Rachel Henry, CWDP

You asked, we listened! The Inner Design Community and Inner Design Mastermind platform is now LIVE! DID YOU KNOW? Only 2% of successful businesses are ran by women? AND only .5% of those women are African American. DID YOU KNOW? That less than .5% of the .5% of women who run successful businesses ever reach $1 Million in revenue. And if you ever do, you are considered an ANOMALY. ANOMOLY...something that deviates from what is standard, normal, or expected. Something that is peculiar or abnormal. Let me get this right. I am ABNORMAL? I am an ANOMALY? Me...an African American country girl from Stokes & Greenville NC? Really? Stop it! Surely there had to be more of me. I mean, more women that look like me that generate more than a million dollars a year in revenue in their businesses in the world. And I set out to find them. And find them I did! It doesn't have to be lonely at the top if you are there with right people. Not the cattiness, the jealousy, the sandbox activity, the back stabbing, the "always in your feelings about one thing or the other", the mean girl energy, the I don't know her energy. Well you probably don't know half the people you spend your money with every day, but you do it. I'm not even going to go there. That's for a different post. 😂🤣 Just know, it's none of that! Just the, I've made it and now I want to help my sister get there energy. I love absolutely love it and I am committed to it! WHY JOIN THE INNER DESIGN COMMUNITY AND MASTERMIND? Out of real conversations, with real influential people, who are courageous, who are eager to share knowledge, the Inner Design Community and Inner Design Mastermind was born. This platform was created to change the statistics! We are giving you REAL obtainable goals, real outcomes, with REAL INDUSTRIALIST. Keeping out all the fluff and at a cost that is unbelievable! Fluff doesn't bring forth true abundance, it doesn't make a difference, it doesn't transform minds, it doesn't change lives, it doesn't make an impact, it doesn't shift trajectories, and it sure doesn't improve your bottom line. And we need to stop acting like living a life of abundance doesn't matter. It does! So we are going to let others keep all of that fluff! Seriously...THEY NOT LIKE US! Listen, discovering I was an anomaly did not make me a gate keeper! Rather, it set me on fire to make a difference, to make a bigger impact by sharing, building, and expanding. It's about TOGETHERNESS. You will never do anything great alone. You are deceiving yourself if you have this mentality. It is a Poverty Mindset that needs to be denounced. #WhatLifeHasTaughtMe Whether you are an experienced business owner, just starting out on your creative journey, or just starting a new business, this community has something to offer you! JOIN US! I am excited about taking this journey with you! ❤💪🏾 👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾 https://lnkd.in/eMMjXUdY

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My Journey as a Black Business Owner: Celebrating Success & Goals Join our inspiring journey as SPEAKER_00, a passionate Black business owner, shares their decade-long experience in entrepreneurship. Discover the importance of setting SMART goals to drive success in your business! Celebrate the highs and lows of the entrepreneurial journey with us. #BlackBusinessOwner #EntrepreneurJourney #SMARTGoals #BusinessSuccess #CelebrateEntrepreneurship #SmallBusinessTips #GoalSetting #Inspiration #BusinessChallenges #PersonalGrowth

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Black founders are leading the way in reshaping the AI landscape with tailored ChatGPTs for a more personalized experience, addressing the lack of cultural nuance in mainstream AI models. Latimer.AI and ChatBlackGPT are championing answers that resonate with Black and brown communities, while Spark Plug in Canada and innovative African models cater to diverse languages and dialects often overlooked by Western AI. Tamar Huggins emphasizes the importance of owning systems for data integrity in this evolving space. Pocstock's diversity data efforts and visual tagging system are driving inclusivity in imaging by training AI models with culturally accurate data, combating bias issues. The future of AI hinges on personalization, paving the way for enhanced understanding and inclusivity in the digital realm. #AI #DiversityandInclusion #Innovation #Tech #BlackFounders #PersonalizedAI

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So what is the fundamental reason for this fail? The struggles facing Group Black and Black Owned Media stems back to Corporate America and brands continuing to undervalue and underinvest in the Black Consumer Market. From a budget standpoint “flat is the new up”. Despite the continued cultural influence and economic buying power of Black Consumers, the investment still doesn’t match up with the business results and business contribution. Are we in the midst of a 21st century version of “benign neglect”? BTW even today reach and frequency doesn’t equate to relevance.

