Week 3 | Groups that Support Black Female Founders
A working list of groups and businesses that support Black female founders.
This week, we reached out to a number of founders who are active in the Black Lives Matter movement as well as organizations fighting for more equitable representation in business. These people are getting out there and putting in the work which understandably makes them too busy for an interview this week, but we still wanted to use this post as an opportunity to highlight them as best as we could.
We have put together a list of groups and businesses that support Black female founders. In the weeks to come, we will be adding to this list and we will be bringing in the voices of experts who focus on how to be a community leader and actively anti-racist. We will also be sharing the stories of some of the amazing women behind these businesses.
It is not enough for us just to highlight these groups and the voices they elevate, we need to do more. We will stand on the front-lines against racism and step up in our service to our friends, colleagues, and fellow founders. If you are looking for resources and ways to get involved in the movement more broadly, please click here.
Working List of Groups and Businesses that Support Black Female Founders:
Backstage Capital (@Backstage_Cap)
Backstage Capital is a VC group that invests in women, People of Color, and LGBTQ founders. Backstage Capital has invested over $7M in more than 130 companies led by underrepresented founders.
Black Girl Ventures (@BlackGirlVentures)
Black Girl Ventures is dedicated to offering comprehensive education and advisory services that outline a road map for the growth and success of minority and/or veteran women entrepreneurs. Their vision is to create a society where Black and Brown women founders have equitable access to social and financial capital to grow their businesses.
Black Women’s Directory (@BlackWomensDirectory)
Black Women’s Directory’s aim is to provide easy access for people to find and support business and services owned by Black women. BWD are currently working on their website which will launch in July. If you would like to be featured on the website you may fill out this form.
Do More Collective (@Do.More.Collective)
Do More Collective is a matchmaking service that aims to connect black and minority brands and individuals with skilled, experienced folks who want to lend a professional hand (for free).
The GLDN Market (@TheGLDNMarket)
The GLDN Market is a platform that celebrates Black, Indigenous and Women of Colour (BIWOC) makers and innovators. At the GLDN Market you can shop from a curated list of products from businesses owned by women of color.
IFundWomen (@IFundWomen) | IFundWomen of Color
IFundWomen is a startup funding platform providing access to capital through crowdfunding and grants, expert business coaching on all the topics entrepreneurs need to know about, and a network of women business owners that sparks confidence, accelerates knowledge, and ignites action. If this applies to you, start a campaign on IFundWomen or Apply for the IFW Brokered Grants to Black-Owned Businesses.
Jamii is a discount card and discovery platform, making it easy for people to find and shop at the best of independent Black owned businesses in the UK. Jamii launched in August 2016 and is on a mission to make shopping at Black owned brands as seamless and natural as at any other.
The SoGal Foundation (@IAmSoGal) | Black Founder Startup Grant
SoGal will be providing at least two $10k and two $5k cash grants to Black women or non-binary entrepreneurs. Awardees will also receive tactical help navigating the fundraising environment, and lifetime “ask-me-anything” access to the SoGal Foundation and SoGal Ventures teams.
Founded by Deborah Okenla, Your Startup, Your Story (YSYS) is a startup community dedicated to connecting diverse people with opportunities in tech.
We Are Women Owned (@WeAreWomenOwned) | Black-owned Virtual Pop-up
For the month of June, We Are Women Owned is organizing a virtual pop-up in support of Black women-owned businesses. This pop-up is completely free of charge, and WAWO are offering unlimited spots for Black women-owned businesses. This includes product-based businesses, service-based businesses, and non-profit organizations. Apply here for a feature.
The Well is a powerful & supportive network of ambitious and professional Black women. The Well offers networking opportunities, a strong community, and events that will help members reset and recharge.
WeWork (@WeWork) | Black-owned Business Grants
The co-working company WeWork is committing to give $2 million in grants to Black-owned businesses. Starting mid-June, applications will be accepted for Black-owned WeWork member businesses in the U.S. Sign up here to stay notified.
*This is a working list. If you have resources to add, please share them in the comments.
Sarah Weingust and Alexandra Pluthero created Female Founders Weekly to share bite-sized interviews covering the stories of female founders who are role models in every way. These women inspire us and will be sure to inspire you too. To apply for a feature, send an email to femalefoundersweekly@gmail.com