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Black Woman Founders

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Meet The Black Women Entrepreneurs Who Will Be Opening Shop At JFK Airport

Several Black women-owned businesses are making their way to JFK airport. According to TRBusiness, six small, women-owned businesses based in New York will now have a new home at Terminal 8 (T8) due to a $125 million redevelopment program. They were selected through an accelerator program launched by Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URW) Airports. The chosen entrepreneurs were also offered adaptable deal structures and smaller storefront spaces to minimize entry hurdles and lower design expenses. “Helping local businesses access concessions opportunities at Terminal 8 is an asset for our passengers, who will enjoy products unique to New York that are made and sold by local artisans and vendors,” said Dominic Lowe, US chief operating officer of Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, per TRBusiness. “These six local women bring the energy and enthusiasm of a small business owner to Terminal 8 while offering one-of-a-kind products, which are made right here in New York.” Lowe added, “Working with the...

Dec 26, 2024

These Spelman College Graduates Are Scaling Their Detroit-Based Nail Bar, The TEN, Nationally

Spelman College graduates who were friends first and then founders seconds are taking their nail bar to new heights. Kelli M. Coleman and Anika J. Odegbo are the founders of The TEN, marketed as Detroit, MI’s first modern nail bar. The two shared a common goal of embarking on an entrepreneurial journey to build wealth, which they brought to life in 2016. “So, Anika and I are friends and Spelman sisters. We ultimately met when we found out that both of us intended to attend. We decided to room together, and the rest is history, as they say. Both Detroit natives, I grew up in Southfield, and Anika grew up in Detroit proper. We come from entrepreneurial families; we really understand the power of entrepreneurship to create generational wealth. It was always our respective goals to own businesses of our own in addition to carrying on our family’s entrepreneurial legacy. That’s sort of the origin of how we know each other, and that’s how The TEN came to be,” Coleman told the Michigan...

Dec 23, 2024

After Quitting A Teaching Job She Held For Over A Decade, Shaw-naé Dixon Opened An Iconic Soul Food Restaurant In Staten Island, NY

Shaw-naé Dixon is behind a popular soul food restaurant in Staten Island, NY. Dixon’s interest in cooking dates back to her time in the kitchen with her grandmother, her website reads. She would continue to nurture her skills at church and a local soup kitchen. “My grandmother was a dietician for over 40 years, and I know that my grandmother taught me a lot of different recipes when I was growing u p,” Dixon said during an interview with Bon Appétit . “ And it wasn’t necessarily about the recipes and the food, it was about the technique and making sure that I could feed a lot of people at one time. “ In her adult years, Dixon first pursued a career in education. For over a decade, she was a teacher. However, she was pushed into her true calling of becoming a restaurateur after spending time in a coma. “Following a very, I won’t say difficult time, but a pivotal time in my life when I was in a coma, when I woke up, I said, ‘ Chase your legacy and not the luxury.’ Opening up a...

Dec 19, 2024

Reality TV Star Lesa Milan Credits Beyoncé For Catapulting Her Fashion Maternity Company To Overnight Success

Lesa Milan, star of “The Real Housewives of Dubai,” credits Beyoncé as an inspiration for her fashion business success. In 2016, Milan launched her fashion brand Mina Roe, catering to pregnant women because she felt there was a lack of trendy maternity items on the market, notes WWD. “I love that Rihanna was out there with her bump, being sexy and bold because that’s what Mina Roe has always been about — celebrating your pregnancy rather than hiding it,” she told the outlet in 2022 . “You can still add that fashion twist and your own personal style to your bump. I think that’s the hole that we filled with Mina Roe.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by MINA ROE (@minaroe) Milan had ambitious goals for her brand from the start, launching it with the support of just one female employee. In an interview with radio station Hot 97, she shared how she initially reached out to entrepreneurs and celebrities, hoping they would wear Mina Roe. Ultimately, her breakthrough came through...

Dec 16, 2024

Entrepreneur Kim Roxie Joins The Revitalization Of Black Wall Street With The Opening Of A Storefront For Her Vegan Makeup Line

Kim Roxie has opened a vegan makeup store in the historic district famously known as Black Wall Street. Roxie began her entrepreneurial journey in 2004 when she opened a makeup storefront in her hometown of Houston, Texas. According to Fox 23, her mother supported the launch with a $500 investment . “She gave me $500 and I saved up the rest of the money,” Kim told the outlet. “My mom loved makeup, she loved sitting in front of the vanity getting herself together and my mom did not have an office job, she was getting herself together to work at the post office.” Although the shop closed its doors in 2018, Roxie’s journey in the cosmetics space was far from over. The closure marked not an end, but a pivot — a chance for her to realign her mission with deeper personal connections and greater purpose. She was driven by two profound health challenges that reshaped her outlook on beauty and wellness. The first was her own struggle with alopecia, an autoimmune condition that caused hair...

