Honey Corn’s Next Chapter: The BEO x Sky Future 100 Journey
Building Honey Corn has meant wearing many hats: creating products, preparing orders, meeting customers and finding the right opportunities to grow. As a solo founder, I’m deeply invested in every part of the business. Having people offer their knowledge, encouragement and belief along the way means so much.
Being part of Cohort 5 of the Black Equity Organisation (BEO) x Sky Future 100 Growth Fund has been an experience I’m truly grateful for.
Learning alongside fellow founders
Through workshops, mentoring and conversations with other entrepreneurs, the programme gave me space to step back from the daily demands of running Honey Corn and think carefully about its future.
The expertise and insights shared throughout have been invaluable. So has meeting founders who understand the commitment involved in building a business. We each brought different experiences, but shared the ambition to turn our ideas into sustainable, growing companies.
For Honey Corn, my focus has been on building the right foundations for international growth while staying close to what makes the brand distinctive: considered skincare and fragrance, made in England.
A proud moment at Sky HQ
On 13 October, I joined my fellow founders at Sky HQ for Demo Day, presenting Honey Corn’s progress and plans for the next stage.
It was a proud moment to reflect on how far the business has come and share the opportunities ahead. There is so much work behind a presentation like this, much of it happening quietly between the everyday responsibilities of running a brand.
Thank you to the BEO and Sky teams, our mentors and everyone who shared their expertise. Your support has helped me approach Honey Corn’s next chapter with greater clarity and confidence.
Why this support matters
BEO describes Future 100 as part of its £1 million partnership with Sky, supporting Black entrepreneurs to grow their businesses through mentoring, practical business support and opportunities to access equity-free funding.
For me, the value has also been personal: having a place to ask questions, challenge my thinking and learn from people with different perspectives.
Access to that support can make a meaningful difference when you’re building a business independently.
Looking ahead to China
Honey Corn already has a retail presence with Matro Group in Suzhou. My next step is to build on that foundation and explore relationships with partners who understand our approach to skincare and fragrance.
In November, I’ll be visiting Shanghai and Suzhou through the China-Britain Business Council’s Trade Booster Programme. The visit will include attending the China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai, alongside Honey Corn’s presence at the UK-China Business Hub in Suzhou.
I’m looking forward to meeting existing contacts in person, making new connections and introducing more people to our collection—from the Elemi & Frankincense facial serum to our perfume oils.
Developing a presence in a new market takes patience, preparation and the right relationships. This visit is an opportunity to listen, learn and take the next practical steps.
Thank you for being part of the journey
To everyone who has bought a product, visited a Honey Corn pop-up, made an introduction or offered encouragement: thank you. Each connection has played a part in bringing the business to this point.
I’m proud to have been part of F100 Cohort 5 and excited to put what I’ve learnt into practice.
I look forward to sharing the next chapter with you.
Ayesha Ibrahim
Founder, Honey Corn
HONEY CORN London | England