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Building a tech-enabled company comes with a mix of different challenges, emotions, and intricacies. I embarked on the journey to innovate in the creative industry 445 days ago. A journey I knew there was no turning back from. Days turned to weeks, weeks turned to months, and nights felt like a thousand years. I met some amazing people along the way, learned some hard lessons, got beaten down, felt alone, and became stronger than ever. I burnt the midnight oil with my head constantly searching for solutions with so much conviction that one existed. Good news, We found it! Growth comes with pain, and I felt every bit of it. It’s a humbling experience, and I wish everyone gets to feel it at some point. Design Launchpad first phase is live at www.designlaunchpad.co, and now you get the opportunity to learn design from the best African Designers in the world and connect with designers right from your own comfort. We moved mountains to make this a reality. The Cherry on Top: We created three learning tiers for you so you can grow without worrying about the learning complexities of the design industry. Ready to get started Visit www.designlaunchpad.co today!

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The Taste Radio podcast by BevNET.com has launched a new series called: “Black Founders Club,” and the premier guest features our #PortCo A Dozen Cousins’ Founder & CEO Ibraheem Basir. In this episode, Ibraheem shares his journey as a Black entrepreneur, his funding experiences, and his future goals for A Dozen Cousins.  Watch the video on BevNET.com or listen to the Taste Radio podcast on major platforms. Don't miss it! https://lnkd.in/enD5mT7n #entrepreneurship #founders #startups #foodandbeverage #podcasts

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I’m just going to say this part out loud … There are way too many grant and funding programs that are centered around “teaching” Black and brown Founders about traditional and basic models of entrepreneurship and business. What we need is the access and funding needed to execute our ideas and solutions - to re-envision and shape entrepreneurship and business centered in community and collective liberation. 🚫Not forced mentorship 🚫Not a multi-month cohort program 🚫Not a biz 101 course

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#BlackTechSaturdays #keepgoing #togetherwecan #strongertogether #bridgethedivide #closethegap #blackintech #womenintech #latinxintech #diversityintech #Detroittech #blackexcellence #blackjoy #blacklove Black Tech Saturdays "LEVEL UP" 🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀 Aaron Dawson 🎥

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Black creatives we can’t let society, an industry, or even your own insecurities put you in a box by limiting yourself to only selling a product/services to one specific demographic. You have much more to offer the market place!! #StaySolid Co founder of Rocafella Dame Dash, speaks on this, comment your thoughts on this 💭💭👇🏾👇🏾 #creatives #entrepreneur #blackbusiness

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🧐 Why Do Black Entrepreneurs Struggle to Secure Funding? The article "Why Black Entrepreneurs Struggle to Secure and Receive Funding and Investment" from SCORE.org sheds light on systemic barriers that hinder Black entrepreneurs from accessing necessary business funding. Key issues include: 1. **Racial Bias in Lending & Equity:** Entrenched bias in lending and VC systems continues to favor white male-led startups, with less than 1% of US VC-backed firms being Black-owned. 2. **Underrepresentation of Black Women:** Despite being highly educated and entrepreneurial, Black women-led startups received a meager 0.0006% of VC funding from 2009-2017. 3. **Wealth Disparity & Collateral Challenges:** Black entrepreneurs face a wealth gap, with median white household wealth being 20 times greater, affecting collateral availability for loans. 4. **Lack of Understanding & Opportunity Blindspots:** Investors often overlook the unique perspectives of Black entrepreneurs due to a lack of shared experiences. 5. **Heightened Risk-Aversion:** A diverse investment landscape is lacking, leading to perceived higher risks for Black-led businesses. The article argues for comprehensive policy changes that consider social and economic inequities to level the playing field for minority-owned firms. What steps can we take as a community to support Black entrepreneurs and ensure equitable access to funding? Share your thoughts! 🗨️ Read the full article to dive deeper into these systemic challenges and potential solutions. 📖👇

