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Tag: #blackfounders

FRONT ROW AND BACKSTAGE – ENJOYED FROM YOUR COUCH AT HOME

Posted on by foundersunfound

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

OUR SPONSORS FOR THIS EPISODE:
Aperture Venture Capital
VC for the Multicultural MainstreamTM
Aperture is the new $75M fund that wants to amplify the voices of diverse founders
Share your story at aperturevc.com/founders

IS IT FINALLY TIME FOR VR?
Raxplay thinks so

 

Isaac Lymon is Co-Founder and CEO of Raxplay, a company that enables music artists to perform live real/time concerts via virtual reality. Raxplay puts fans in the front row, VIP, and backstage – all in the comfort of their homes.

Isaac was born and raised in Detroit. At an early stage, he felt called to music. But after a taste of the grind artists endure, Isaac gravitated to what made the music happen behind the scenes. It was then that he really came to appreciate the power that technology could have on the industry. And like many famous tech entrepreneurs before him, he made the tough call to pursue his startup dream instead of focusing on college. A hustled-for internship, a hack-a-thon, and a call from Google Startups followed, changing everything. And so Raxplay was off and running.

Isaac has a great story, you’ll want to listen in.

 

“Stay humble, stay hungry, stay focused…”
~ Isaac Lymon

In this episode Isaac and Dan discussed:

  • growing up in a Detroit suburb
  • how he relentlessly pursued an internship in music
  • perspectives on raising money in the LA ecosystem
  • his thoughts on the future of VR

 

 

“ I got into that accelerator, that’s actually when I met my co-founder…
and instantly we just clicked”
~ Isaac Lymon

MORE on Isaac and raxplay

Isaac:
linkedin.com/in/isaac-lymon-24ab9515a/
twitter.com/Isaaclymon
instagram.com/isaaccorey___/

Raxplay:
raxplay.com
linkedin.com/company/raxplay
twitter.com/raxplayxr
instagram.com/raxplayxr

 

“I’m really big on the whole idea of  increasing artists’ earning power. ”
~ Isaac Lymon

 

EMPOWERING CONTRACTORS WITH BETTER COST-TRACKING

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

OUR SPONSORS FOR THIS EPISODE:
AfriBlocks

The global pan-African freelance marketplace and collaboration platform.
Tell them “Dan sent you” for 10% off your first order. More at afriblocks.com

A MOBILE APP MEANS NO MORE BAD HANDWRITING AND SMUDGED OUT records

 

Khalid David is Founder and CEO of TracFlo, a company with a predictive financial management platform that is empowering America’s contractors.

Originally from the Bronx, Khalid was born into a family of tradesmen with a deep connection to his Afro-Caribbean roots. So it’s no surprise that, even with education from Morehouse, Columbia, and MIT, Khalid ended up in the construction industry. And it was those experiences that opened his eyes to the opportunity to better track the dynamic cost changes happening on today’s construction sites. And so TracFlo was born. Khalid is a passionate speaker and advocate, and has won competitions at MIT, Harvard, and Stanford business schools.

Khalid has a great story, you’ll want to listen in.

 

“Success is not mutually exclusive from my blackness.”
~ Khalid David

In this episode Khalid and Dan discussed:

  • representing the Bronx
  • His Saint Kitts and Nevis heritage
  • Emerging from college during the Great Recession
  • Building software inside a traditional construction firm
  • How TracFlo replaces the pad and pencil in the field
  • Wearing the mantle of pioneering black entrepreneur

 

 

“I’ve wasted so much time, so much emotional energy, trying to convince people who are scared.”
~ Khalid David

MORE on KHALID and TRACFLO

Khalid:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/khalid-david-34a55824/
https://www.twitter.com/kdpegasus
https://www.instagram.com/kdpegasus

TracFlo:
https://tracfloapp.com
https://republic.co/tracflo
https://www.linkedin.com/company/tracflo
https://www.instagram.com/tracfloapp

 

 

“…as black innovators, we’ve always been the creators of culture..”
~ Khalid David

 

SUPPORTING SMALL BUSINESSES WITH BIG DATA

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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

Putting analytics into the hands of small business owners

 

Patrice Darby Neely, Founder, and CEO of GoLogic, a data aggregation and economic development platform helping small businesses accelerate growth and reduce failure, while increasing the capacity and capabilities of the organizations that support them.

