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Restaurant company Shake Shack has appointed Tristan Walker, founder & CEO of Walker & Company , to their board of directors, effective June 18. “With sizeable growth ahead and a relentless focus on excellence, guest experience and hospitality, Tristan’s knowledge and fresh perspective will be instrumental in Shake Shack’s continued success,” Shake Shack CEO, Randy Garutti said. “He brings with him a proven ability to lead, execute and inspire and his unique point of view will be invaluable for our company. We’re humbled to welcome him to our Board.” Walker has an eye for inclusivity and authenticity that will help lead the company toward an expansive and forward-thinking future. “I’ve long admired Shake Shack for their commitment to taking care of their guests, their teams and using their business to create good in the world,” Walker said. “As someone who is passionate about building authentic, inclusive brands, I’m excited to leverage my experience to help guide their growth and...
We’ve talked about Tristan Walker and his startup , Walker, and Company as one of our favorite Black-owned startups. Their custom hair care line, Form , which focuses on Black women’s natural hair, has been wildly popular. On Monday, Walker and Company announced its additions to its product line BEVEL. BEVEL is a line of grooming products designed specifically for Black men. Previously, the collection consisted of the BEVEL Beard Balm, Trimmer, and T-Blade. Now, they are offering BEVEL Body, and BEVEL Hair, Skin, and Shave collections. In total, they have launched 11 new products — including a beard softener, a face serum, and an exfoliating bar soap — that will offer head-to-toe grooming options for Black men. The line has even gotten some good publicity from celebs like Steve Harvey. In 2018, the company was acquired by Proctor and Gamble and set up shop in Atlanta, GA. With the new expansion of their product line, we can’t help but get excited to see what’s next for Walker and...
Common, born Lonnie Rashid Lynn Jr., is a multi-talented artist who has made a significant impact not only in the music and film industries but also in business and philanthropy. With a career spanning over three decades, Common has transcended the typical rapper persona to become an influential figure in Hollywood and the entrepreneurial world. In 2025, his net worth continues to grow due to his diverse ventures and his commitment to social change. So, how much is Common worth in 2025? Let’s explore the trajectory of his career, his business ventures, and his philanthropic efforts, which are integral to his financial success. The Early Years And Breakthrough In Hip-Hop Born and raised in Chicago , Common began his music career in the early ’90s, initially releasing Can I Borrow a Dollar? in 1992. However, it was his critically acclaimed album Resurrection (1994) that introduced his poetic and socially conscious style to the world. Tracks like “I Used to Love H.E.R.” cemented his...
It’s no secret that Black culture runs the world. We possess a secret sauce that is often replicated but can never be duplicated because no other culture in the world does it quite like we do. From fashion to music to food, Black culture is at the forefront of many industries. However, representation is not always up to par, especially when it comes to technology. This week, AfroTech’s Will Lucas is joined by Tristan Walker, the founder and CEO of Walker & Company, which includes brands like Bevel and FORM that are specifically designed to meet both the health and beauty needs of people of color. No stranger to being a founder, Walker is also the board chairman and founder of CODE2040, the company that matches high-performing Black and Latinx graduate and undergraduate coders and software engineers to Silicon Valley startups for internships to jump-start their careers. During the Black Tech Green Money episode, Walker discusses the imprint he’s managed to make on Silicon Valley, the...
COVID-19 prompted millions of Americans to adopt new at-home practices to reduce the risks of contracting the disease. Do-it-yourself ( DIY ) routines have become a highly sought-after trend accelerated by COVID-19. About 41 percent of African American women relied less on professional hair services and became avid in-store beauty shoppers, Neilsen previously reported. African Americans attribute $1.2 trillion in consumer power, according to a 2018 report from Neilsen. The beauty industry has often been criticized for its absence of diversity with many Black individuals struggling to find quality products. Rising tension during the Black Lives Matter movement in conjunction with COVID-19 propelled many companies to diversify their products. Proctor and Gamble (P&G), one of the world’s largest advertisers, led efforts to advocate for change within the industry. P&G launched cultural campaigns shedding light on racial bias and challenged the beauty industry’s lack of attentiveness to...
To round out season 1 of AfroTech’s Black Tech Green Money podcast, host Will Lucas sits down with Tristan Walker, founder & CEO of Walker & Company Brands (Bevel, Form). Along with Walker & Co, Tristan Walker is also a member of the Board of Directors of Foot Locker, Inc. and Shake Shack . Walker starts the interview by discussing his decision to plant his roots in Atlanta, the mecca of Black entertainment and rising Black entrepreneurship. @tristanwalker Instagram He says confidently, “Before Walker and Company, I am a Black man. I am a Black father and I am a Black husband. So, every decision I make is in line with my personal values, which happen to match my company’s.” It goes without saying that Black culture drives the needle of what’s considered popular or successful. However, for many years, white corporations had a monopoly on products made for people of color. Walker took a moment to speak to the importance of developing products for African Americans by African...
Startup expert and business mogul, Tristan Walker started his entrepreneurial career in Silicon Valley in 2009. As the head of business for the tech company, FourSquare, he propelled the company to new heights by securing 300 merchant partnerships with brands like American Express and BravoTV. He then went on to launch his own brand, Walker & Co. , where he focuses on providing grooming products for people of color. In the midst of his success, Walker decided to leave the diversity lacking tech hub of Silicon Valley and move south to Atlanta, Georgia. After Walker & Co. merged with Procter & Gamble in 2018, Walker felt it was time to move his brand and his family to an area that would foster a more conducive environment for a successful Black business and afford more opportunities for his family. “It was important for us to be in a place that’s more diverse than the places that we were,” Walker told NBC News . The lack of opportunities for Black tech professionals in Silicon Valley...