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Black Venture Summit: Learning, networking, and planning for future funding. Recently, I attended my second Black Venture Summit hosted by Build in Tulsa in Tulsa, OK. It was an enjoyable experience connecting with other founders and funders. 🌟 Though ORGANIZELY is venture-backable, I'm not currently seeking venture capital. However, I'm actively preparing for these conversations in 2025 as it's important to raise money before you need it. 💡 Here are my 🔑 takeaways from the Summit: 🗣 Engage with Peers: Networking with fellow founders and funders is invaluable. It opens doors, creates opportunities, and provides varying perspectives on the overall capital raise experience. 🗓 Plan Ahead: Even if you're not seeking funding now, start preparing. Understanding the landscape early is crucial. I will discuss this more in-depth in future posts. 📖 Learn Continuously: Every interaction is a learning opportunity. Absorb insights and feedback to refine your strategy. Black and or women Founders have notably shared their experiences AND they should be believed, not chided. I've been collecting some great LinkedIn posts about the journey that I share in the comments below so check them out. Attending events like this helps me align ORGANIZELY's vision and strategy with industry trends and future opportunities. What are your thoughts on early preparation for venture funding? 🤔 #Entrepreneurship #VentureCapital #Networking #LearnDifferentlywithOrganizely

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"Are you planning to hire only Black people?" This is what an investor asked a Black founder I spoke with (who has since raised over $160M) after hiring a Black team member early on. It’s a question that reveals an uncomfortable truth: Black founders can’t just be. I’ve noticed that every player in the startup ecosystem faces the same pressure. ↳ If a Black founder hires a Black person she believes is best for the role, she risks investors questioning her motives. ↳ If a Black VC wants to invest in a solution focusing on their community, they might face scrutiny from non-Black LPs. Investors themselves have to consider whether their investments in Black-led companies will be scrutinized by their LPs. It's a reality that founders and investors in the Black community know all too well. During our pre-seed raise for Chezie I noticed a similar pattern when pitching my DEI-focused business to Black VCs. While they often agreed on the importance of DEI and ERG programs and saw the vision in what I was pitching, they were hesitant to invest. A few Black VCs told me candidly that because they hadn’t seen companies fully commit to these initiatives and because they didn’t feel confident pitching this to their larger teams because, whether it’s true or not, they felt like the deals they brought to the table were analyzed more heavily than others. I don’t blame Black VCs for feeling this way; their experiences influence their investment decisions. Still, it’s striking that solutions designed to benefit people who look like these investors face additional scrutiny due to past disappointments and potential pushback from those funding their funds. I’m curious: Have other founders building products for women, the Latino community, the Queer community, or other underrepresented groups noticed similar patterns? Do investors who share your identity show more skepticism due to historical experiences? Is this just an all-around bad take? Share your opinion in the comments 👇

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IMPACT > Influence Thursdays: Highlighting Jeremy Joyce, Founder of Black People Eats,LLC 🌟 IMPACT > Influence Thursdays 🌟 This week, we're thrilled to spotlight Jeremy Joyce, the visionary founder of Black People Eats. Jeremy’s incredible journey is a testament to the transformative power of community-driven initiatives and the impact of supporting Black-owned businesses in the food industry. Black People Eats was born from Jeremy's passion to shine a spotlight on the rich culinary talents within the Black community. His platform is not just about celebrating food but about creating economic opportunities, fostering entrepreneurship, and building a supportive network for Black-owned restaurants and food businesses. Through Black People Eats, Jeremy has: Curated a directory of hundreds of Black-owned eateries, helping food lovers discover and support these businesses. Organized events like the annual Juneteenth Festival, which attracts thousands of attendees and showcases the diversity and excellence of Black cuisine. Partnered with major brands such as Pepsi, Uber Eats, and Google, leveraging these collaborations to provide resources and amplify the visibility of Black-owned food businesses. Collaborated with tourism boards across North America and the Caribbean to highlight and promote Black-owned restaurants, driving tourism and economic growth in these regions. You can follow Jeremy on social media @BlackPeopleEats #IMPACTThursdays #BlackPeopleEats #SupportBlackBusinesses #CommunityImpact #Entrepreneurship #DiverseCreators

