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News & Inspiration For and About Black-Owned Businesses |
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Danielle Johnson, founder and CEO of The Platinum Gallery, a Black-owned publishing and consulting company she founded in 2012, is excited to announce her upcoming CEO camp. The camp is designed to provide valuable resources and tools for entrepreneurs looking to take their businesses to the next level. It will be held from April 21-24, 2023.
Dr. D’Wayne Edwards, a legendary footwear designer, has been designing shoes for almost 40 years, and now he is making history as the founder and CEO of JEMS, the country's first ever Black-owned footwear and shoe factory. Edwards is also the President of Pensole Lewis College of Business & Design (PLC), a Detroit, Michigan-based HBCU formally known as Lewis College of Business.
Meet DeMario and Dawn Nicole McIlwain, the founders of South Carolina-based Skilldora Inc., a Black-owned AI EdTech and eLearning platform that is the first online academy to receive global accreditation to have their online courses taught by AI Avatar Instructors. They have been accredited by CPD Standards Office, a world-leading CPD Accreditation Body located in Staines, England.
Ehime Eigbe and her husband, Michael, the founders of a Black-owned frozen greek yogurt brand called Sweetkiwi, have successfully secured a deal for $250,000 on Shark Tank. The idea was inspired by the healthy dessert alternatives that Ehime discovered when she was battling uterine fibroids.
Meet Charles and Ashley Young, a married couple who are the co-founders of a virtual bridal company called Bridal Babes that designs bridesmaids' dresses that are body-flattering catered for curvy Black women. After appearing on Shark Tank and securing a $250,000 deal, their Maryland-based company has become one of the fastest-growing brands in the wedding industry.
Diamond Spikes, founder and CEO of DS Creative Design Studio, an award-winning Black woman-owned branding studio, has announced an amazing partnership with Amazon's Buy with Prime program. The partnership brings comprehensive branding workshops to Black-owned businesses, helping them to take actionable steps to grow and improve their overall brands.
Kemah Duopu, Founder and CEO at Harmon Polish, is celebrating having won $5,000 at the Heaven Center Pitch Competition at Awakening Trade & Conference held in Plano, Texas. The Awakening Africa Hub, a one-stop-shop resource for helping today’s entrepreneurs build tomorrow.
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| Top Black Business Conferences, Workshops, and Seminars: |
Every year, many Black business conferences are held across the country that specifically cater to established or aspiring African American business owners, professionals, authors, bloggers, and more. Literally thousands of people travel to network and do business at such events. These events are usually held in cities like Atlanta, Chicago, and New York, and typically include extensive training workshops, powerful speeches, power networking sessions, grand hall expos, and more. [Find an event to attend...]
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| Top Black and Minority Business Grants and Funding Opportunities: |
From time to time, there are Black and minority business grants available to help African American and other minority entrepreneurs. Sometimes, they grants are offered by major companies, non-profit organizations, and even government agencies. Admittedly, such opportunities can be very difficult to find as many have been discontinued. Others in the past were offered as one or two year programs and did not renew. Despite this, such opportunities are real and are more often offered through local programs compared to national. [Get funded...]
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| Top Black and Minority Business Organizations: |
There are many non-profit Black and Minority business organizations that aim to be of assistance to African American business owners. They are very helpful resources that offer valuable assets including grants, seminars, literature, consulting, and professional networking opportunities. There are also several government agencies that aim to assist minority business owners, including Hispanics, Asians, Native Americans, and even women of all ethnic backgrounds. [Find the right organization for you...]
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| Top Black Business Magazines, Publications and Blogs: |
Believe it or not, there are hundreds of Black business magazines - that is, business-focused magazines that target African American readers. There are also many publications that are focused on professional career development. Some are local, some are national, and some are even international. Many are even available as digital publications via your laptop, tablet or smartphone. There are also many blogs that can be very helpful and resourceful to both aspiring and established Black business owners. [Find a publication that meets your needs...]
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| Interesting Facts & Statistics About Black-Owned Businesses: |
Black-owned businesses accounted for about 28% percent of all businesses in Washington, DC, the highest ratio in the nation. Second, was the state of Georgia, where 20% of businesses were Black-owned, and the state of Maryland, with about 19% in Illinois. The state of New York, however, has the most Black-owned firms at 204,093 but this only accounts for 10.6% of the businesses in the state. Second is the state of Georgia, third is the state of Florida, and fourth is the state of Texas with the most Black-owned businesses but not necessarily the highest ratios. [Learn more...]
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