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Omi Bell is perseverance personified. During AfroTech Executive D.C., the Black Girl Ventures Founder and CEO recalled her journey to get to where she is today. Bell shared that her mother was her first investor. Believing in her daughter’s dreams, she gave Bell $10,000 from her retirement fund.
The NBA Finals may have ended when Stephen Curry led the Golden State Warriors to victory to clinch his fourth championship, but the league’s all-stars are still active. Leveraging their work from the all-star game hosted in Cleveland, OH, earlier this year, the NBA Foundation partnered with Black Girl Ventures (BGV) to host its first-ever pitch competition. The joint programming was available to college-aged entrepreneurs from HBCUs across the nation. Hosted on June 17, seven participants presented their business ideas in front of a panel of judges that included Cleveland Cavilers head coach, J.B. Bickerstaff, and notable HBCU alumni. The college entrepreneurs were a part of BGV’s NextGen Program, a grantee of the NBA Foundation. The NextGen program aims to create access to capital and necessary resources for success aimed at student entrepreneurs, who are ages 18-24. Daa’iyah Fogle of Claflin University and Malcolm Lee of Virginia Union University tied for first place among the...
Supporting entrepreneurs starts with funding! Shelly Omilâdé Bell, founder of Black Girl Ventures (BGV) hosted Atlanta Pull Up & Pitch competition in partnership with Visa to support Black and brown small businesses on March 15. Through this program, BGV and Visa have virtually visited a number of cities, including Washington, D.C., Detroit, and Chicago with Miami competition taking place next Tuesday March 29, giving entrepreneurs from these areas the opportunity to present a 60-second pitch in hopes of securing a $5,000 grant to advance their entrepreneurial journey. For Bell, the competition is hopeful to help more entrepreneurs better articulate their business by deliberating through partnership funding, and feedback opportunities. “Black Girl Ventures as a whole focuses on pitching as an avenue for their voice. Our entire focus is on enhancing the way women can articulate who they are and what they have, and how they can be funded through those matters. Because often, we find...
Capital One will continue to support underserved communities. The banking service will build on its $200 million multi-year commitment by contributing an additional $10 million to existing and new partnerships. The funding aims to close gaps in equity and opportunity to foster growth for underserved communities. Recipients of the new funding include African American Alliance of CDFI CEOs, Vera Institute of Justice, United Negro College Fund, finEQUITY, Local Initiatives Support Corporation, Black Girl Ventures, and Jobs for the Future. In addition, Capital One will target funding toward Black-owned businesses. The contribution will be timely as various Black businesses experienced financial droughts during the peak of the pandemic. Capital One will partner with the Association for Enterprise Opportunity to create the Capital One Business grant program. Business owners will receive $10,000 grants through the program and access to free resources to propel their business through...
Black Girl Ventures is making sure the futures of the next generation of entrepreneurs are in good hands. We are excited to announce that @blackgirlventures will be partnering with the @nba to launch BGV NextGen! Which HBCU should we recruit from first?! 👀 Drop your favorite HBCU in the comments… #communityornothing #bgv #hbcu pic.twitter.com/opEidtpCRB — Omi (@theomibell) August 6, 2021 According to our sister site, Blavity News, 25 students will have an opportunity to advance their business plans with support from BGV and the National Basketball Association (NBA) through the launch of the BGV NextGen Program. “We are excited to announce that @blackgirlventures will be partnering with the @nba to launch BGV NextGen,” Shelly Bell said in a tweet in August 2021. We are excited to announce that @blackgirlventures will be partnering with the @nba to launch BGV NextGen! Which HBCU should we recruit from first?! 👀 Drop your favorite HBCU in the comments… #communityornothing #bgv #hbcu...
Leading women-founded ice cream brand Coolhaus and social organization Black Girl Ventures (BGV) have both joined forces to announce the launch of a new initiative aimed at supporting Black and brown business-women. According to a press release , both entities have introduced “ Currency Cake” — a carrot cake batter ice cream with cream cheese frosting swirl and candied pecans — which is considered the first-ever pint of ice cream solely created to fund the next generation of Black and Brown women entrepreneurs. Many reports have shared that Black founders, and Black women founders in particular, receive very little access to venture capital and have no choice but to rely on fundraising through family and friends, grants and crowdfunding. Thus, BGV and Coolhaus wish to launch a venture that will change that narrative for Black and brown business-women and help them reach their company goals. “When we have big ideas for brands that can change the game, the next step is finding unique...
Two women-led brands are joining forces to search for the latest innovators in self-care, technology, and wellness. Kim Crawford Wines — the No. 1 Sauvignon Blanc and leading New Zealand wine brand in the U.S. — has announced a new partnership with non-profit Black Girl Ventures (BGV), the largest pitch program for Black and brown women in the world. The BGV x Kim Crawford Wines Pitch Competition is a national crowdfunding virtual pitch competition that will promote women working to bring their dreams to life while reiterating the two brands’ shared values of not only empowering female trailblazers but celebrating self-confidence every step of the way. “We’re excited to partner with Kim Crawford Wines to make this pitch competition possible,” said Shelly Bell, Founder, and CEO of Black Girl Ventures in an official news release. “This collaboration will create access to capital for Black and brown women-identifying founders, and will also connect them to community and professionals...
In honor of Women’s History Month, Visa has announced a new locally-focused joint program with Black Girl Ventures to help digitally enable Black and women-owned small businesses across the U.S. The program — She’s Next — offers $10,000 grants and a one-year IFundWomen Annual Coaching Membership to 60 Black women-owned businesses. It aims to address the needs of local entrepreneurs who populate cities with the highest concentration of Black-owned businesses in America – including Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles, Miami and Washington, D.C., a press release shares. The new slate of programming includes grants and mentorship, new educational and technology resources, as well as direct community relationships in partnership with Black Girl Ventures. “Black Girl Ventures is proud to partner with Visa to assist these entrepreneurs and provide a megaphone to each community’s most pressing needs,” said Shelly Bell, founder of Black Girl Ventures, in a statement. “While the Black...
Afro Sheen’s latest campaign is helping entrepreneurs get paid. According to PR Newswire, The brand created the #IDoWhatIDo digital campaign to celebrate the beauty, creativity, and unique style of Black culture. “The #IDoWhatIDo digital campaign focuses on the effortless style and authenticity of the Black community,” said the company in a press release. “Known for pushing the boundaries, Afro Sheen products are designed for the everyday trendsetters and culture creators who stamp their mark of individuality on everything they touch. This campaign aims to highlight the creative community of Afro Sheen consumers who stand out in their own way, whether fro’d, braided up, or twisted out. Afro Sheen will work with a band of creators to share their personal style stories, with a focus on strengthening advocacy among men and empowered Gen-Z consumers.” The haircare brand is also teaming up with Black Girl Ventures, a nonprofit organization that ignites civic engagement and hyperlocal...
This is how you do it! Nike has always been consistent in putting action behind their words when it comes to supporting Black lives. Remaining consistent, the athletic wear giant has announced a $500,000 investment with Black Girl Ventures. “The $500,000 investment from NIKE, Inc. will support Black Girl Ventures in its efforts to provide Black and Brown women-identifying founders with access to community, capital, and capacity-building to support entrepreneurship,” said the company in a press release. “This contribution builds on the commitments to Black Girls CODE, NAACP Empowerment Programs, and the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF) announced in July 2020.” Black Girl Ventures — a Washington D.C.-based nonprofit — is committed to addressing the unique challenges Black and Brown women face in accessing social and financial capital to grow their businesses. “Nike’s funding will help us grow our reach through new chapter development, increase our technology...