Black Entrepreneurs: Breaking Barriers and Building Dreams

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Key Takeaways:
  • Between 2017 and 2020, the number of Black-owned businesses increased by 14%, but they still represent just 3% of all firms.
  • Despite the inequitable barriers that Black entrepreneurs face, many have become famous, including Founder and Chairperson of Urban One, Inc., Cathy Hughes, and Founder of FUBU, Daymond John.
  • Entrepreneurs from underrepresented communities can apply for and utilize several grants, such as the Rebuildtheblock’s Bridge the Gap Fund.
For centuries, Black Americans have experienced many barriers to success, especially in business. And while our history is full of many famous entrepreneurs, very few famous Black entrepreneurs are regularly recognized. However, despite inequitable access to entrepreneurial opportunities, many Black Americans have, and continue to, thrive against all odds.
Below, we explore the current state of Black entrepreneurship in the U.S. and list the stories of 12 famous Black entrepreneurs. In addition, we explore several key grants available to Black entrepreneurs.

The State of Black Entrepreneurship in the U.S.

The number of Black-owned businesses and entrepreneurs in the U.S. has steadily increased in the last few decades, but they still account for a tiny percentage of businesses. According to the U.S. Census Bureau Annual Business Survey (ABS) provided by the Pew Research Center, more than 140,900 Black-owned businesses exist. This number is a 14% increase from the total number of Black-owned businesses in 2017.
While this growth seems significant, it loses its luster when you consider the statistical facts. To put it into perspective, data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows that Black Americans accounted for more than 12% of the U.S. population in 2020, but Black-owned businesses accounted for just 3% of all U.S. firms.

A List of Famous Black Entrepreneurs

Black entrepreneurs excel across a wide range of industries, from entertainment and sports to the food industry. Below, we highlight entrepreneurship by exploring 12 of the most well-known Black entrepreneurs in history.

1. Robert L. Johnson and Sheila Johnson, the Founders of BET

Robert L. Johnson and Sheila Johnson changed the world of media forever when they founded the Black Entertainment Television (BET) network. The formerly married couple developed the network in 1980 to create a dedicated cable TV channel for Black Americans. After working tirelessly to expand the network from two hours of programming to an international offering, they sold BET to Viacom for $2.9 billion.
The 2001 sale made the couple the first Black billionaires in the U.S. Later, BET became the first Black-owned company traded on the New York Stock Exchange. Robert L. Johnson went on to become the first Black American majority owner of a professional sports team, the Charlotte Bobcats NBA team. Sheila Johnson became an investor and the first Black female entrepreneur to be a part owner of three professional sports teams: the WNBC Mystics, the NBA Wizards and the NHL Capitals.

2. Jay-Z (Shawn Carter), Founder of Roc Nation

Shawn Carter, known as Jay-Z, is well known for his musical career as a rapper, but he is also a business mogul. His determination to make it out of his often dangerous childhood neighborhood in Brooklyn, NY, fueled his entrepreneurial spirit. Jay-Z’s first notable business endeavor was Roc-A-Fella Records, which he founded in 1995. Although the label developed some of the best rap music of the 1990s and 2000s, it was shut down in 2013. In 2018, he started another label known as Roc Nation.
Jay-Z has also explored a number of other successful business ventures, including the clothing line Rocawear, the 40/40 Club and the sports management group Roc Nation Sports. Additionally, he pioneered the development of the first artist-owned music streaming service, Tidal.
While it may be hard to believe, the aforementioned projects are just a portion of his ventures. His business prowess and passion have catapulted him to become a leading source of inspiration for aspiring entrepreneurs and one of the most famous Black entrepreneurs.

3. Cathy Hughes, Founder and Chairperson of Urban One, Inc.

Urban One, Inc., previously known as Radio One, was developed by entrepreneur Cathy Hughes. Hughes started the company to share Black American stories across TV, radio and digital media. Her humble upbringing in Omaha, NE, inspired her determination to succeed.
Hughes started her career at her local radio station in her hometown, but moved on in 1971 to become a lecturer at Howard University. She later became the sales manager of the school’s radio station. Hughes was the first female vice president and general manager of a station in Washington, D.C. and pioneered a revolutionary new radio format called “Quiet Storm.” The format transformed urban radio and was used at hundreds of stations across the U.S.
In 1980, Hughes purchased her first radio station in Washington, D.C., which she grew into Urban One. Today, Urban One is the biggest Black-owned and operated broadcast organization in the U.S. with 56 stations.

4. Daymond John, Founder of FUBU

As one of the most well-known Black entrepreneurs, Daymond John is commonly referred to as a millionaire business mogul and an investor on ABC’s Shark Tank. However, John was not simply cast in the spot; he had earned it with his impressive entrepreneurial journey.
In 1989, he started his clothing line, FUBU, with a $40 budget to pursue his teenage dreams. FUBU was not an overnight success. During the first few years after he started his line, he also worked at Red Lobster restaurant. John’s grit and hard work turned FUBU into a $6 billion fashion industry powerhouse.
Today, John is also the Founder and CEO of Blueprint + Co., a coworking space in New York City, and The Shark Group, a brand management consulting agency. John is estimated to have a net worth of more than $250 million.

