Empowering Children Worldwide, One Step At A Time
Welcome back to another issue of Head’s Up! Today’s feature is with OURA’s co-founders (and brothers!) Shaun and Keane Veran who share their start as a social enterprise that is committed to empower children worldwide and why taking the right measures to protect yourself in a pandemic is imminent.
We also have a couple of announcements before you move on to the interview! Head’s Up is working closely with Startups, SMEs and Social Enterprises all over the country to promote their businesses in the midst of the challenges faced during this pandemic.
So be sure to read till the end and show some love! Till our next issue, stay safe and stay healthy!
Forums and Webinars
Social innovation: Promoting Local Economy And Enhancing Quality Of Life
In this latest instalment of Austral Media’s Rainforum, our expert panelists and host will explore how digitalisation is changing the game for social entrepreneurs. . The virtual event consists of a network of movers and shakers of the social impact ecosystem where you can be part of.
Join us on Thursday | 24 June 2021 | 3pm - 4pm. RSVP today at https://lnkd.in/ggmdpWJ .
Social Media Management For Startups
Join us in the upcoming Shell Malaysia LiveWIRE Webinar session as Reshmi Haran, Influence & Public Relations Manager at Ogilvy Malaysia, shares her ideas and insights on social media content strategy and management for startups.
The webinar session will be hosted by Azuar Zainuddin, CEO of Satu Creative.
Details as follow:
Topic: Shell Malaysia LiveWIRE Webinar: Social Media Management for Startups
Date & Time: Saturday, 26 June 2021, 10.00am -11.00am
Registration Link: Click here
Empowering Children Worldwide, One Step At A Time
Stemming from his own experience of battling Leukemia at the young age of 10, Keane Veran wanted to turn his journey with the battle into helping others who were going through a similar ordeal.
His once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of meeting President Obama through Make-A-Wish had strengthened his commitment to help other patients through the foundation.
And so he started OURAGAMI, together with his brother, Shaun Veran. OURAGAMI or better known as OURA is a social enterprise based in the US that specialises in creating a range of reusable, self-sanitizing face masks.
“Meeting President Obama and my experience with philanthropy organisations in the US really helped me get through my fight with Leukemia and it was also a pivoting point for me to win the fight. I wanted to create a similar experience for kids everywhere through OURA,” Keane says.
Staying true to its social aims, OURA is working together with Make-A-Wish and Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times in empowering children with cancer. . According to Keane, for every 1000 hats that are sold, the social enterprise grants a wish through Make-A-Wish to uplift a patient in the US.
OURA also funds the programme at the Camp through the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southern California.
After their welcoming debut in the US, both co-founders wanted to expand their reach to the Southeast Asia market. Having recently launched their products in both Malaysia and Singapore, Keane says the reception has been as welcoming as the one they have had back home in the US.
“The reception was better than what we could have expected and the outpour of support our customers had for us has been a welcoming gesture for our debut here,” he says.
OURA is also working together with Make-A-Wish Malaysia and is in the process of granting wishes to a number of children through the organisation. The social enterprise hopes to announce a series of projects and marketing pushes in the next couple of weeks.
Committed to ensuring proper safety to consumers, every purchase goes into helping OURA to give back to a young child in granting their wish
Ensuring the highest form of safety
“We are really focused on creating high quality products and we focus on the scientific aspect when it comes to testing and making sure our masks have no valves in them. It’s a matter of life and death so it’s important that we focus on creating high quality masks for the best protection,’ says Co-Founder, Shaun.
The OURA’s Active Mask is built to deliver comfort, maximum protection and extreme breathability during high-intensity workouts making it ideal for those who live an active lifestyle. With combined advanced technology and detailed craftsmanship, the self-sterilising and deodorising mask is made from ultra-lightweight fabric that is designed to pull sweat and moisture away from the face.
“Consumers can enjoy hassle-free workouts with the Active Mask’s air diffuser that prevents air from blowing into the eyes when exhaling,” Shaun says.
Another product from their notable range is the Air Mask 2.0, built to provide a higher level of protection compared to regular masks. Made from featherweight fabrics which filter particles, kill germs and are 30% lighter than other standard textiles, the Air Mask 2.0 ensures all-day comfort and ultra-breathability.
“Our masks are constructed from three layers of tightly woven, medical-grade fabric permanently embedded with antimicrobial silver oxide and titanium dioxide. Most masks are antimicrobial coatings which wash off after just a few uses.
“Instead of these coatings, OURA infuses the compounds directly into every fiber so they kill pathogens, inactivate viral particles, break down odors and most importantly sterilize the mask even after being washed over and over again,” Shaun tells Head’s Up.
Both the Active Mask and Air Mask 2.0 come with a replaceable, NIOSH-approved N95 filter for powerful safeguard against pathogens.
OURA’s masks also come available in different sizes suitable for all face shapes, and the Active and Air Masks come with an adjustable nose clip for a personalized seal as well as travel pouch.
Additionally, the masks are also made to prevent the spread of acne along with making it easy for users to breath easily.
OURA also specialises in other ranges of products that include headwear, skincare and kitchen products.
Challenges and Future Prospects
“All of our products are made here in America, increasing the cost and pricing, which has proven to be a struggle to keep it balanced. The high price point also leads to difficulty in acquiring new customers.
“But as we are focused on keeping our consumers safe and with the rigorous testing that goes through testing our products, we ensure that our messaging together with the social causes we are dedicated to helps to convince new clients,” Shaun says.
Having made their debut in Malaysia and Singapore, both co-founders are looking to expand to more markets in the region, with neighbouring countries being the next on their list. “We are eyeing other countries but those would be announced in our Q3 and Q4 plans,” he says.
“This is a time that people need to stay safe and we believe that they need to take all these measures more seriously.”
OURAGAMI Asia is having 40% off throughout the MCO 3.0 period (until 28h June) for all first purchases with a promo code STAYSAFE upon checkout
Business Shoutout
As businesses struggle to cope with the pandemic and movement restrictions that are being imposed nationwide, you can play an important role in supporting your fellow Malaysians! In every issue, we will feature businesses from different industries that could use your help.
Here are a couple of businesses & initiatives you can support!
Coconut Waste Intensive Program
Frazer Mark through his company MF Borneo Agronizuw in Kudat helps B40 community and jobless graduates to get income opportunity, saving the environment by producing products from the cocowaste and empower them with knowledge and skills of the industry.
He only has 5 days to achieve his target of RM25,000. Now he has managed to crowdfund RM14,352. Every ringgit counts and if you have extra please do support and if you don't, feel free to share this around. This amount will help them with workshop expansion and buying more tools & equipment for making coconut craft.
Click on the link here to donate
Benak Raya Sarawak
Benak Raya Sarawak is helping communities in Sarawak to commercialize fragrant black rice. The May harvest has no preservatives or added colorings and is 100% authentic!
To purchase, contact Imelda at 010 966 6482
Finory
Managing credit cards has never been this easy! Finory helps you to manage all your credit cards in one place by just forwarding your monthly card statement into a designated email. For more information, click here
Mount Kinabalu Coffee 
Mount Kinabalu Coffee is a social enterprise that specialises in producing premium aromatic Coffee Arabica traditionally roasted by their artisans. The social enterprise provides locally grown High-Quality Arabica Coffee while empowering the Local Community!
For more information, click here
Whether it’s a feedback or if you would like to pitch your story to Head’s Up, get in touch with us via headsupnewsletter@gmail.com