By the time you read this, you probably won't need any convincing about diversity's positive impact on the growth of a business. Ensuring safe space for all minorities and encouraging diverse points of view, business owners create a reliable environment for innovation and great disruption.
African American entrepreneurs have been an incredible source of new perspectives and ideas. While they have been cultural innovators for centuries at this point, their contribution to the economy can often be unseen. Here are only a few examples of excellent entrepreneurs whose ideas and businesses change the economic and cultural landscape.
Damola Ogundipe of Civic Eagle
Coming from Nigeria Damola was intrigued and impressed by the political system in the United States. He, however, saw the lack of comprehension when it came to legislation. Ogundipe picked up the general perception of politics: it's complicated, cannot be trusted just like the media and the news. University of Minnesota alum decided to create a company that addresses those issues and low civic engagement. That was the beginning of Civic Eagle. Ogundipe and the team developed software that analyzes legislation and regulation and forms an easy-to-understand report. The product helps connect public policy with various organizations on a daily basis which helps foster healthy democratic processes.
Diishan Imira of Mayvenn
We're all different and it's not a secret. "One size fits all" products do not exist. There are always exceptions. One might argue that Black beauty isn't really an exception but a standalone category, but it used to be a tiny niche with very few suitable products that cater to the specific needs of African American consumers. Diishan Imira saw an opportunity to create a brand that solved the problem of high-quality hair extensions. 95% of Black salons do not carry the hair they use on products. "Mayvenn" is both a manufacturer and a distributor of hair weave to salons across the US. It connects hairstylists with excellent bundles for a great commission.
Jasmine Crowe of Goodr
We don't need to produce more to feed the homeless. Jasmine Crowe proved that by creating an organization that works on eliminating food waste and providing meals to homeless people. She first started doing this as her own act of giving back by cutting coupons, buying groceries, and cooking food for shelters in her own kitchen. Sometimes Atlanta-native would host pop-up restaurants and post about them online. One of the videos she posted on Facebook went viral. Millions of views and thousands of comments later Jasmine had a bigger question: "Why don't restaurants donate food instead of throwing it all away?"
To Jasmine hunger is not a production issue but rather a logistics challenge. Investors think so too. Today "Goodr" connects food businesses with a surplus of products with non-profit organizations.
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