Patrice spent many years in childcare before starting her first startup, GoNanny, to address the fragmentation of care occurring with the busy schedules of families on the go. Timing wasn’t on her side, unfortunately, as her company fell victim to the whipsaw of the US economy that came with COVID-19. With GoNanny, Patrice had a front-row seat during the height of the pandemic and she saw how vulnerable small businesses are and how inefficient the ecosystem can be in connecting them with timely and impactful resources. And so GoLogic was born. Patrice is an alum of 1871 in Chicago, TechStars, and has been funded by the likes of Pipeline Angels and Google for Startups Black Founder Fund.

Patrice has a great story. Be sure to listen in.

 

“We had a waiting list of 5,000 families, and then it grew to 10,000.”
~ Patrice Darby Neely

In this episode Patrice and Dan discussed:

  • growing up with two-parent entrepreneurs
  • what drew her originally into the childcare industry
  • the devastating impact of COVID on her first company
  • how GoLogic rose from the ashes of 2020
  • the beauty and power of data, even for the small business

 

 

“What I experienced that day. I will never forget for my entire lifetime.”
~ Patrice Darby Neely

MORE on PATRICE and GOLOGIC

Patrice:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrice-darby-neely
https://www.gologicsolutions.com/our-founder
https://www.gologicsolutions.com/pitch2win

GoLogic Solutions:
https://www.gologicsolutions.com
https://www.linkedin.com/company/gologicsolutions
https://twitter.com/gologic_solves
https://www.facebook.com/gologicsolutions

 

 

“…it’s not what you now, but it’s everything you don’t know.”
~ Patrice Darby Neely

 

WHERE YOUR NEXT GREAT FREELANCERS COME FROM: AFRICA

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

OUR SPONSORS FOR THIS EPISODE:
Founders Live

The global venue for entrepreneurs to experience events, content, and community.
Check out founderslive.com to join and to find a live event streaming from your city.

 

helping tech tap into the talent emerging on the continent

 

Roger Roman, Co-Founder of AfriBlocks, the global Pan-African freelance marketplace and collaboration platform. They are building THE resource for devs, designers, and virtual assistants.

Roger hails from Chicago, and in his home neighborhood there the Roman name is well known. He was pre-ordained to be a lawyer, but Roger took a different path: business. He leveraged his degree from Howard University to immerse in industries as varied as construction, video game development, and eventually marketing. Roger has been spotlighted in The New York Times, Black Enterprise, and VentureBeat. But it was when co-founder Tongai Choto came calling that Roger saw a chance to take on a massive opportunity: the emergence of Africa in the global tech marketplace. The continent has over 450M Gen Z and young millennials, all eager, ambitious, and tech-enabled. Fertile ground for a startup like AfriBlocks.

Roger has a great story. Be sure to listen in.

 

“Things started to take off, but I had a reason not to go to law school.”
~ Roger Roman

In this episode Roger and Dan discussed:

  • growing up in Chicago
  • how a chance encounter at graduation led to his first job
  • the opportunity for law school – avoided repeatedly
  • how one mentor changed his career
  • why Africa should be on everyone’s mind

 

“…our thesis is that the globe is going to turn to Africa to fill those jobs.”
~ Roger Roman

MORE on ROGER and AFRIBLOCKS

Roger:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rogerroman/
https://twitter.com/RogerLRomanII

AfriBlocks:
https://www.afriblocks.com
https://www.linkedin.com/company/afriblocks/
https://twitter.com/afriblocks
https://www.instagram.com/afriblocks/

 

“…he [said], ‘I started a WhatsApp group and it grew from 10 people to 600’…”
~ Roger Roman

 

USING AI AND FINTECH TO BENEFIT ARTISTS AND CREATORS

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

 

OUR SPONSORS FOR THIS EPISODE:

BLCK VC

A focused community built for and by black investors.
If you ever thought about getting into Venture, you definitely want to connect up at blackvc.com or follow @BLCKVC for more about their exceptional programs and events.

repeat entrepreneur Brings efficiency and equity to artist economics

 

James Jones, Co-Founder and CEO of Ownors, an AI-driven Fintech platform that helps artists retrieve payouts from streaming services.

Ownors isn’t James’ first startup. Inspired by his upbringing, James became an attorney. But he saw the gaps in the system. The fundamental way that legal services are sold and distributed is a straight-up disconnect with the vast majority of people who need it. So he and his wife formed Court Buddy, where he became Black Enterprise Entrepreneur of the Year. After successfully fundraising and scaling that business, James was eager to scratch the startup itch again. Leveraging his legal experience and personal passion for music, he set out to solve a different inefficiency he saw: creators being paid equitably and timely for their music. And so, Ownors and its flagship brand Bump was born.

James has a great story, you’ll want to listen in.

