Blaze Group

🎉 The 2024 State of Black Women-Owned Businesses Report® is Here! 🎉 Black women entrepreneurs are at the forefront of innovation and resilience. They are the foundation of economic growth in underserved communities, and their stories and challenges illuminate the path forward for financial equity. This year’s report brings actionable insights for financial intermediaries, policymakers, and entrepreneurial ecosystems. It’s more than a report — it’s a call to action to design systems that empower the underserved and a love letter to the incredible Black women entrepreneurs who inspire us daily. 🚀 Key Insights: 🌿 Affordable, bundled banking, legal, insurance, and accounting services are essential for supporting small businesses. 🌿 Education is crucial—grant recipients often experience slower revenue growth without proper financial training. 🌿 Over half of respondents reported flat or declining revenue, underscoring the need for immediate intervention to combat stagnation. At Blaze Group, we’re expanding our mission to serve Black communities globally, offering financial education through our mobile app and helping financial institutions engineer inclusive, scalable credit solutions. 📖 Read the full report and explore the insights here: blazegroupllc.com/research Together, we can shape the future of finance to include and uplift those who need it most. Let’s build the plans and pathways for a brighter, more inclusive future! #FinancialEquity #BlackWomenEntrepreneurs #StateOfBlackWomenOwnedBusinesses #Entrepreneurship #BlazeGroup #Research #SOBWOB

The Fed just cut rates by 0.25% — here’s what it means for you… plus impactful Black-owned bank stocks to invest in! The Federal Reserve has announced a 0.25% rate cut, lowering its benchmark rate to a range of 4.25% to 4.5%. Key Market Reactions: ▪️ Stock Market: The S&P 500 dropped 1.3%, and the Nasdaq fell nearly 2%, signaling investor concerns about the slower pace of future rate cuts. ▪️ Treasury Bond Yields: The 10-year yield rose to 4.49%, driven by a sell-off in bonds (which lowers bond prices and raises yields). This reflects expectations of prolonged higher interest rates as investors shift toward higher-return opportunities. What This Means for You: ▪️ #Borrowers: This is a great time to paydown variable-rate debt like credit cards or adjustable-rate mortgages, as borrowing costs may decline soon. ▪️ #Savers: With savings account rates likely to dip, now’s the time to explore other investment options to keep your money working for you. Looking to shift savings into stocks? Here are three publicly traded Black-owned banks to consider that align your investments with impact: 1️⃣ Carver Bancorp, Inc. (Ticker: CARV) —— Up 7.78% YoY; $1.80 per share Carver Bancorp is the holding company for Carver Federal Savings Bank, one of the largest African-American-operated banks in the U.S., focused on serving underserved communities. 2️⃣ Broadway Financial Corporation (Ticker: BYFC) —— Up 3.65% YoY; $6.81 per share Broadway Financial is the holding company for City First Bank, which prioritizes financial services for low-to-moderate-income communities in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. 3️⃣ Citizens Bancshares Corporation (Ticker: CZBS) —— Up 30.40% YoY; $50.75 per share. Citizens Bancshares operates Citizens Trust Bank, one of the oldest and largest Black-owned banks in the U.S., headquartered in Atlanta. It offers a full suite of personal and business banking solutions. Stay #agile and #strategic in this dynamic environment. Markets are shifting, but with the right moves, you can align your financial goals with meaningful #impact.

In the evolving landscape of equitable finance, innovative models are essential to bridge gaps and foster inclusivity. One such model is exemplified by Funding U, a company revolutionizing student lending by focusing on students’ potential rather than traditional credit metrics. 💡WHAT SETS FUNDING U APART? ▪️No Co-Signer Requirement: Unlike conventional lenders, Funding U offers student loans without necessitating a co-signer, empowering students to secure funding independently. ▪️Merit-Based Assessment: Funding U evaluates applicants based on academic performance, projected earnings, and institutional graduation rates, rather than relying solely on credit scores. ▪️Focus on Undergraduate Students: Tailored specifically for full-time undergraduates pursuing bachelor’s degrees at Title IV-eligible four-year colleges, Funding U addresses the unique financial needs of this demographic. 🌱 WHY THIS MATTERS Traditional student lending often imposes barriers for those lacking established credit histories or access to co-signers, disproportionately affecting marginalized communities. Funding U’s approach aligns with the principles of inclusive finance by: 🌿 Reducing Financial Barriers: By eliminating the co-signer requirement, more students can access the funds necessary to complete their education. 🌿 Promoting Meritocracy: Assessing students based on academic and personal achievements fosters a system that rewards potential and hard work. 🌿 Enhancing Financial Independence: Students build credit in their own names, laying the foundation for future financial health. Innovations like Funding U’s model demonstrate the power of integrating technology, data analytics, and a commitment to equity in creating financial solutions that serve all individuals, regardless of their backgrounds. As we continue to advocate for and develop equitable finance solutions, let’s draw inspiration from such models that intersect tech, innovation, and equity to reshape the financial landscape for the better. Learn more about Funding U and their mission to make education accessible: https://lnkd.in/eF5N83Uf