5. Richelieu Dennis, Founder of Sundial Brands

Richelieu Dennis is the creator of one of the largest natural beauty companies in the U.S., Sundial Brands. Dennis’s journey began in Liberia, where he grew up during a violent civil war. After years of working to get out of the country, his opportunity came when he received a scholarship to Babson College. Several hours after his mother flew out to see his graduation, their Liberian home was destroyed. Post-graduation, Dennis and his mother had no jobs or a home to go to.
To develop a source of income, Dennis started developing bath and body products using his grandmother’s recipes. He and his mother sold the products on the side of streets throughout New York City. Within weeks, they expanded to selling to vendors, local markets and small shops. Together with his mom and classmate, Dennis created Sundial Brands.
When Unilever took over Sundial in 2017, the deal also established a $100 million New Voices Fund dedicated to uplifting female entrepreneurs from underrepresented communities. The year after, Dennis acquired the lifestyle magazine Essence and restored it as a Black-owned publication.

6. Ursula Burns, the former CEO of Xerox

Ursula Burns is the former CEO of Xerox and the first Black woman to head a Fortune 500 company, making her one of the most notable Black female entrepreneurs. While Burns grew up in a low-income housing project in Manhattan, her mom worked several jobs to afford to send her daughter to private school. Her mom’s hard work inspired her to work hard in school. Burns pursued her gift of math by earning a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering at the Polytechnic Institute of New York University. In 1980, she started her master’s degree in mechanical engineering at Columbia University and became an intern at Xerox.
After she completed her master’s, she accepted a full-time position at Xerox in product development. From then on, Burns blazed a path for herself at the company by taking on new roles in management and engineering. In 2000, Burns was made the senior vice president of corporate strategic services, which provided her with insight into different areas of the business. Seven years later, she became the president of Xerox and was officially named CEO two years later.
After stepping down from her position as CEO, Burns served as the CEO of Veon, a telecommunications firm. Burns currently works with several large corporate boards and advocates for inclusive capitalism and racial equity.

7. Tyler Perry, Founder of Tyler Perry Studios

Tyler Perry is a playwright, actor, screenwriter, director and founder of Tyler Perry Studios. Perry was raised in a poverty-stricken and abusive home in New Orleans, LA. To cope, Perry would record his thoughts and experiences in a series of letters to himself. These letters later motivated Perry to write his first play in 1992.
The first showing of his play did not sell out as he had imagined. However, several years later, Perry put on the play again and sold out the theater. Hungry for more success, he pushed himself to write thirteen plays over thirteen years. In 2005, Perry broke into film with the movie “Diary of a Mad Black Woman,” which skyrocketed to the number one spot at box offices across the U.S. The next year, he started Tyler Perry Studios.
In 2007, Perry broadened his media presence with “House of Payne,” his first TV series. This series became the most popular first-run syndicated cable show in TV history. In 2012, Perry partnered with Oprah Winfrey to develop programming for the cable network OWN. Three years later, he relocated Tyler Perry Studios to Fort McPherson Army base in Atlanta, GA. Today, Tyler Perry Studios is one of the largest major motion picture studios in the U.S., and Perry is one of the world’s most successful black entrepreneurs.

8. Micheal Jordan, Partner of Nike’s Jordan Brand and Investor in DraftKings

Michael Jordan is known as one of the greatest basketball players of all time, but he is also an investor and entrepreneur. Jordan started his career by playing collegiate basketball at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. After leading the school to several victories, he left his junior year to join the U.S. basketball team, which he led to two Olympic gold medals. Jordan’s basketball career hit new heights when he was drafted by the Chicago Bulls in 1984. Jordan helped the Bulls achieve six National Basketball Association (NBA) championships and played with the NBA for 15 seasons.
During his first year with the Bulls, Jordan signed a deal with the shoe brand Nike under his mom’s guidance. Not only did she help him acquire a deal with his own shoe line, she negotiated that her son should earn a percentage of every pair of shoes sold, which was unheard of at the time. His shoe, Air Jordan, made $126 million within three years, which exceeded the company’s initial expectations by $123 million.
This partnership with his mother ignited Jordan’s entrepreneurial spirit and inspired him to do brand partnerships with notable companies, such as Coca-Cola, Chevrolet and Gatorade. Jordan is also a part owner of the Charlotte Hornets basketball team and the Miami Marlins baseball team. In addition, he has several other business endeavors. He is a co-owner of a NASCAR team, is an investor in the sports betting app DraftKings and owns a tequila brand and a few restaurants.

9. Janice Bryant Howroyd, Founder and CEO of ActOne Group

Janice Bryant Howroyd is a Founder and CEO of ActOne Group, an employment and consulting agency. Howroyd credits her basic entrepreneurial skills to her childhood experience in Tarboro, NC, where she grew up with 10 brothers and sisters. After moving to Los Angeles, CA, in 1976, Howroyd briefly worked at Billboard. Two years later, she set off on her own and opened ActOne Group with just $1,500. With a lot of hard work and grit, she expanded the company into a multi-billion dollar organization that operates in 32 countries.
Howroyd is the first Black woman to achieve this type of success, making her also one of the most successful Black female entrepreneurs. In 2023, Forbes recognized her as one of America’s Richest Self-Made Women. In addition to ActOne Group, Howroyd uses her business prowess and experience to uplift underrepresented communities. Specifically, she works to provide people from these communities with opportunities in business and education.