Dec 16, 2024

Meghan Markle Invests In Black Woman-Owned Hair Supplement Line — 'I Am So Proud To Invest In Her As A Friend And As A Female Founder'

Celebrity hair colorist Kadi Lee has secured an investment from Meghan Markle. Markle became acquainted with Lee through a recommendation from Serge Normant, the stylist behind her wedding hairstyle for her 2018 marriage to Prince Harry. According to People, Markle has worked with Lee for more than four years. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Highbrow Hippie (@highbrowhippie) Markle joins a star-studded client roster that includes Julia Roberts, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Brad Pitt, Lee’s bio mentions. Based in Los Angeles, CA, Lee operates out of her salon, Highbrow Hippie, and her work has been featured in renowned publications such as Vogue, Elle, and Vanity Fair, among others. Her career, which dates back to Frederic Fekkai in Manhattan, NY, where she received training under chemist and color director Constance Hartnett, now spans more than two decades, her LinkedIn notes. She also counts Normant as her greatest mentor. “I work with some of the most visible women in the...

Dec 13, 2024

Jasmine Crowe-Houston's Food Waste Startup Goodr Opens A New Grocery Store Providing Free Monthly Meals To 100 Families In Atlanta

Goodr has opened a new grocery store in Atlanta, GA. The Atlanta-based company, which combines technology and logistics to combat food waste and fight food insecurity, is the brainchild of Jasmine Crowe-Houston. “[Goodr] uses technology to solve hunger — that’s our big focus. I think we are taking a radically different approach to how this country solves hunger and food waste,” Crowe-Houston told AFROTECH™ in a 2021 interview. “A lot of times people say to me, ‘How is this a business? How can this be profitable?’ But, the main thing is people have to understand that billions of dollars get spent every year on food insecurity and trying to make sure people have access to food. But, it typically only goes to the same organizations.” She added, “And what we’re trying to do is come in and kind of disrupt that and say, ‘Listen, we’re getting a lot wrong about solving hunger if we’re always going to give money to the same people. We’re going to keep on having the same results.’ Give Goodr...

Dec 6, 2024

Charity Dean, President And CEO Of The Michigan Black Business Alliance, Opens Her Second Coffee Shop In Detroit

A new Detroit, MI, coffee shop has opened its doors. Crain’s Detroit Business reports Charity Dean, president and CEO of the Michigan Black Business Alliance, has launched Rosa Cafe + Market at 222 Third Ave. This isn’t Dean’s first venture either — she previously opened a Rosa Cafe, named after her great-grandmother, in 2022. “We just wanted to make sure we were open for the people,” Dean explained to the outlet. “There’s been a lot of excitement about the new cafe, so we wanted to get it open.” The new 800-square-foot storefront, which is currently being stewarded by five employees, is in a luxury residential property close to the Detroit River. The Cafe will be able to seat nearly a dozen customers at once inside while more can gather in its outdoor patio. Customers can expect to sip on various coffee items including an Ethiopian house roast coffee made by Faust Haus Roasting Co. Additionally, there will also be snacks and food options available for purchase. Dean is looking...

Dec 3, 2024

Erika Allen Is Behind Chicago's Green Era Campus, A Sustainable Model That Will Establish A Retail Store, Farming, Nursery, And More

Erika Allen is on a mission to create sustainable communities. Heart Posture For Serving Others Growing up, she had an epiphany that ignited her desire to serve the broader community. And it was her interest in the creative arts that eventually guided her toward a multi-faceted passion project in Chicago, IL. Between 1987 and 1992, Allen transitioned from her family farm to attend the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. During this time, she encountered structural racism and social demarcation that shaped her perspective and mission. “Was literally told during my orientation to not go south of Van Buren, which of course triggered a lot of questions as to why, and that was just sort of something that was shared with me and was indoctrinating me as a new student,” she told AFROTECH™. “And to come to find that south of Van Buren was the south side, primarily black community that I’m part of. That really fired me up, my heart posture around wanting to extend what was a privilege to...

Dec 2, 2024

Morehouse Graduate Opens A Bookstore To Empower A Georgia Community On Their Wellness Journey

A Morehouse School of Medicine graduate has opened a bookstore to uplift her surrounding community. According to a news release, Dr. Viola Lanier, who boasts a Master of Science in biomedical research and a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences, has launched Better Today Books & Boutique, located at 2300 Shallowford Rd., Ste. 8, Marietta, GA 30066. In a video shared on the bookstore’s Instagram page, Lanier recounts her journey to owning the storefront. It began after a spa visit, when she noticed a “For Lease” sign on the door of the location while heading home. Intrigued, she reached out to the landlord to arrange a tour. “Wasn’t too impressed about the condition, but I said, ‘You know what? This is a place.’ But I figured I could make it work, even though I was skeptical about a lot. I got it. Anyway, so we’re putting a check mark on these dreams. Y’all stick with me as you renovate,” she explained in the video. Seeing the potential, Lanier’s interest put her on the path to establishing...