A company’s ability to remain relevant is directly tied to its leadership’s capacity to envision what’s possible. This truth has been so evident to me since returning to the United States — and it’s the driving force behind Blaze Group’s work. Relying on FICO scores alone — which overlook the social, behavioral, and trajectory-based factors that influence a marginalized person’s ability to repay — is outdated. At the same time, being socially conscious can’t rely solely on relaxed underwriting standards. For impact to be sustainable + its funding pools regenerative, financial products must be commercially viable. Throughout my career, I’ve witnessed what’s possible when we challenge traditional frameworks: ▪️ In #projectfinance for solar power infrastructure, future cash flows were modeled to justify Day 1 investment. ▪️ In #mobilewallet solutions across Sub-Saharan Africa, we bypassed gaps in formal banking relationships by leveraging tools that were already in the hands of the population. ▪️ In #techdeals around Silicon Valley, cash-burn startups on the path to “unicorn” status relied on proven traction and performance-to-plan covenants to secure critical lead time capital for their ideas. The common thread? Vision. More well-meaning leaders must learn what’s possible in order to dream differently. This year, I’ve focused on scaling my banking + consulting work through a #workforcedevelopment program for banks, fintechs, and credit unions. The program addresses the structural limitations that hinder financial inclusion, offering practical, data-driven strategies. Our curriculum focuses on: 🚀Alternative credit scoring methodologies 🚀Predictive analytics for autonomous finance 🚀Program piloting frameworks 🚀Scientific approaches to product design that mirror the behavioral realities of marginalized communities The goal? To flatten the learning curve, bypass traditional gatekeepers, and design sustainable solutions that shift economic power. A company’s greatest limiter isn’t its budget or its resources. It’s its leadership’s inability to conceive new ways of shaping the world. 👉🏽 If you’re ready to envision what’s possible + take action, let’s connect. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/epUiAJuQ

Students please take advantage this program changed my life https://lnkd.in/ebRjpmyU

Join us this Wednesday on GeeksTap: We ask Jehiel Oliver, CEO of Hello Tractor, about how IoT, Captive Finance, and an Innovative AgTech Ecosystem are transforming farming for the better. Hello Tractor is an award-winning ag-tech company. They improve food and income security in sub-Saharan Africa by providing affordable tractor services to farmers and enhancing earnings with Smart Tractor technology. When: Wed December 18, 2024 @ 10AM CST Where: Zoom! Please register in advance in the comments to reserve your spot.

SCOOP: Jay-Z’s venture capital firm, Marcy Venture Partners, has merged with another Black-owned investment firm, Pendulum Holdings’ investment arm Pendulum Opportunities, to form MarcyPen Capital Partners, a MarcyPen spokesperson confirmed to TechCrunch. The newly formed MarcyPen Capital Partners has $900 million in assets under management, according to PitchBook. Read the rest of the scoop below 👇🏿 https://lnkd.in/eUHE73GP

Arlan Hamilton, founder of Backstage Capital, is stepping down as managing partner to take on a new role as chairperson and advisor. She also announced Backstage Capital's new strategic partnership with 360 Venture Collective and plans for a new $200M fund.

I'm excited to share that I'm speaking at the Rolling Out Peace & Purpose Conference on December 12–14. Nikki Porcher of Buy From A Black Woman invited me to be part of a panel discussion on Finding Community As Black Women, so I'll be sharing some of the things I've learned while building a supportive community for mothers. And SonJoria Sydnor of Our Family's Doing Yoga will be joining us too! There are two ways to participate: 📍 In Person: Join us at the Ray Charles Performing Arts Center, Atlanta 💻 Online: Register online at www.peaceandpurpose.co See you there! #PeaceAndPurpose #CommunityImpact #RollingOut

Our movement partner, Get Free is accepting applications for The Get Free First 100 Days Organizing Fellowship. This is a dynamic, paid opportunity for young people passionate about grassroots organizing and winning transformation policies for racial justice, repair, and reparations. This fellowship equips a cohort of predominantly BIPOC Gen Z organizers (ages 18-30) with leadership roles in Get Free's "First 100 Days National Campaign". * Fellows are expected to dedicate 8-10 hours per week over a 14-week period. * The fellowship runs for 14 weeks, starting mid-January and ending in April. * Each fellow will receive a stipend of up to $2800 for their participation. * Get Free will work with your college or university to help you earn college credit if your institution allows. Apply by Tuesday, December 17th. Spread the word. https://lnkd.in/ep893SaH #LVxMP