10. Serena Williams, Founder of Serena Ventures

Serena Williams is known as one of the greatest tennis players of all time. She developed the core values that served her throughout her athletic and entrepreneurial journey when she started learning to play tennis at an early age. Instead of signing his daughters up for classes, Williams’s father started training them himself starting at age three. Williams’ roster of wins includes 23 Grand Slam singles titles and four Olympic gold medals. Off the court, she also makes an impact.
In 2009, Williams and her sister, Venus Williams, became the first Black women to be part owners of a National Football League (NFL) team when they purchased shares of the Miami Dolphins. In addition, Williams ventured into other business endeavors, including clothing, film and TV. In 2011, Williams became a UNICEF International Goodwill Ambassador. Recently, Williams partnered with UNICEF on its #EveryChildAlive campaign. Together, they promoted the importance of providing affordable, equitable health care for every mother and baby.
In 2019, Williams founded her own venture capital firm, Serena Ventures, which invests in tech companies owned or run by people from underrepresented communities.

11. George Foreman, Co-Founder of Foreman Boys and Founder of George Foreman's Butcher Shop

George Foreman is known for his boxing career. Foreman grew up in an impoverished household in Houston, TX. Because he was getting into trouble, he was sent to attend a camp in Oregon dedicated to helping disadvantaged kids learn vocational job skills. It was there that Foreman first learned to box. Shortly after, he started to train as a boxer, which landed him a spot at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City. There, Foreman won his first and only gold medal. A year later, Foreman emerged as a professional boxer and quickly gained success. After nine years in the ring, he retired to focus on becoming an evangelist.
However, Foreman returned to the ring in 1987 and quickly made a name for himself again. When he was 45 years old, he regained the heavyweight title and became the oldest world heavyweight champion. In 1997, he officially retired from boxing with 76 wins.
Retirement did not slow Foreman down. He continued doing infomercials for the George Foreman Lean Mean Grilling Machine and preaching in his church. He also became a member of HBO Sports’ boxing broadcast team. In addition, Foreman also developed a clothing line, released a few books and started a promotional boxing company and a direct-to-consumer store called George Foreman’s Butcher Shop.

12. Shonda Rhimes, Founder of Shondaland

Shonda Rhimes is an iconic TV writer, producer and creator. Her passion for writing, which has fueled her success, started while she was growing up in Chicago, IL. Rhimes initially aspired to become a novelist post-graduation from Dartmouth College in 1991. However, she ended up pursuing film at the University of Southern California. Rhimes penned and directed her first short film in 1998 and wrote her first TV movie the year after. Next, she authored several screenplays for several movies, such as “Crossroads” and the Princess Diaries sequel. Later, Rhimes challenged herself by pivoting to TV series. While the first series she worked on was unsuccessful, she persevered.
Rhimes’s big break came in 2005 with the launch of the medical drama “Grey’s Anatomy,” which was an instant hit. That same year, she established her own media company, Shondaland.
Since its inception, Shondaland has expanded into an international organization that has expanded its storytelling to film, audio, digital, merchandise, editorial and more.
In 2017, Rhimes entered a partnership with Netflix that created a new brand of Shondaland. Through this partnership, Shondaland creates exclusive content for Netflix. So far, the partnership has led to the development of hit series such as “Bridgerton” and “Inventing Anna.”

Grants for Black Entrepreneurs

While many Black entrepreneurs come from humble backgrounds and struggle for both financial backing and success, there are opportunities available. Entrepreneurs from underrepresented communities can apply for several kinds of grants. These can range from federal grants to investment funds from companies. Below are a few of the available regular grants and grants for Black entrepreneurs.

1. Federal Small Business Grants for Minorities

The federal government offers many funding programs to eligible business owners. However, it is important to note that they do not provide grants that solely pay for an entrepreneur to open a business. However, they do offer funding programs to help entrepreneurs start, grow and get back on track if they are impacted by a disaster. These funding programs are available through government agencies, including the Department of Commerce and the U.S. Small Business Administration. You can get started by visiting their website and signing up. After you sign up and create an account, you can research grants to apply for that fit your needs.

2. The USDA Rural Business Development Grant Program

Black Americans comprise a small share of the population in rural communities. To put it into perspective, 2018 data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) shows that underrepresented communities represent just 22% of the population. In particular, Black Americans represent just 7.8%. Considering that underrepresented communities make up such a small share, it is crucial to ensure that the entrepreneurs in these communities are aware of the resources available to them.
The USDA Rural Business Development Grant Program provides two types of grants — opportunity and enterprise grants. These types of grants can provide services, such as technical help and training to small rural businesses. To learn more about these grants and the eligibility requirements, visit the USDA Rural Business Development Grant Program website.

3. Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Programs

The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs have a competitive and awards-based system designed to enable small businesses to explore their technological potential. The goal of these programs is to build a strong national economy. To qualify, interested small businesses must be primarily owned by U.S. citizens, be for-profit and have fewer than 500 employees. You can learn more by visiting this website.

4. National Black MBA Association® Scale-Up Pitch Challenge

The National Black MBA Association® created the Scale-Up Pitch Challenge in 2017. The Association developed the challenge to help participants start businesses that have the potential to expand. In addition to providing funding through prizes, the competition provides business owners with the opportunity to meet investors. Learn more about the challenge and prizes on the Association’s website.