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🌱📍 Excited to Share My Journey with Black Ambition So Ambitious Accelerator 🚀 I recently wrapped up my experience with the So Ambitious Accelerator by Black Ambition, building on last year’s momentum after becoming a finalist in their HBCU Accelerator. Coming in with high hopes, it was a privilege to connect with such an inspiring group of founders, mentors, and innovators. Though I didn’t move forward this time, the experience has been invaluable in clarifying my path for Pinned Studio and where I want to focus my energy over the next year. This accelerator highlighted a unique crossroad for me – one that led me to rethink my approach to venture capital. VC funding, while transformative, often pushes businesses to scale in ways that sometimes feel at odds with my vision for Pinned. The intensity of venture capital can feel limiting, especially at this stage of my journey, and I’ve decided to take a step back for now. I’m fully open to support from investors or mentors, but I’m being mindful of how I want to grow, in ways that resonate with me and Pinned’s community. Venture capital has tremendous potential, but it’s no secret that Black founders, especially Black women and creatives, often face unique challenges within the landscape. There’s a lot of work to be done to make VC more inclusive and supportive of diverse voices. In the meantime, I’m pivoting to focus on building workshops and digital products that creative entrepreneurs can download, learn from, and apply to their own journeys. This direction feels aligned with my mission, and I’m eager to see what the next 12 months bring as I grow and scale in ways that feel authentic to both myself and my community. I’m sharing my pitch deck below for anyone interested in learning more. Please reach out if you’d like to connect or discuss ways to support Pinned’s vision 📍✨

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The numbers don’t lie - Black creators generate 10.5x more media value than non-Black creators in the lifestyle/beauty/fashion space. That’s the power you hold. Now, imagine what happens when you take that influence and intentionally scale it. What if you turned that value into a new brand, an iconic collaboration, or a unique experience that builds something greater than what you’ve already created? This is your sign to stop leaving opportunities on the table. The influential figures you see dominating didn’t get there by chance - they took control of their impact, leaned into their influence, and made strategic moves to demand what they’re worth. If you’ve been sitting on a big idea or wondering how to turn your influence into something greater - let’s talk!

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🚀FOUNDERS🚀 We are excited to announce that Nex Cubed Cubed is actively seeking HBCU-affiliated founders who are leveraging technology to address society’s toughest challenges to join its HBCU Founders Accelerator! The HBCU Founders Accelerator is a customized 16-week intensive program, primarily conducted virtually. With a cohort size of 8-10 startups, our accelerator seeks to create a collaborative environment to foster entrepreneurial success. Throughout the program, each company is provided with dedicated executive-level support from paid advisors. We make an initial investment of $120,000 ‼️ in each selected startup to help support their growth📈 At least one member of the founding team must be an HBCU student, alum, or faculty member; and the company must have a proof of concept/MVP that is in market or on the verge of commercialization. 📌 For a full list of requirements, benefits, program details, and to apply, visit https://lnkd.in/eCGRXPTy 👈🏽 Applications for Cohort 3 are open NOW✅ through May 31st, at 11:59 PM EST. #HBCU #HBCUalum #HBCUpride #Entrepreneurship #Startup #HBCUFounders #Innovation #TechStartups #Founders

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🏁 Entrepreneurship is a marathon and not a race. As you build and scale your company, make sure you prioritize taking care of YOU. To support you on this journey, my company Mogul Millennial, Inc. has partnered with BetterHelp to provide free therapy to Black entrepreneurs. Don't miss out - enter the giveaway before it closes: https://lnkd.in/gH7HKS4x #smallbusiness #startups #entrepreneur #business #founder #nonprofits #Blackowned #Blackownedbusiness #Blackfounder

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The Black AI Jedi for Seniors: Embracing the Future with Wisdom by: Rev. Dr. Philippe SHOCK Matthews | Foreword by: Dr. Jimmy J. Davies In today's rapidly changing world, technology often seems daunting and inaccessible to seniors. Yet artificial intelligence holds immense potential to enrich the golden years by connecting age-old wisdom with modern innovation. "The Black AI Jedi for Seniors" is your comprehensive guide to harnessing the power of AI to improve senior living. https://lnkd.in/euqTUSaF

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📢 Attention Small and Minority-Owned Businesses! 📢 Unlock new opportunities with a free subscription to OhioMBE.com! Get access to: 🔔 Bid Notices: Stay ahead with the latest bid opportunities. 📅 Business Events: Network and grow at our upcoming events. 💡 Business Tips: Gain valuable insights to boost your business. 👥 Business Profiles: Get inspired by successful business stories. Join our community and elevate your business today! Subscribe now at OhioMBE.com. #OhioMBE #SmallBiz #MinorityBiz #BusinessGrowth #Entrepreneurship #Networking #BusinessTips #BidNotices

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