The Unstoppable Journey of Green Bean Studios: A Founder's Story

Two Years of Investment Rejection, but Still Making Mass Impact 

Despite nearly two years of investment rejection, how do you continue to push forward when your product is making a significant social impact, changing children's lives, and consistently supporting a space in the headlines as having an alarming decline, struggling and at a crisis point?

In this podcast, Anita Frost, the multi-award-winning author, entrepreneur and founder of Green Bean Studios, shares her journey as a Black female entrepreneur. She discusses the challenges of securing investment in a climate where funding for female founders, especially women of colour, remains disproportionately low and has not changed for over two decades.

Hear how Anita Frost persevered, ignoring the constant "no's" to secure investment in her brand. Learn about the key backers who supported Green Bean Studios to unlock its potential, expand its network, and reach more young children, helping them to play, learn, and go on adventures with their famous friend, Green Bean.

Crucially, discover how the Salford Innovation Sustainability Centre at Salford University—alongside supporters like KPMG and Innovate UK—has provided pivotal backing to help this brand and its founder continue to grow.

Anita's journey as an entrepreneur has been anything but smooth sailing. Her gender, ethnicity, and chosen industry have all thrown up unique barriers to success.

But through these challenges, Anita has built a level of resilience that has put her in great stead to drive Green Bean into its next growth stage through the acquisition of new markets.

​00:00 Introduction to the Help to Grow Management podcast
00:19 Anita Frost on building Green Bean
01:17 How the Green Bean idea started
03:46 Creativity, disruption, and entrepreneurial roots
05:41 Creating a purpose-led children’s brand
06:50 The importance of play in a digital world
08:44 Anita Frost on dyslexia as a business strength
11:37 What Green Bean is and how it helps children learn
14:05 Building an IP ecosystem: books, toys, animation, and tech
15:43 Leadership lessons from growing a hybrid team
21:07 Funding Green Bean through partnerships and innovation grants
28:57 Why Anita joined Help to Grow: Management Course
31:32 Clarifying brand messaging, vision, and values
35:47 Green Bean’s impact on speech, reading, and confidence
40:28 Partnerships, scale and future growth
42:21 Taking Green Bean into the US market
43:47 Family influence, purpose, and long-term legacy
​44:59 Anita’s advice for Help to Grow founders

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