 

“ I create all this great art, but someone else owns it.”
~ James Jones

In this episode James and Dan discussed:

  • growing up with a brilliant father
  • learning about justice by visiting courtrooms as a seven-year-old
  • turning an IT job in college into an entrepreneurial venture
  • his first startup and what’s different with his latest journey
  • how his clients as an attorney opened him to the inefficiencies for creators

 

 

“…the look on his face said the system does not work for us..”
~ James Jones

MORE on JAMES and OWNORS

JAMES:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-jones-jr-esq/
https://twitter.com/jjoneslaw

OWNORS:

https://www.usebump.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/ownors
https://www.twitter.com/ownors
https://www.instagram.com/ownorsinc

 

 

“You feel like a mad scientist almost, right? There’s this vision in your brain!”
~ James Jones

 

CONNECTING RESOURCES AND ADVANTAGES TO DIVERSE BUSINESS OWNERS

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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.

A PLATFORM UNIQUELY DESIGNED FOR
BLACK-OWNED BUSINESSES

 

Melanie Akwule is Founder and CEO of MINWO, a DE&I tech company that connects companies with organizations that have a specific mission to support Black-owned businesses on their path to scaling.

Originally from Virginia, Melanie was an NCAA track athlete who did her undergrad at Georgia Tech. She worked and excelled in the corporate world with GE. But it was at the Haas School, Cal Berkeley where she built her startup muscle. She used her time in school to conceptualize and develop MINWOA. Melanie is off to a great start in 2021 completing the Techstars program and gearing up for the launch of MINWO’s flagship product Rialto.

Melanie has a great story, you’ll want to listen in.

 

“You appreciate the wins, definitely, but you can’t let the blows take you out.”
~ Melanie Akwule

In this episode Melanie and Dan discussed:

  • life as an NCAA student-athlete
  • running in the Olympic trials
  • developing a passion for using tech to help businesses succeed
  • how one rejection led to her pursuit of an MBA
  • the highs and lows of early-stage entrepreneurship
  • the serendipity of the stumble

 

 

“…first pitch competition that actually accepted me, , ended up winning.”
~ Melanie Akwule

MORE on MELANIE and WINWO

MELANIE:

linkedin.com/in/melakwule
twitter.com/mel_anuchi
instagram.com/mel_anuchi

MINWO:

minwo.co
linkedin.com/company/minwo
twitter.com/minwo_co
instagram.com/minwo.co

 

 

“You feel like a mad scientist almost, right? There’s this vision in your brain!”
~ Melanie Akwule

 

A FINTECH FILLING IN WHERE BANKS MISS THE MARK

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.

USING TECHNOLOGY TO BETTER SERVE THE UNBANKED AND UNDERBANKED

 

Daricus Releford is the Founder and CEO of StoreCash, a company that provides mobile banking for teens, as well as for unbanked and underbanked adults.

Daricus is the twin son of a mom in the military. And as you just heard, he came home one day as a kid to find that his dad had taken everything from the house. Since that fateful event, Daricus has been on an entrepreneurial journey, that’s gone from cutting lawns to building a FinTech startup in Silicon Valley. Along the way, he’s had to persevere through college, hustle his first company into getting promotion by Steve Harvey, to landing roles with Google, Facebook, and Apple.

Daricus has a great story, you’ll want to listen in.

 

“I do not think that people are racist in Silicon valley. I just think that they haven’t seen it from us.”
~ Daricus Releford

In this episode Daricus and Dan discussed:

  • driving hours with his mom to buy a hotdog stand
  • getting through Penn State, initially without a dorm room or place to sleep
  • finding a crafty way to get his products on the Steve Harvey show
  • working for THREE or the big five tech giants
  • how a chance request from his nephew led to his current startup

 

 

“This new generation, they have not been in a physical bank location.”
~ Daricus Releford

MORE on DARICUS and STORECASH

DARICUS:

daricusreleford.com
linkedin.com/in/daricusreleford
twitter.com/daricusreleford

STORECASH:

storecashapp.com
linkedin.com/company/storecash
twitter.com/storecashapp
instagram.com/storecash_banking

 

 

“You are normally right. And believe in yourself. Don’t second guess and move fast.”
~ Daricus Releford

 

STATE OF BLACK ENTRPRENEURSHIP AND FUNDRAISING 2021

Posted on by foundersunfound

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

JUNE 2021 – have we made progress?

 

In this special episode, we bring you the fireside chat moderated by Dan with:

Amira Rasool, CEO of The Folklore
Daricus Releford, CEO of StoreCash
Kwame Boler, CEO of neu

 

“…just historically we do not fit into the typical mold of
what VC companies are looking for”
~ Amira Rasool

As we experience Juneteenth for the first time as a National holiday, we ask:

What has changed?
What has remained the same?
Where are the opportunities for improvement?

