Ymani & Imani decided to open their business in the summer of 2020, out of a passion for scents and love of perfume oils. They sell perfume oils, car fresheners, and are branching into other fragrance products as well. Their business is unique in that they have branded as a "bar" with high shelf and low shelf fragrances, all named after drinks, and they call themselves the bartenders. They believe deeply that when you smell good, you feel good!
Del is a woman of many talents, and her business is a combination of her music, voiceover, and comedy work and downloadable content, which she decided to really focus on during the pandemic. Her music is inspirational and her approach to vocal work is fresh, friendly, and represents authentic Black and urban voices. She hopes to continue growing her following and scale the business.
Kimyada owns two businesses in the event industry, and is looking for assistance with her photography/videography business. She provides her photo booth experience for weddings, birthdays, and corporate/private events. She is hoping to bring more brand awareness to her brand and find loyal customers/companies to have increasingly consistent sales.
Santiago is a Mexican-born entrepreneur who operates a flower/gift shop with his family in California. Since 2015, Santiago and his family have been committed to providing their community with quality fresh flowers and exceptional customer services. Their mission has always been to serve as the go-to source for all of their clients’ floral needs and related services. Santiago is committed to providing beautiful flowers all year long to his community. (Please note: This entrepreneur prefers to communicate in Spanish.)
Will and Amanda are passionate about providing high quality small group and personal fitness services and coaching at an affordable price. They really get to know their clients and support them in their fitness journey, focusing on strength and accomplishments rather than weight loss. They opened their physical location in 2016, but went virtual during the pandemic. They are hoping to expand their clientele to the younger generation - kids and teenagers.
Tayleur produces events, experiences, programming, and productions for Black creatives and the Black community at large. Their signature event is an open mic for an array of Black art and ethereal communion. She prides herself in creating one-of-a-kind moments, events, performances, and she also collaborates with and plans events for community organizations. It’s her goal to curate spaces that support Black creators making careers from their art and to curate incredible spaces that inspire and make people happy, and would love to bring her business and experiences national.
Hannah is the owner of an ice cream sandwich business in the Seattle area. She sells her products in local farmers markets and has met success with a few loyal customers, but struggles to make sales in the colder months. Hannah hopes to hire seasonal assistance so she may sell in additional markets and improve sales.
Kenya sells all-natural, handcrafted skincare products such as body butters, balms, and soaps. After 10+ years of creating her body products and gifting them to friends and family, Kenya took the plunge to launch her own business. With experience working in the beauty industry, Kenya saw a gap in the market for products that work well for African American women. Inspired by brands like Fenty Beauty, Kenya hopes to grow her brand with the eventual goal of selling them in large beauty retailers like Ulta and Sephora.
Vanda is a Harlem born resident and is passionate about educating and empowering her community on the most powerful ways to prepare and save for their future, create legacy and plan for a tax free retirement. Her personal coaching, consultations and workshops are designed to inform people around strategies for developing financial acclivity, wellness and peace of mind. In the coming year she hopes to continue growing her business and providing valuable guidance to help her community build generational wealth.
Carine comes from a longstanding family tradition of providing doula services, and ultimately decided to launch her own business providing birthing services, as well as postpartum and lactation support. She meets families where they are, and provides guidance through the most challenging parts of the learning curve, offering overnight support and customized birthing plans which take into account cultural needs as well.