Vanessa Mhlom

What does your company do?

Pleroma is South Africa’s first vitamin patch brand - a pioneering health and wellness company that is redefining how people take care of their bodies, naturally and effortlessly. The name Pleroma is derived from the Greek word meaning “fullness” - the state of being whole, complete, and overflowing with vitality. That’s the essence of what we offer: products that empower people to live in the fullness of life, every single day. We design and produce transdermal wellness patches that deliver targeted support through the skin using clean, science-backed ingredients. Our initial range includes three flagship products: 1. The Recovery Patch, which supports rehydration and replenishment after a long night 2. The Sleep Patch, which promotes deeper, uninterrupted rest 3. The Period Patch, which provides gentle, plant-based relief during menstruation All our patches are vegan, paraben-free, water-resistant, cruelty-free, latex-free, and designed to be safe for sensitive skin. They activate within minutes and work for hours, making wellness effortless and accessible for modern, busy lives. Pleroma is not just a product - it’s a promise: to innovate where wellness has been stagnant, to create with purpose and precision, and to serve a generation that is looking for simpler, smarter, and more intuitive ways to feel their best. We’re not here to follow trends. We’re here to set new standards.

What is your biggest success?

Our biggest success has been bringing South Africa’s first vitamin patch brand to life - from vision to reality - in under a year, while staying entirely self-funded, black-woman-led, and purpose-driven. Launching Pleroma was more than releasing a product; it was breaking into a market that had never seen this kind of innovation before and earning immediate recognition from wellness experts, influencers, and everyday consumers alike. We built a brand rooted in science and simplicity - and people responded. Within weeks of launch, we had orders from across the country, features from respected platforms like Women's health mag, and customers writing in to say, “This changed my life.” In a country where women’s wellness is underrepresented and often underserved, building something bold, credible, and loved - from scratch - has been our greatest triumph. It’s proof that when purpose meets excellence, there is no limit.

What has been your biggest hurdle?

My biggest hurdle has been building something that has never been done before - with no blueprint, no investors, and no safety net. Launching South Africa’s first vitamin patch brand meant entering a market that didn’t yet exist. I had to educate consumers, build trust from the ground up, and fight to be taken seriously as a young, Black woman introducing a new wellness category. Behind the scenes, I wore every hat: founder, formulator, marketer, and logistics manager - often working through the night while completing my Master’s at New York University. There were moments I felt overwhelmed, out of depth, and invisible. But I kept going. Because I knew this wasn’t just about patches - it was about proving that bold, African-born innovation belongs on the global wellness stage. Every obstacle became part of the foundation that makes Pleroma what it is today: unstoppable.