Nov 28, 2024

1863 Ventures, Founded By Dynamic Investor Melissa Bradley, Closes Its Doors As She Gears Up For A New Chapter

Melissa Bradley is turning a new leaf! Since 2016, Bradley, who was featured as an AFROTECH™ Future 50 Dynamic Investor, has been the proud founder of Washington, DC-based 1863 Ventures, which provides business development programs, coaching, mentorship, and access to capital primarily for new entrepreneurs, as noted on her LinkedIn profile. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, the venture aims to create $100 billion in wealth for the “New Majority,” Black and brown entrepreneurs. This goal is reflected in its portfolio, which comprises 90% Black-owned businesses, including the following: Nubian Heumann Eu’Genia Shea Harlem Candle Co. The Black Girl Doctor Now, eight years into 1863 Ventures’ inception, the Washington Business Journal has reported that the organization’s board voted to close down 1863’s nonprofit arm, which focused on early-stage companies. Currently, Bradley is on the hunt for a partner who can take on ownership of its portfolio companies, which have benefited from an...

Nov 27, 2024

Howard University College Of Dentistry Alum To Open Charlotte-Based Dental Practice, Aims To Provide Job Opportunities To Black Dental Assistants

Somtochukwu “Somie” Agunwah wants to empower the next generation of dental students. QCity Metro reports that Agunwah, who moved from Lagos, Nigeria, to Charlotte, NC, in 2003, initially pursued a career in nursing. She earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of North Carolina, Charlotte and worked as a critical care nurse in Washington, DC, at Howard University Hospital. However, she soon realized that nursing was not the career path she wanted to continue. “I didn’t like the lifestyle of the medical doctors that I was interacting with,” Agunwah told the outlet, referencing the lack of work-life balance and long hours. Agunwah discovered her true calling while working under a Maryland dentist. She pivoted to attend Howard University College of Dentistry, later completing a pediatric residency in Brooklyn, NY. Reflecting on her mission, she decided to focus her efforts on prioritizing children. “They are still teachable,” Agunwah explained, according to QCity...

Nov 26, 2024

Queen Latifah, QuickBooks Award $10K To Black Woman-Owned Soul Food Restaurant In Newark, NJ

Queen Latifah is helping a Black woman-owned soul food restaurant receive a well-deserved blessing. During a taping of “Street You Grew Up On,” hosted by actress Kerry Washington, it was revealed that Latifah selected Newark, NJ-based Vonda’s Kitchen to receive a $10,000 financial award. The investment is made possible through a partnership between fintech platform Intuit QuickBooks and Washington, aimed at fostering discussions around entrepreneurship, community, and mentorship. As part of the initiative, featured guests are given the opportunity to select a small business to receive funding, according to information shared with AFROTECH™. As a Newark native, the selection was full circle and Latifah emphasized its importance, believing the funds would be well-used under the leadership of owner Vonda McPherson. According to the company website, McPherson transitioned into entrepreneurship after a corporate career with Fortune 500 companies, opening her first restaurant in 1988....

Nov 20, 2024

AFROTECH™ 2024 — Hannah Bronfman Went From DJ To Angel Investor Of Over 70 Companies, Now She Looks To Start Her Own Fund

After co-creating the beauty app Beautified, Hannah Bronfman recognized the importance of investing in startups, which are often the last to receive funding or the resources needed to scale. Today, she takes pride in her work as an angel investor, helping to advise and raise venture capital for budding businesses. As a former DJ, content creator, and now trusted angel investor, Bronfman’s desire to help companies achieve their goals by putting investments behind them began when she joined Annie Evans and Peter Hananel as a co-founder of Beautified. This app allows users to book beauty services, including haircuts, manicures, facials, massages, and more, with various salons and spas offered on the platform. Since the inception of Beautifed in 2013, Bronfman has also become an expert in marketing. She’s advised companies on building a strategic online presence well before the rise of today’s influencer-driven marketing landscape. In 2017, she became an investor. “I started actually to...

Nov 19, 2024

The Late Ira Salls Joined McDonald’s As An Accountant and Later Made History As Its First Black-Woman Franchisee In Kentucky And Indiana

Ira Salls is an inspiration for her history-making role as a McDonald’s franchisee. Salls, a Cincinnati, OH, native, graduated from Northern Illinois University and later earned both an MBA and a master’s degree in public administration from Northwestern University. She secured her franchise title in 1991, as she explained during an interview with WHAS 11 in 2021. Before becoming an owner and operator, she first worked at the fast-food chain as an accountant. “I was hired by McDonald’s because I already had a degree and (was) a CPA. McDonald’s was forward thinking, and they wanted Black CPAs working in their accounting department,” she recalled to the outlet. Salls’ pivot to owning her own McDonald’s locations led her to become the first Black woman franchisee of the chain in Kentucky and Indiana in 1991, the Louisville Business Journal reports. She would go on to become one of the company’s most successful operators, managing six locations in Louisville, KY. She also understood the...

Nov 14, 2024