5. Comcast RISE Investment Fund

Created in 2020, the Comcast RISE Investment Fund aims to help small businesses impacted by the pandemic. During the first two years of this program, 13,000 small businesses were given $110 million in grants. Most recently, the organization gave 500 recipients grant packages that offer a wealth of services, such as business consultation, academic resources and monetary grants, in addition to others. Get a better understanding of the program and eligibility requirements by visiting Comcast RISE Investment Fund’s website.

6. Rebuildtheblock Bridge the Gap Fund

Rebuildtheblock’s Bridge the Gap Fund is also a grant program that provides funds to Black entrepreneurs who have been negatively impacted by the pandemic. Established in 2020, Rebuildtheblock is an organization that works as a bridge between small businesses and legitimate resources to build generational wealth and capital for Black Americans. During each application cycle, Rebuild the Block selects 15 recipients from a pool of applicants to receive funding. Learn more about the program by visiting its website.
To learn more about other important topics, follow philanthropist and entrepreneur Robert F. Smith on LinkedIn.

Across our Communities

MBE Entrepreneurship & Supplier Diversity

1. Provide technical expertise: offer subject matter and technical expertise to catalyze and support community initiatives 

E.g., tax/accounting experts to help MBEs file taxes

E.g., business experts to help MBEs better access capital and craft business plans to scale their teams and operations

Access to Capital (CDFI/MDI)

2. Fund modernization & capacity-building and provide in-kind subject matter experts – $30M: help 4-5 CDFIs/MDIs over 5 years modernize their core systems, hire and train staff, expand marketing and standup SWAT team of experts to conduct needs diagnostic, implement tech solution & provide technical assistance

Systems and technology modernization – $10M-15M: Add/upgrade core banking systems, hardware and productivity tools, train frontline workforce on new systems & technology and hire engineering specialists to support customization and news systems rollout – over 5 years

Talent and workforce – $10M: hire and train additional frontline lending staff and invest in recruiting, training, compensation & benefits and retention to increase in-house expertise and loan capacity – over 5 years

Other capacity-building and outreach – $8M: hire additional staff to increase custom borrower and technical assistance (e.g., credit building, MBE financing options, etc.) and increase community outreach to drive regional awareness and new pipeline projects – over 5 years

Education/HBCU & Workforce Development

3. Offer more paid internships: signup onto InternX and offer 25+ additional paid internships per year to HBCU/Black students 

Digital Access

4. Issue digital access equality bonds: issue equality progress bonds and invest proceeds into SCI’s digital access initiatives

5. Fund HBCU campus-wide internet – up to $50M in donations or in-kind: Partner with the Student Freedom Initiative to deliver campus-wide high-speed internet at ~10 HBCUs across SCI regions

Advocacy

6. Be an advocate for SCI priorities: engage federal and state agencies to drive policy and funding improvements to better support SCI’s near-term priorities

E.g., Engage the Small Business Administration and Minority Business Development Agency to increase technical assistance programs and annual spend to better support Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs) with capital and scaling needs

E.g., Ask the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to include multi-dwelling unit connectivity in its new broadband connectivity maps and ask the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to allow non-FCC data in state broadband plans to unlock ~$285M in potential government broadband funding for 5 SCI regions

Directly Fund SCI

7. Invest directly into SCI (coming soon): provide funding for SCI to pool and invest in community initiatives that are most well-positioned for funding and can drive direct community impact.

Memphis, Tennessee

Lead community organization: The Collective Blueprint

MBE Entrepreneurship & Supplier Diversity

Our ambition:

Increase the volume and value of Black-owned businesses – through corporate MBE spend and MBE startups & scaling

1. Scale technical assistance – $15M: fund* to expand technical assistance through business coaches and wrap-around services for 500+ MBEs over 5 years to help them scale from <$1M to $5M+ in annual revenue

2. Standup MBE fund – $15M: standup/scale MBE fund* to offer more flexible access to capital arrangements 400-500 MBEs over 5 years

 * Lead organization: The Collective Blueprint; Contributing local organizations for community strategy include (but not limited to): Community Unlimited, Women’s Business Center South, Epicenter, others

Estimated impact (of all initiatives): 2.3x increase in MBE value & 20K+ new jobs, boosting Black community’s net worth by ~$3B+

Access to Capital (CDFI/MDI)

Our ambition:

Modernize CDFI/MDI systems and tech as well as recruit and upskill talent to increase CDFI/MDI capacity and ability to inject more capital into Black communities

3. Provide loan guarantees – $15M: create a fund* to provide 80% loan guarantees over 5 years to encourage lender participation and inject more capital into the community

4. Conduct advocacy: ask US Treasury & Tennessee State to allow Tennessee CDFIs/MDIs to retain SSBCI capital & offer loan guarantees to boost loan issuance

5. Fund modernization & capacity-building and provide in-kind subject matter experts – $30M: help 4-5 CDFIs/MDIs** over 5 years modernize their core systems, hire and train staff, expand marketing and standup a SWAT team of experts to conduct needs diagnostic, implement tech solution & provide technical assistance

  • Systems and technology modernization – $10M-15M: Add/upgrade core banking systems, hardware and productivity tools, train frontline workforce on new systems & technology and hire engineering specialists to support customization and news systems rollout – over 5 years
  • Talent and workforce – $10M: hire and train additional frontline lending staff and invest in recruiting, training, compensation & benefits and retention to increase in-house expertise and loan capacity – over 5 years
  • Other capacity-building and outreach – $8M: hire additional staff to increase custom borrower and technical assistance (e.g., credit building, MBE financing options, etc.) and increase community outreach to drive regional awareness and new pipeline projects – over 5 years

* Leading organizations for community strategy include (but not limited to): Community LIFT, Memphis CDFI Network, etc.

