adding employees and was recently featured in a New York Times blogwhile trying to keep the company green, local and true to her mission.

A recent investment by the Vermont Seed Capital Fund helped close the investment deal, which is launching True into the next phase of product development, marketing and sales. While Massachusetts-based Launch Capital, lead investor, brought institutional backing to True early on, potential investors were also looking for a home-state endorsement.

The Vermont seed money came at a critical point," said Shade.  In addition to providing capital, it gave True the credibility we needed to secure commitments from other individual angel investors and close the round." The Vermont Seed Capital Fund is managed by the Vermont Center for Emerging Technology (VCET).

Our belief is True is at an inflection point in its business potential, and the Fund was pleased to participate in a venture round led by Bostons Launch Capital," said David Bradbury, president of VCET.   As consumers realize that traditional specialty and grocery store soapseven the so-called healthy onescarry toxins, animal fats and petrochemicals, the demand for truly green products will accelerate dramatically."

True currently manufactures a bar body soap, and is working with both Autumn Harp and Twincraft to develop additional personal care products. For our first production run, I was actually on the line helping spot check the bars of soap and working with the Twincraft team," said Shade.  Its incredibleand somewhat unique these days to have that kind of personal relationship with your manufacturer."