);

Month: May 2021

REDEFINING LUXURY THROUGH AFRICAN FASHION DESIGNERS

Posted on by foundersunfound

Listen in from your favorite podcast spots or read the full transcript here.

OUR SPONSORS FOR THIS EPISODE:
The Plug

Delivering clear analysis and powerful insights on what’s shaping the Black innovation economy.
Get your annual subscription to The Plug at tpinsights.com

BRINGING THE STYLE, CULTURE, AND
STORIES OF AFRICA’S DESIGNERS
TO THE REST OF THE WORLD

 

Amira Rasool is the Founder and CEO of The Folklore, an omnichannel platform that is bringing luxury and emerging designer brands from Africa online for the first time.

Amira has that fearlessness that just draws you in. She says it got her in trouble when she was younger, but we’re betting it will help her succeed as a founder. She and The Folklore have been featured everywhere from Forbes and Fast Company, to Vogue and Essence. Amira has just recently completed the Techstars program here in Seattle. Dan sat down with her to talk about The Folklore and how she sees it as so much more than a fashion brand.

Amira and The Folklore have a terrific story.

Make sure to listen in.

 

“…the currency that black people have…that cultural currency is valuable itself.”
~ Amira Rasool

In this episode Stephen and Dan discussed:

  • growing up in an Oregon suburb
  • how a chance elective sent his life on a new path
  • working with his brother as co-founders
  • why a developer’s non-coding background matters

 

 

“ Scared money don’t make none.”
~ Amira Rasool

MORE on amIRA and THE FOLKLORE

Amira:

instagram.com/amirarasool
twitter.com/amirarasool
linkedin.com/in/amira-rasool-52359855

The Folklore:

instagram.com/TheFolklore
twitter.com/TheFolklore
linkedin.com/company/the-folklore

 

 

“Tell yourself in the mirror, like ain’t nobody doing this better than me, and then go make sure that that’s true.”
~ Amira Rasool

 

FIRST STOP – CODING BOOTCAMP, NEXT STOP – GREAT CAREER

Posted on by foundersunfound

Listen in from your favorite podcast spots or read the full transcript here.

 

OUR SPONSORS FOR THIS EPISODE:
Trajectory: Startup – Ideation to Product/Market Fit
A brand new book by entrepreneur and investor Dave Parker.

This hot-off-the-presses publication is THE playbook for those at the earliest stages of the startup journey. Or even if you are just contemplating the jump to entrepreneurship.

To get this great resource, go to dkparker.com or find anywhere you buy books.

 

EMpowering coding school

grads for success

 

Stephen Ajayi is the Co-Founder and CEO of YearOne, a company that helps individuals coming out of code schools, land incredible jobs. But getting jobs for Bootcamp grads is not all they do. YearOne also supports new employees through their early careers within technology companies – setting them up for long-term success as well.

Stephen knows the journey of the YearOne community, intimately. He moved away from a pre-med track in college to pursue programming, all from the chance selection of taking an elective course in computer science. He went on to dive headfirst in a coding school and ultimately emerged as a Sales VP for a Silicon Valley startup. So, he’s seen from both sides the challenges and friction in the hiring process. And YearOne is particularly focused on coders coming from less traditional backgrounds. And to him, those backgrounds are a major strength. YearOne has a great journey – through the Portland tech ecosystem, to Techstars, and now with backing from great investors like Zeal Capital Partners and Black Founders Matter.

Stephen and YearOne have a terrific story.

Make sure to listen in.

 

“As a black founder just be yourself, you want people to accept you for who you are.”
~ Stephen Ajayi

 

In this episode Stephen and Dan discussed:

  • growing up in an Oregon suburb
  • how a chance elective sent his life on a new path
  • working with his brother as co-founders
  • why a developer’s non-coding background matters

 

 

“My mom would always said, I want you to get a job where they have healthcare and air conditioning.”
~ Stephen Ajayi

MORE on Stephen and yearone

Stephen:

linkedin.com/in/stephenkajayi
twitter.com/stephenkajayi

YearOne:

joinyearone.io
linkedin.com/company/yearonecareers/about/
twitter.com/YearOnecareers

 

 

“70% of our candidates so far have been women or people of color”
~ Stephen Ajayi