* In partnership with National Bankers Association and Appalachian Community Capital; CDFIs/MDIs being considered include: Community Unlimited, Hope Credit Union, River City Capital, United Housing Inc, etc.

Estimated impact (of all initiatives): ~$330M+ in additional loans per year to support ~30K+ MBEs

Education/HBCU & Workforce Development

Our ambition:

Lower financial burden for Black students, increase number of Black college graduates, increase Black workforce and executive representation and their access to high-paying jobs

6. Standup training hub – $30M: fund* the establishment a world-class training hub that offers certificate-granting STEM and innovation programs in advanced manufacturing, health care, etc. to 10K+ youths

7. Fund SFI program – $7M: fund the Student Freedom Initiative’s Income Contingent Alternative to Parent Plus to support ~15 Black STEM students per year forever at 4 HBCUs**

* Lead organization: The Collective Blueprint; Contributing local organizations for community strategy include (but not limited to): Greater Memphis Chamber and Workforce Midsouth

** Minority Serving Institutions / HBCUs with STEM programs being considered: Le Moyne-Owen, Baptist Memorial, University of Memphis, Rust College

Estimated impact (of all initiatives): 8K+ additional college graduates and 10K workers with high-paying wages to drive ~$1B+ in economic growth

Digital Access

Our ambition:

Increase accessibility, affordability and adoption of high-speed Internet

8. Accelerate digital access initiatives – $75M: partner with local orgs* to invest in setting up internet connections / installing hotspots, offering laptops and supporting adoption (through government subsidy technical assistance and digital literacy) to connect ~135K homes to high-speed internet in the Memphis region

9. Raise community awareness & adoption of Emergency Broadband Benefit: increase door-to-door and community outreach in low-income neighborhoods to get households onto EBB to help connect ~135K unconnected households 

 * Lead organization: The Collective Blueprint; Contributing local organizations for community strategy include (but not limited to): CodeCrew

Estimated impact (of all initiatives): ~135K households connected to high-speed internet to unlock ~$2B+ in economic potential

Houston, Texas

Lead community organization: Greater Houston Partnership

MBE Entrepreneurship & Supplier Diversity

Our ambition:

Increase the volume and value of Black-owned businesses – through corporate MBE spend and MBE startups & scaling

1. Scale team – ~$3M: hire 3-4 FTEs over 5 years for One Houston Together* to help companies increase MBE spend from ~2% to 5-10%+ as well as BIPOC workforce advancement and BIPOC board representation 

2. Increase MBE certification and scale technical assistance – ~$2M: partner with One Houston Together* and the Houston Minority Supplier Development Council (HSMDC)** to certify additional MBEs, develop Minority Business Finder database tool and provide resources and services to help local MBEs scale and participate in Pathways to Excellence program

3. Commit to increase racial diversity in supply chain and procurement: increase MBE spend in Greater Houston region* to 5-10%+

* One Houston Together serves as lead (please contact if you are interested in funding these initiatives)

** Houston Minority Supplier Development Council (HSMDC) serves as a partner organization (please contact if you are interested in learning more about this initiative)

Estimated impact (of all initiatives): 2.5x increase in MBE value & ~55K new jobs, boosting Black community’s net worth by ~$12B 

Access to Capital (CDFI/MDI)

Our ambition:

Modernize CDFI/MDI systems and tech as well as recruit and upskill talent to increase CDFI/MDI capacity and ability to inject more capital into Black communities

4. Fund modernization & capacity-building and provide in-kind subject matter experts – $30M: help 4-5 CDFIs/MDIs* over 5 years modernize their core systems, hire and train staff, expand marketing and standup SWAT team of experts to conduct needs diagnostic, implement tech solution & provide technical assistance

  • Systems and technology modernization – $10M-15M: Add/upgrade core banking systems, hardware and productivity tools, train frontline workforce on new systems & technology and hire engineering specialists to support customization and news systems rollout – over 5 years
  • Talent and workforce – $10M: hire and train additional frontline lending staff and invest in recruiting, training, compensation & benefits and retention to increase in-house expertise and loan capacity – over 5 years
  • Other capacity-building and outreach – $8M: hire additional staff to increase custom borrower and technical assistance (e.g., credit building, MBE financing options, etc.) and increase community outreach to drive regional awareness and new pipeline projects – over 5 years

* In partnership with National Bankers Association and Appalachian Community Capital; CDFIs/MDIs being considered include: Unity National Bank, Unity Bank of Texas, PeopleFund, Houston Business Development Inc, etc.

Estimated impact (of all initiatives): ~$330M in additional loans per year to support ~30K MBEs

Education/HBCU & Workforce Development

Our ambition:

Lower financial burden for Black students, increase number of Black college graduates, increase Black workforce and executive representation and their access to high-paying jobs

5. Fund SFI program – $120M: fund the Student Freedom Initiative’s Income Contingent Alternative to Parent Plus* to support ~1.2K Black STEM students per year forever at 7 HBCUs**

* Student Freedom Initiative serves as lead (main contact if you are interested in learning more and funding this initiative)

** Minority Serving Institutions / HBCUs with STEM programs being considered: Texas Southern University, University of Houston, Prairie View A&M University, Houston Baptist University, University of Houston-Clear Lake, University of Houston-Downtown, University of St Thomas.  

