Starting a business comes with highs and lows. On the one hand, an entrepreneur may feel endless optimism as they launch a new concept and see how the market responds. But conversely, fears over being scooped by the competition — especially bigger brands — can make even the most confident individuals second guess their decisions. And in particular, steep competition from established businesses is a major caveat that an entrepreneur needs to consider when launching a new concept. This is because a competitor with a more established firm often has access to resources, a deep network and name recognition by consumers. This means that even if an upstart business is first to market with an idea, it can still be overtaken by the competition and lose its edge. This is where choosing to be a stealth startup can be a calculated and smart decision. What Are Stealth Startups? Stealth startups are exactly as the name implies — startups that maintain a low profile and enter into the market with...

Shequitta Kelly is finding great success as a court judge, but she’s still pushing herself above and beyond.

Some states are becoming more and more liberal with laws around cannabis and its use. New York is leveling up that liberalism by offering a sense of justice to those who were once convicted on marijuana charges before the state legalized it. Now, the melodic tunes of Rick James proclaiming his love of “Mary Jane” can ring clear for thousands of individuals. In the new policy, individuals with previous marijuana charges will be the first to be able to hold a retail license to sell recreational cannabis in New York. View the approved application here: https://t.co/YJs94CBANF — NYS Office of Cannabis Management (@nys_cannabis) July 14, 2022

It’s never too early to begin looking ahead to the future, especially not for Trey Brown, who is a young entrepreneur with a very promising one. As previously reported by AfroTech, Brown continues to level up whether it be through his second retail store for his brand SPERGO or wooing the sharks on ABC’s “Shark Tank.” He is the future and from the looks of it, the kids are indeed alright. Brown, a true wealth generator, first began his entrepreneurial path at the age of 12. Now, at 15-years-old, he has managed to bring in millions of dollars in sales — even landing an investment deal that could set him on the right path to fulfilling his dream of becoming a millionaire by the time he is age 21. The teen originally launched SPERGO, a boutique fashion collection for men, women, and children, after receiving a birthday gift. Today, the business has two storefronts, one located in his hometown of Philadelphia, PA, and the second in Washington, D.C. at Pentagon City Mall. Brown...

This Senegalese woman knows what it takes to be a success. She’s so successful, in fact, that she runs the biggest poultry production company in Africa. Face2Face Africa features the story of Anta Babacar Ngom, who inherited Sedima from her father, Babacar, when he retired from work. Sedima is Senegal’s biggest poultry producer, and it is, in fact, one of the largest poultry producers on the continent. Ngom oversees the company’s production, distribution, and development. According to her LinkedIn page, Ngom is also the General Director of KFC Senegal, where she has been for three years. But the Senegalese woman isn’t just about the chicken. In fact, under her tutelage, Sedima actually diversified its portfolio. In 2014, Ngom oversaw the company’s expansion into flour mills. Two years later, Ngom oversaw the company’s expansion into two new factories. Both expansions required an investment of nearly $30 million, which Ngom was able to secure without a problem. According to Face2Face...

From faith the size of an unwanted blemish grows a Beyoncé-stamped skincare brand, and that’s on serial entrepreneur Dorión Renaud. The Beaumont, TX native founded Buttah Skin for men, women, and non-gendered people in 2018 after stumbling upon a self-mix set of natural ingredients that finally faded his hyperpigmentation. Now, after bootstrapping his business for two years, Renaud’s skincare collection — fully loaded with a serum, sonic brush, toner, several creams, and beauty bars — is a beloved brand made for “melanin-rich skin,” specifically. “Everyone from the director of the shoots to the stylists to the makeup artists is all Black, and that’s the only way that this brand is able to be successful,” he tells AfroTech. “We are inclusive, but it’s so important that I work with people that understand our beauty and culture to be able to shape the beauty industry.” By the summer of 2020, while already serving a growing customer base, Buttah Skin popped up on virtually everyone’s...

For many freelancers, landing clients is the hardest part of running a freelance business. This is especially true for those who are just getting started. But if you really invest in marketing and promoting your freelance business, finding clients can be a lot easier than you think. Here are some handy tips to help you get your freelance business off the ground. 1. PROMOTE YOUR SERVICES ON SOCIAL MEDIA Social media platforms like Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook are great ways to get exposure for your freelance business. Optimize your social media profiles with keywords for whatever service you’re offering. Also, have a professional profile photo that’s the same across all platforms, which creates brand consistency. Follow the businesses you’re targeting and comment on their posts. Engagement is the key to building trust. 2. ASK FOR REFERRALS FROM EXISTING CLIENTS If you already have clients, but you’re struggling to find more, you can always ask your existing clients to...

OnlyFans was once a haven for sex workers; a subscription-based social network where adult entertainers receive a much better payout than other X-rated sites, according to the New York Times . However, thanks in part to a shoutout from Beyoncé in April, Black celebrities have hijacked the popular social network seeking an additional stream of income. Ummm I did not know my onlyfans was charging ten dollars …I’m bringing it down to 4.99.Ya spend too much on vinyls and my merch coming next week — Cardi B (@iamcardib) August 12, 2020 Over the past six months, many artists, designers, and other macro-influencers have signed up for OnlyFans to capitalize on the NSFW content they’ve previously shared for free. For instance, a slightly revealing bikini shot could rack up millions behind OnlyFans’s paywall in addition to comments and likes. However, some celebrities aren’t venturing into X-rated media but rather using the platform to promote new music projects via live performances ,...