Kreyòl Essence

Kreyol Essence makes natural hair and skin products built around Haitian black castor oil, a traditional ingredient pressed and roasted in Haiti. The company was co-founded by Yve-Car Momperousse and Stephane Jean-Baptiste. Momperousse started the venture after a personal hair-loss scare led her back to a remedy from her Haitian heritage, and she paired the beauty mission with a goal of creating jobs for women and farmers in Haiti.

On their Season 11 pitch the founders asked for 400,000 dollars for 10 percent and emphasized both the product line and the social impact behind it. The conversation with Kevin O'Leary grew tense, and Momperousse pushed back firmly during the negotiation. O'Leary's final structure included a per-unit royalty in perpetuity alongside an equity stake, which became the sticking point for the founders.

The segment is remembered for Momperousse standing her ground against Mr. Wonderful and for the clear sense of purpose behind the brand. Kreyol Essence was not just selling castor oil, it was selling a supply chain that paid Haitian women and farmers. That combination of a heritage ingredient and a visible social mission made the pitch memorable beyond the deal numbers.

The founders ultimately decided not to move forward with the perpetual-royalty arrangement after taping, but the show still raised the brand's profile considerably. Kreyol Essence reported strong revenue growth in the years after airing and expanded its retail footprint, landing placement in major national beauty and grocery chains.

As of 2026 Kreyol Essence is still operating and continues to sell its Haitian black castor oil products through its own site and retail partners that have included Ulta Beauty and other national stores. The company has maintained its mission of sourcing from Haiti and supporting jobs for women and farmers there.