Estimated impact (of all initiatives): 5K+ additional college grads & ~600 workers with senior exec positions / high-paying wages to drive ~$0.2B in economic growth

Digital Access

Our ambition:

Increase accessibility, affordability and adoption of high-speed Internet

6. Accelerate SCI’s digital access initiatives – up to $80M in donations or in-kind: invest in setting up internet connections / hotspots, offer laptops/Chromebooks and support adoption (through government subsidy technical assistance and digital literacy) to connect ~145K homes to high-speed internet in the Houston region*

7. Raise community awareness & adoption of Emergency Broadband Benefit: increase door-to-door and community outreach in low-income neighborhoods to get households onto EBB to help connect ~145K unconnected households 

* Community organization(s) being identified 

Estimated impact (of all initiatives): ~145K households connected to high-speed internet to unlock ~$3B in economic potential

Greater New Orleans, Louisiana

Lead community organization: Urban League of Louisiana

MBE Entrepreneurship & Supplier Diversity

Our ambition:

Increase the volume and value of Black-owned businesses – through corporate MBE spend and MBE startups & scaling

1. Scale Black Business Works Fund – $10M: grow the Urban League of Louisiana’s Black Business Works Fund to support ~3K-4K MBEs over 5 years with emergency working capital needs to support/sustain ~$1B+ in annual revenues

2. Scale technical assistance – $20M: fund the Urban League of Louisiana, New Orleans Business Alliance, Thrive New Orleans and Propellor to scale bookkeeping, B2C payment, marketing support & subsidized rent to scale 200+ MBEs from <$1M to $5M+ in annual revenue

Estimated impact (of all initiatives): 2.5x increase in MBE value & 8K+ new jobs, boosting Black community’s net worth by ~$2B+

Access to Capital (CDFI/MDI)

Our ambition:

Modernize CDFI/MDI systems and tech as well as recruit and upskill talent to increase CDFI/MDI capacity and ability to inject more capital into Black communities

3. Fund modernization & capacity-building and provide in-kind subject matter experts – $30M: help 4-5 CDFIs/MDIs* over 5 years modernize their core systems, hire and train staff, expand marketing and standup SWAT teams to conduct needs diagnostic, implement tech solution & provide technical assistance

  • Systems and technology modernization – $10M-15M: Add/upgrade core banking systems, hardware and productivity tools, train frontline workforce on new systems & technology and hire engineering specialists to support customization and news systems rollout – over 5 years
  • Talent and workforce – $10M: hire and train additional frontline lending staff and invest in recruiting, training, compensation & benefits and retention to increase in-house expertise and loan capacity – over 5 years
  • Other capacity-building and outreach – $8M: hire additional staff to increase custom borrower and technical assistance (e.g., credit building, MBE financing options, etc.) and increase community outreach to drive regional awareness and new pipeline projects – over 5 years

* In partnership with National Bankers Association and Appalachian Community Capital; CDFIs/MDIs being considered include: New Orleans Business Alliance (community convener), Liberty, TruFund, LiftFund, NewCorp, etc.

Estimated impact (of all initiatives): ~$330M in additional loans per year to support ~30K MBEs

Education/HBCU & Workforce Development

Our ambition:

Lower financial burden for Black students, increase number of Black college graduates, increase Black workforce and executive representation and their access to high-paying jobs

4. Subsidize internships & apprenticeships – $40M: fund the New Orleans Youth Alliance, YouthForce NOLA and the Urban League of Louisiana to place and help subsidize apprenticeships, internships and other work-based learning experiences for ~20K young adults in high-pay sectors (e.g., energy)

5. Fund SFI program – $12M: fund the Student Freedom Initiative’s Income Contingent Alternative to Parent Plus to support ~120 Black STEM students per year forever at 3 HBCUs*

* Minority Serving Institutions / HBCUs being considered: Dillard University, Southern University – New Orleans and Xavier University of Louisiana

6. Scale career prep – ~$10M: scale the New Orleans Youth Alliance and YouthForce NOLA with 15-20 coaches over 5 years to equip ~20K young adults with skills for high-paying industries, job search & prep and subsidized transportation

Estimated impact (of all initiatives): ~2K additional college graduates and ~20K workers with high-paying wages to drive ~$1B in economic growth

Digital Access

Our ambition:

Increase accessibility, affordability and adoption of high-speed Internet

7. Accelerate SCI’s digital access initiatives – up to $35M in donations or in-kind: partner with New Orleans’s Office of Information Technology & Innovation and Education SuperHighway to invest in setting up internet connections / hotspots, offering laptops/Chromebook and supporting adoption (through government subsidy technical assistance and digital literacy) to connect ~55K homes to high-speed internet in Greater New Orleans region

8. Raise community awareness & adoption of Emergency Broadband Benefit: increase door-to-door and community outreach in low-income neighborhoods to get households onto EBB to help connect ~55K unconnected households

Estimated impact (of all initiatives): 55K households connected to high-speed internet to unlock ~$1B in economic potential

Charlotte, North Carolina

Lead community organization: Charlotte Regional Business Alliance

MBE Entrepreneurship & Supplier Diversity

Our ambition:

Increase the volume and value of Black-owned businesses – through corporate MBE spend and MBE startups & scaling