The panel kept it real, as the conversation covered everything from exasperation to optimism, and everything in between. This event took place on June 24, 2021.

 

 

Live fireside chat event
Hosted by Techstars Seattle Accelerator
Managing Director Isaac Kato (@isaackato)

 

“To be an entrepreneur is definitely to walk the path that’s less traveled. ”
~ Kwame Boler

Audience Resources and Shoutouts:

 

“I feel like people hear Juneteenth and they’re like, oh, that’s a black holiday.
They don’t really know why.”
~ Daricus Releford

 

BEAUTY RE-IMAGINED FOR BLACK WOMEN

Posted on by foundersunfound

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

OUR SPONSORS FOR THIS EPISODE:
AfriBlocks

The global pan-African freelance marketplace and collaboration platform.
Tell them “Dan sent you” for 10% off your first order. More at afriblocks.com

redefining BEAUTY AND SKINCARE
TO REFLECT MORE INCLUSIVELY

 

Ezinne Iroanya-Adeoye is the Founder and CEO of SKNMUSE, the premium beauty brand dedicated to elevating the beauty experience for the modern black woman.

Ezinne was born and raised in Nigeria. After graduating from high school at 15 and ace-ing her SATs, she came to the US for college. She thought she was going to be a petroleum engineer. Lucky for the rest of us, that didn’t happen. Ezinne never forgot the joy she found in the soothing remedies her mom and grandmother prepared for her dry skin. She’s paying it back now, with her luxurious balms, oils, and body butters. For Ezinne, beauty is culture, and she’s on a mission to make the beauty counter reflect more inclusively.

Ezinne has a great story, you’ll want to listen in.

“I can speak for black women. And if anything, beauty is culture for us.”
~ Ezinne Iroanya-Adeoye

In this episode Stephen and Dan discussed:

  • Changing majors 3 times in college
  • How her brand wants everyone to feel like “Omalicha Nwa” (‘beautiful one’)
  • The day her brand was featured by Beyoncé
  • How her mom is even more of a fashionista than she is
  • Her vision to create a space that re-imagines beauty for black women

 

 

“Stand in your truth and the world will make one for you.”
~ Ezinne Iroanya-Adeoye

MORE on EZINNE and SKNMUSE

Ezinne:
twitter.com/ZMuse_
linkedin.com/in/ezinne-iroanya-adeoye-567a6515b/
instagram.com/avenue_z/

SKNMUSE:
sknmuse.com
instagram.com/sknmuse/
twitter.com/sknmuse
linkedin.com/company/sknmuse/

 

 

“I called my mom after and I remember her saying, ‘God bless Beyoncé!’”
~ Ezinne Iroanya-Adeoye

 

MAKING THE LEGAL SYSTEM EQUITABLE WITH TECHNOLOGY

Posted on by foundersunfound

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

OUR SPONSORS FOR THIS EPISODE:
Founders Live

The global venue for entrepreneurs to experience events, content, and community.
Check out founderslive.com to join and to find a live event streaming from your city.

 

Can you represent yourself in court?
IT Just got a whole lot easier

 

Dr. Sonja Ebron Co-founder and CEO of Courtroom5, a company that makes an automated legal toolbox that helps people represent themselves in court.

Sonja has one of the amazing backgrounds, engineering academia, a repeat entrepreneur, but it took a challenging experience of our own with the legal system to unleash your mission and passion for the startup life. She has a strong conviction that fairness and the justice system shouldn’t depend on inequitable access to knowledge or resources and our conversation. She talked about the allure of engineering doing a startup in Durham, North Carolina, and so much more.

Sonja has a great story. Be sure to listen in.

 

“We’re dealing with a broken business model in the legal profession.”
~ Sonja Ebron

In this episode Sonja and Dan discussed:

  • growing up in Durham NC
  • The call to engineering
  • The career arc between academia and entrepreneurship
  • Why the legal system can feel rigged
  • How African Americans are, by necessity, innovative and entrepreneurial

 

 

“ I am always trying to find a way to do things simpler.”
~ Sonja Ebron

MORE on sonja and courtroom5

Sonja:
linkedin.com/in/sonjaebron
twitter.com/SonjaEbron

Courtroom5:
courtroom5.com
instagram.com/courtroom5legal
twitter.com/courtroom5legal
linkedin.com/company/courtroom5

 

 

“The average cost of a lawyer is $300 [per hour].
Right now, the average American makes a 10th of that.”
~ Sonja Ebron