Takesha E.’s Post

I’m excited to share this insightful article on the importance of having like-minded individuals by your side when launching a business! Surrounding yourself with like-minded people can be a game-changer for success. Check out this must-read article to learn why a supportive community of like-minded individuals is vital for your entrepreneurial journey. #Entrepreneurship #CommunitySupport #BusinessTips #MBE #WBENC

This may surprise you. In the UK less than 0.5% of people within the black ethnic group get skin cancer so based on #Louisajoseph comments below I have a 0.5% chance of securing a funding round for my business? Now let's look at the data that is out there. Around 250,000 of the UK’s 5.9m businesses were owned by ethnic minorities, and approximately 40,000 were black-owned. That is equivalent to 0.67 of the business base although we account for 3.3% of the UK population. So what percentage of UK black-owned businesses successfully acquired funding? 1. Last year black entrepreneurs receive just 0.24% of the available venture capital in the UK. 2. In the past 10 years, under 1% of venture capital investment in the UK went to Black entrepreneurs. #Mindfood. I was wondering what the landscape for black-owned businesses looks like in France. Oh, I just remembered, they don't keep that sort of data? #entrepreneurship #venturecpital #blackbusinessnetwork

“You are more likely to contract skin cancer than receive funding for your business as a black founder in the UK."   Horrible statistics like this are the reason why three entrepreneurs from Brixton created Black Seed, a venture capital business that only supports and invests in Black owned businesses.   When you explore the stats on business funding in the UK, unfortunately stereotypes and biases prevail that make it far harder for Black owned businesses to access funding and finance.   While I hope one day companies that invest racially won’t need to exist it is clear that right now it’s what can make the difference.   https://lnkd.in/ep3JqbvS #BlackInBusiness #BlackInvestment #BlackUK #BlackBusiness #Investment #Finance

Read and re read that first line. Then take action. On everything.

Twenty-three is a game-changing number — ask Michael Jordan and Lebron James. Since 2021, Resource has graduated two cohorts comprising 23 BIPOC-led Entrepreneur Support Organizations – raising over USD 23M in operating capital. Our report with Black Innovation Alliance, “Shifting the Center,” embodies both the current work and future vision for Resource – an initiative to back the entrepreneur support organizations that support entrepreneurs of color. The notion of shifting the center is what the ESO leaders we support do daily in disrupting systemic economic inequity. We envision a future where Black, Latinx, and indigenous-led ESOs have the necessary resources to mobilize investment capital to the startups they support. Read the report to learn more about this vision for Resource’s next chapter and learn five ways you can join us: https://lnkd.in/d-J-HpiK 

Last week, Black Innovation Alliance and Village Capital came together in Washington, DC for our 2023 Resource Alumni Event! Resource is a nationwide initiative to support and connect entrepreneur support organizations (ESOs) led by and focused on Black, Latinx, and Indigenous founders. Together, we are building a stronger entrepreneurial infrastructure by running entrepreneur support organizations (ESOs) accelerators and building a community of ecosystem leaders. Building a strong community and sharing resources is key to entrepreneurial success! Learn more about Resource here --> resource-initiative.com #blackinnovators #resourcealumni #blackentrepreneurs #blacktech #InnovationEconomy #ecosystembuilders

Sharing this for the #woc #businessowners who may be interested! The Pepper Startup Grant for #blackwomen - Pepper is giving away a $5000 grant and mentorship opportunities. If you're a Black woman with your own business that could use some capital, check this out.

Today, February 1st, is the beginning of #BlackHistoryMonth! We wanted to highlight one of our incredible 2023 cohort companies, Herculean Feats founded by Jason Hercules. Herculean Feats supports a sustainable and equitable built environment with innovation. They build tools that let community members easily interact with infrastructure to get the most out of their experience in the public realm. As a program dedicated to supporting New majority founders, we realize that navigating an entrepreneurship journey as a Black founder is not easy, especially considering the difficulties that come with accessing funding and resources. So, this #BlackHistoryMonth, let's all remember that supporting Black creators, businesses, founders, and individuals should be done 365 days a year, not just during the month of February. #BlackHistoryMonth2024 #SmartFuturesLab #NewMajority

Happy #blackhistorymonth ! 🖤 At VH, we are working to close the venture funding gap, especially for founders often overlooked and underrepresented. Seeing stats like the decrease in capital being given to Black founders is fueling our work to change that narrative, and we wanted to compile a mini list of steps you can take alongside us toward positive change. Read on to see 4 ways you can start supporting more Black founders, and please share any additional resources or tips in the comments below! 1. Purchase products and services from Black founders whenever possible. Purchasing products and services from Black founders helps build capital flow while supporting the creation/maintenance of jobs and economic opportunities in the Black community. 2. Follow Black founders and entrepreneurs on social media, and share their content to help spread the word. You can gain insight into founders' entrepreneurial journeys, and learn more about innovative products, services, and solutions that are being created to address real-world issues. Ultimately, it's a great way to support and celebrate the achievements of Black founders and entrepreneurs, while gaining valuable insights and knowledge. 3. Introduce Black founders to your network. Fostering connections within your network and communities can provide founders with access to valuable resources, mentorship, and advice from other experienced entrepreneurs, helping to foster an atmosphere of growth and support. 4. Share funding opportunities and newsletters that include grants, VC funding, pitch competitions, etc. Here are some of our favorite sources: Mogul Millennial - https://lnkd.in/ec2FPA_N Digital Undivided - https://lnkd.in/gaJe5GV AfroTech - https://afrotech.com Blck VC's slack group - https://tinyurl.com/blckvc Visible Hands Newsletter -https://lnkd.in/eNEArv32 #founders #fundblackfounders #bhm #investing#entrepreneurship #venturecapitalists

Last week, we had the pleasure of attending the last Collision Conf in Toronto! 🚀 We were there supporting the Black Entrepreneurship Alliance (BEA), and it was a great opportunity to network, meet new small business owners, and learn more about the world of tech! BEA was there as part of the Black Innovation Zone - a collective of 9 Black-led organizations (Black Entrepreneurship Alliance, Nobellum, Federation of Black Canadians, Black Founders Network, African Impact Initiative, BlackNorth Initiative, Black Opportunity Fund, DMZ, Tribe Network) curated to boost visibility and support for Black founders, and professionals in Canada! Although we're not the exact audience for Collision (we don't know much about tech 😅) it was still great to explore the world through the eyes of the innovators, developers, and individuals developing new ideas for the future. ✨ If you attended this year's Collision, what did you find the most insightful about the conference? 💭 #Collision2024 #TechConference #EquityandInclusion #Entrepreneur