1. Offer in-kind FTEs: provide 2-5 in-kind FTEs to the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance (CRBA) over 5 years to convene corporate partners, assess their MBE spend, develop pipeline to increase MBE spend to 5-10%+

2. Offer technical assistance expertise: partner with the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance (CRBA) to advise/mentor ~200 MBEs on capital/loan access to help them scale from <$10M to $50M+

3. Commit to supplier diversity: increase MBE spend in Charlotte region to 5-10%+

Estimated impact (of all initiatives): 3x increase in MBE value & ~13K new jobs, boosting Black community’s net worth by ~$2B+

Access to Capital (CDFI/MDI)

Our ambition:

Modernize CDFI/MDI systems and tech as well as recruit and upskill talent to increase CDFI/MDI capacity and ability to inject more capital into Black communities

4. Fund modernization & capacity-building and provide in-kind subject matter experts – $30M: help 4-5 CDFIs/MDIs* over 5 years modernize their core systems, hire and train staff, expand marketing and standup SWAT team of experts to conduct needs diagnostic, implement tech solution & provide technical assistance; in-kind experts to also help build out the MBE ecosystem through CDFIs/MDIs, market CDFI/MDI offerings and programs and help draft final loan agreements to qualify borrowers between investment fund(s) and CDFIs/MDIs

* CDFIs/MDIs being considered (examples and not exhaustive): Security Federal Bank, Institute / North Carolina Community Development Initiative, Sequoyah Fund Inc, Self-Help Credit Union, BEFCOR, Aspire Community Capital, etc.

  • Systems and technology modernization – $10M-15M: Add/upgrade core banking systems, hardware and productivity tools, train frontline workforce on new systems & technology and hire engineering specialists to support customization and news systems rollout – over 5 years
  • Talent and workforce – $10M: hire and train additional frontline lending staff and invest in recruiting, training, compensation & benefits and retention to increase in-house expertise and loan capacity – over 5 years
  • Other capacity-building and outreach – $8M: hire additional staff to increase custom borrower and technical assistance (e.g., credit building, MBE financing options, etc.) and increase community outreach to drive regional awareness and new pipeline projects – over 5 years

* In partnership with National Bankers Association and Appalachian Community Capital; CDFIs/MDIs being considered include: Security Federal Bank, Institute / North Carolina Community Development Initiative, Sequoyah Fund Inc, etc.

Estimated impact (of all initiatives): ~$330M in additional loans per year to support ~30K MBEs

Education/HBCU & Workforce Development

Our ambition:

Lower financial burden for Black students, increase number of Black college graduates, increase Black workforce and executive representation and their access to high-paying jobs

5. Fund SFI program – up to $10M: fund the Student Freedom Initiative’s HELPS program to support ~1.5K+ students per year at HBCUs* with emergency expenses – e.g., unexpected health costs, late rent payments, etc.

* Minority Serving Institutions / HBCUs in Charlotte that are being considered: Johnson C. Smith University, Johnson & Wales University – Charlotte, Charlotte Christian College

6. Provide in-kind staff: offer 2-5 FTEs to the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance (CRBA)over 5 years to track Black-/Brown-executive representation, convene corporate partners to develop executive pipeline and hiring plans and support corporate partners to increase representation from ~10% to 30%+

Estimated impact (of all initiatives): 2.5K+ additional college graduates and 2.5K workers with high-paying wages to drive ~$0.2B in economic growth

Digital Access

Our ambition:

Increase accessibility, affordability and adoption of high-speed Internet

7. Raise community awareness & adoption of Emergency Broadband Benefit: increase door-to-door and community outreach in low-income neighborhoods to get households onto EBB to help connect ~35K unconnected households

Estimated impact (of all initiatives): ~35K households get connected to high-speed internet to unlock ~$700M in economic potential for Charlotte

Birmingham, Alabama

Lead community organization: Prosper Birmingham

MBE Entrepreneurship & Supplier Diversity

Our ambition:

Increase the volume and value of Black-owned businesses – through corporate MBE spend and MBE startups & scaling

1. Fund startups and give access to investor network – $70M: grow the Prosper Health Tech Fund – powered by Gener8tor – and offer venture capital technical assistance to scale 50+ startups from <$1M to $5M+ in annual revenue; near-term priority is to secure $4M in venture investment by end of May 2022

2. Fund technical assistance – $25M: fund Prosper Birmingham, Magic City Match, and Birmingham Business Alliance to establish/expand business advisory programs, renovate and subsidize retail/office space for MBEs and scale coaches & support services (e.g., digital footprint, B2C platforms, accounting & bookkeeping, recruitment, etc.) to help 100+ MBEs scale from <$1M to $5M+ in annual revenue

Estimated impact (of all initiatives): 3x increase in annual MBE revenue & 8K+ new jobs, boosting Black community’s net worth by ~$2B+

Access to Capital (CDFI/MDI)

Our ambition:

Modernize CDFI/MDI systems and tech as well as recruit and upskill talent to increase CDFI/MDI capacity and ability to inject more capital into Black communities

3. Fund modernization & capacity-building and provide in-kind subject matter experts – $30M: help 4-5 CDFIs/MDIs* over 5 years modernize their core systems, hire and train staff, expand marketing and standup SWAT team of experts to conduct needs diagnostic, implement tech solution & provide technical assistance