We’re used to seeing Andre Iguodala, the 6’6″ swingman, dominate the basketball court, but get ready to witness him transition his skills into the investing industry. The Philadelphia Business Journal announced that Iguodala will be joining the Comcast team as a venture partner for its Catalyst Fund located in San Francisco Bay. The news of Iguodala joining Comcast comes immediately on the heels of his trade from the Memphis Grizzlies to the Miami Heat. The Catalyst Fund is designed to invest in African American, Latinx, and female founders. To date the fund has provided support to more than 70 startups by either directly investing or pairing with accelerator programs, according to its website. Iguodala isn’t new to the world of investing. In fact he and his business partner, Rudy Cline-Thomas founded F9 Strategies. According to Bloomberg Business , the pair holds $25,000 to $150,000 worth of stakes in more than 25 startups including Walker & Co. , Mayvenn , and more. Iguodala...
Foot Locker announced the election of Tristan Walker, founder of Walker&Co. and Bevel, to its Board of Directors, effective February 2, 2020. Walker took to his twitter to express his excitement about his new position. “Some news! This day is one of the most exciting of my career as it was announced that I was elected to the Foot Locker, Inc. Board of Directors, starting Feb 2, 2020.” He went on to say, “I’m beyond excited about this opportunity. I LOVE Foot Locker, Inc’s portfolio of brands (Foot Locker, Lady Foot Locker, Footaction, Champs, Eastbay, and others) and its mission to empower and inspire youth culture. The company and its brands are so iconic and have had such a profound impact in my life. Many thanks to the wonderful board and CEO, Dick Johnson for this opportunity. This is so amazing.” Walker took Silicon Valley by storm with his success as the head of business development at Foursquare during 2009 -2012 where he landed 300 merchant partnerships with brands like...
It’s hard for Black entrepreneurs to launch startups, but these six companies are killing the game. Their amazing products are getting rave reviews from customers and impressive investments from industry leaders. 1. LISNR Founded by Rodney Williams, Chris Ostoich, and Josh Glick, LISNR is on a mission to completely disrupt the digital payments industry. According to their website, LISNR’s “proprietary ultrasonic data-over-sound technology enables modern checkout experiences globally across the customer journey for merchants, financial service providers and mobility enterprises.” If their recent investment from Visa is any indication, they are well on their way to achieving their goal. Learn more about Rodney Williams and LISNR here . 2. Calendly Calendly is a scheduling app that helps people organize their time better. Founded by Tope Awotona in 2013 and headquartered in Atlanta, Calendly helps its users increase their revenue and provide exceptional customer service by streamlining...
In a society that demands we fight for diversity and inclusion; many Black business owners are not only asking for a seat at the table but are creating their own. The following Black-owned businesses saw a need in our community and designed a product and business model, that solved a problem with us specifically in mind. 1. Airfordable Airfordable is transforming the way we travel. The site allows customers to make installment payments on flight tickets. Founder, Ama Marfo, created Airfordable in college when she had difficulties affording the $2,000+ plane ticket home to Ghana. So, here’s how it works — find and submit your ticket to the Airfordable site , lock in your ticket by paying a fraction of the total cost, then pick a payment plan. 2. Uncle Bobbie’s Coffee & Books Uncle Bobbie’s is located in Philadelphia, PA under the ownership of Marc Lamont Hill with a motto of “Cool people. Dope books. Great coffee.” It is modeled after Hill’s childhood experiences during his time at...
It’s no secret that there’s a lack of diversity in the beauty industry. Black and brown women have struggled to find representation in the products they’re using. Some brands are working fill this gap by creating products that cater to a more diverse customer base and finding ways to help them find resources and products that match their needs. Pinterest wants to be part of the shift that’s happening in the beauty industry. Today, the tech giant announced that it’s revamped it’s search feature for mobile to include skin tones. “You hear people talk about bringing together humans and machine learning to create balanced technology, but it’s so important that those people are diverse and can represent a range of people,” a spokeswoman for Pinterest said. The company began offering customizable beauty searches on the web in April using artificial intelligence from ModiFace, a company that specializes in AI and machine learning for the beauty industry. The company developed an algorithm...
If you’re still getting your holiday shopping list together, look no further! We’re here to help you get gifts for anybody in your life who is a techie or wants to support black business. Unapologetically Dope Photo: NickiWashington.com Give the gift of knowledge with Unapologetically Dope , a book focused on the challenges Black women face in the tech industry. Written by career technologist Dr. Nicki Washington, Unapologetically Dope highlights some of the struggles Black women founders know all too well. The book can be purchased here for $14.95. Bevel Shaving Products Photo: Business Wire A morning routine would not be complete without quality products. Bevel , the black-owned grooming products geared toward men of color, is the perfect stocking stuffer for the bearded tech workers in your life. Bevel’s owners, Walker and Company Brands, also makes FORM, a haircare line for women of color, so be sure to check those out too. Lip Bar Cosmetics Photo: Lip Bar Holiday Collection The...
Procter and Gamble has acquired black-owned beauty and grooming startup Walker & Company Brands. Walker & Company Brands gained popularity after releasing beauty products tailored to people of color and the newest acquisition from Procter and Gamble could reflect a desire for the company to bring more inclusive brands and products into the fold. Walker & Company Brands currently makes Bevel, a grooming product geared toward men of color and FORM, a haircare line for women of color. “When I started Walker & Company Brands, I set out to build a company that would meet the health and beauty needs of people of color on a global scale,” Walker & Company Brands CEO Tristan Walker said. “Having access to P&G’s outstanding technology, capabilities and expertise helps us to further realize that vision. According to reports, Proctor and Gamble could have paid anywhere between $20 million and $40 million for the company. Here’s more from Recode’s Jason Del Ray. The companies did not disclose...