Black women continue to be one of the most underserved demographics in almost every tech sector. In terms of investment, Black women only receive 0.34% of all available venture capital in the US.
As we know, access to capital is one of the most crucial elements to a successful startup. Despite prevalent barriers, Black women are making their way as entrepreneurs, with their products making their way in robotics, software, research, and retail markets.
Today, we’re going to take a look at some of the leading startups owned by Black women and celebrate their accomplishments.
BeautyStack – Founder: Sharmadean Reid
Independent beauty professionals are constantly finding new ways to reach their audiences. As independent workers, the ability to be visible and connect with the right clientele is the difference between success and failure. When Sharmadean Reid founded BeautyStack in 2017, the aim was to close that gap.
BeautyStack functions as a hybrid between social media and a booking app. For Reid, the platform’s purpose is simple: “See it, like it, book it.” This approach was to bridge the gap between technicians and clients.
People on the app can browse through the results of various technicians in their location and get a good look at the work being done. This way, the app also functions as an online portfolio, with the added benefit that once people see a technician’s work, they can book an appointment directly on the app.
Reid and BeautyStack are based in London. So far, they’ve raised £4 million in seed funding from Index Ventures. Beyond that, BeautyStack boasts an impressive list of angel investors, including Audrey Gelman and LocalGlobe.
Gro Intelligence – Founder: Sara Menker
Given agriculture’s important role in civilization, it’s no wonder that so much tech development is centered around the industry. Not only is the technological advancement needed for food security and delivery, but it’s also crucial in the ongoing fight against climate disaster.
Gro Intelligence is a Kenya-based startup addressing agriculture and climate economies in the Eastern African region. Founder and CEO Sara Menker is at the heart of the revolutionary startup. Through her leadership, Gro Intelligence collects vital insights on risks to food, agriculture, and climate, and uses this information to help local leaders and decision-makers chart a path toward smarter agricultural solutions.
Voted one of the world’s most innovative companies by Fast Company, Gro Intelligence is quickly becoming a leader in agricultural research, innovation, and solutions. Gro Intelligence raised $85 million in its Series B funding round – the most capital ever raised in a single round by an African tech startup.
BYP Network – Founder: Kike Oniwinde
Diversity in the workplace has always been an issue, especially for Black professionals. Where business is often about networks and connections, a lack of access to it often means a lack of opportunity, despite skill and experience. Kike Oniwinde saw this problem and found a way to innovate around it.
The BYP Network (Black Young Professionals Network) is an online platform that connects Black professionals to each other and relevant job opportunities. The purpose of the platform is to create a central hub, a digital space for young, Black professionals to connect, exchange ideas, and build contacts.
Founded in 2020, the BYP Network is fast becoming a big player in its sector. The platform hasn’t just caught the eye of individuals in its target market either. BYP Network also partners with Facebook, Adobe, Airbnb, and Google to expand job opportunities for its key demographic. Many of the young professionals on the platform are in the tech industry. Thanks to the BYP Network, they’re reaping the rewards of the sector before they even enter it.
Currently, the platform has over 500,000 members and has raised over $500,000 in equity crowdfunding.
Buy From A Black Woman – Founder: Nikki Porcher
Nikki Porcher didn’t just recognize the absence of Black women in retail – she decided to do something about it. She founded Buy From A Black Woman in 2016, an online directory of Black woman-owned businesses in the US.
Speaking to Bustle, Porcher was clear on the mission:
“Knowing and seeing how much and how hard Black women work, they inspire me to do all I can to ensure that they are seen, heard, and supported.”
Buy From A Black Woman boasts a list of over 600 businesses in its directory. All of these businesses are owned by Black women in various sectors in retail.
The point was to make it easier for people to support these businesses and create more overlap between the communities that made up their customer bases. In doing that, Porcher made it easier for other retail startups and the Black women who owned them.
The organization isn’t stopping there, either. Today, Buy From A Black Woman has expanded and introduced the Black Woman Loan fund – a grant to help Black Women entrepreneurs “improve, grow and scale their businesses.”
Zyrobotics – Founder: Dr. Johnetta MaCalla and Dr. Ayanna Howard
Accessibility has always been an essential consideration in technology. As we develop new technologies to make life easier, we also look at how those technologies interact with a wide range of people.
Zyrobotics is a tech startup that develops educational technologies for children. These technologies function as educational tools for kids of various ages and disabilities. With the accessibility front in mind, Zyrobotics seeks to be accessible in two ways: by developing technology with disabled students in focus and making technology itself an engaging subject for kids.
Co-founders Dr. Johnetta MacCalla (CEO) and Dr. Ayanna Howard (CTO) are the women behind Zyrobotics. The company has been operating for eight years now. In that time, they have developed 15 different programs around math, robotics, and coding.
The company’s last disclosed round of funding brought in $100,000 in 2017. As a for-profit entity, the company generates revenue through its accessible tech products and educational programs.