  • Systems and technology modernization – $10M-15M: Add/upgrade core banking systems, hardware and productivity tools, train frontline workforce on new systems & technology and hire engineering specialists to support customization and news systems rollout – over 5 years
  • Talent and workforce – $10M: hire and train additional frontline lending staff and invest in recruiting, training, compensation & benefits and retention to increase in-house expertise and loan capacity – over 5 years
  • Other capacity-building and outreach – $8M: hire additional staff to increase custom borrower and technical assistance (e.g., credit building, MBE financing options, etc.) and increase community outreach to drive regional awareness and new pipeline projects – over 5 years

* In partnership with National Bankers Association and Appalachian Community Capital; CDFIs/MDIs being considered include: First Bancshares, Commonwealth National Bank, TruFund, Sabre Finance, Bronze Valley, etc.

Estimated impact (of all initiatives): ~$330M in additional loans per year to support ~30K MBEs

Education/HBCU & Workforce Development

Our ambition:

Lower financial burden for Black students, increase number of Black college graduates, increase Black workforce and executive representation and their access to high-paying jobs

4. Fund scholarships and hire coaches – ~$35M: scale Birmingham Promise fund to financially support 200-250 students per year over 4 years to increase college retention and graduation rates

5. Fund endowment – $2M: support 50 University of Alabama at Birmingham college students per year with housing to reduce their financial burden and increase college retention and graduation rates

Estimated impact (of all initiatives): 6.5K+ additional college graduates & 35K workers with high-paying wages to drive ~$1.2B in economic growth

Digital Access

Our ambition:

Increase accessibility, affordability and adoption of high-speed Internet

6. Raise community awareness & adoption of Emergency Broadband Benefit: increase door-to-door and community outreach in low-income neighborhoods to get households onto EBB to help connect ~35K unconnected households

Estimated impact (of all initiatives): 48K households get connected to high-speed internet to unlock ~$700M in economic potential for Jefferson County

Birmingham, Alabama

Lead community organization: Prosper Birmingham

MBE Entrepreneurship & Supplier Diversity

Our ambition:

Increase the volume and value of Black-owned businesses – through corporate MBE spend and MBE startups & scaling

1. Fund startups and give access to investor network – $70M: grow the Prosper Health Tech Fund – powered by Gener8tor – and offer venture capital technical assistance to scale 50+ startups from <$1M to $5M+ in annual revenue; near-term priority is to secure $4M in venture investment by end of May 2022

2. Fund technical assistance – $25M: fund Prosper Birmingham, Magic City Match, and Birmingham Business Alliance to establish/expand business advisory programs, renovate and subsidize retail/office space for MBEs and scale coaches & support services (e.g., digital footprint, B2C platforms, accounting & bookkeeping, recruitment, etc.) to help 100+ MBEs scale from <$1M to $5M+ in annual revenue

Estimated impact (of all initiatives): 3x increase in annual MBE revenue & 8K+ new jobs, boosting Black community’s net worth by ~$2B+

Access to Capital (CDFI/MDI)

Our ambition:

Modernize CDFI/MDI systems and tech as well as recruit and upskill talent to increase CDFI/MDI capacity and ability to inject more capital into Black communities

3. Fund modernization & capacity-building and provide in-kind subject matter experts – $30M: help 4-5 CDFIs/MDIs* over 5 years modernize their core systems, hire and train staff, expand marketing and standup SWAT team of experts to conduct needs diagnostic, implement tech solution & provide technical assistance

Systems and technology modernization – $10M-15M: Add/upgrade core banking systems, hardware and productivity tools, train frontline workforce on new systems & technology and hire engineering specialists to support customization and news systems rollout – over 5 years

Talent and workforce – $10M: hire and train additional frontline lending staff and invest in recruiting, training, compensation & benefits and retention to increase in-house expertise and loan capacity – over 5 years

Other capacity-building and outreach – $8M: hire additional staff to increase custom borrower and technical assistance (e.g., credit building, MBE financing options, etc.) and increase community outreach to drive regional awareness and new pipeline projects – over 5 years

* In partnership with National Bankers Association and Appalachian Community Capital; CDFIs/MDIs being considered include: First Bancshares, Commonwealth National Bank, TruFund, Sabre Finance, Bronze Valley, etc.

Estimated impact (of all initiatives): ~$330M in additional loans per year to support ~30K MBEs

Education/HBCU & Workforce Development

Our ambition:

Lower financial burden for Black students, increase number of Black college graduates, increase Black workforce and executive representation and their access to high-paying jobs

4. Fund scholarships and hire coaches – ~$35M: scale Birmingham Promise fund to financially support 200-250 students per year over 4 years to increase college retention and graduation rates

5. Fund endowment – $2M: support 50 University of Alabama at Birmingham college students per year with housing to reduce their financial burden and increase college retention and graduation rates

Estimated impact (of all initiatives): 6.5K+ additional college graduates & 35K workers with high-paying wages to drive ~$1.2B in economic growth

Digital Access

Our ambition:

Increase accessibility, affordability and adoption of high-speed Internet

6. Raise community awareness & adoption of Emergency Broadband Benefit: increase door-to-door and community outreach in low-income neighborhoods to get households onto EBB to help connect ~35K unconnected households

Estimated impact (of all initiatives): 48K households get connected to high-speed internet to unlock ~$700M in economic potential for Jefferson County