A Force to Be Reckoned With: 100+ Black Female Founders Making History Despite the Obstacles

By Chris Olsen, Founder and CEO of My Founder Story

Every day in the U.S., Black female founders are making history. In 2019, there were 2.7 million Black women-owned businesses in the United States. While the total number of women-owned businesses grew 21 percent from 2014 to 2019, Black women-owned businesses grew at more than double that rate during the same time period, at 50 percent.

They’re launching and growing small businesses at this unprecedented rate despite being denied the support they need to succeed, like access to capital, networks and education. But the lack of resources means many are not reaching their full potential. Black-women-owned businesses make significantly less income than their white counterparts. In 2019, women business owners as a whole averaged $143,000 in annual revenue—Black women-owned businesses averaged $24,000 in annual revenue.

Conscious consumers can make a difference in the lives of Black women and their families. Join My Founder Story in celebrating and seeking out Black-women-owned businesses every day. Buy their products. Use their services. Show your support by liking, sharing and following their businesses online. Here are more than 100 amazing Black female-founded businesses to support:

Apparel, Footwear and Accessories

AFRICA ON MY BACK: A social enterprise offering authentic, durable and lightweight kente-print backpacks and accessories from artisanal markets in Ghana, West Africa; founded by Shanette Prince. AfricaOnMyBack.com

AGEV CO.: A San Diego, California-based shop offering raw crystals, handmade jewelry, art and pipes designed to bring positivity and love to the person the piece is called to; founded by Anah Turner-Vega. AgevCo.com

BOLD SWIM: An inclusive and sustainable swimwear company and proud member of One Percent for the Planet, contributing at least one percent of its annual sales to environmental causes; founded by Tiffany Broadway. BoldSwim.com

THE BOMBCHEL FACTORY: Contemporary outfits made by women in Liberia from bold print fabric purchased in West Africa; founded by Archel Bernard. ShopBombchel.com

COCO AND BREEZY: A New York City-based eyewear company creating fashion-forward frames for celebrities and their fans; founded by twin sisters Corianna and Brianna Dotson. CocoAndBreezy.com

GABBY BOWS: Innovative double-faced, double-snap hair barrettes designed to stay put; founded by Gabrielle Goodwin and her mom, Rosalyn. GabbyBows.com

GRACE ELEYAE: Fashionable and functional hair accessories designed to protect hair from friction and distribute your natural oils throughout the scalp; founded by Grace Eleyae. GraceEleyae.com

FE NOEL: Fashion that aims to infuse sensibility and sensuality with culture and glamour; founded by Felisha Noel. FeNoel.com

KENDALL MILES DESIGN: Designer footwear created with passion and comfort in mind; founded by Kendall Reynolds. KendallMilesDesigns.com

LIBERTé: Luxury everyday lingerie designed for support and comfort; founded by Amber Tolliver. Liberte.co

LOVE, VERA: A lingerie brand designed for everyone and working to close the opportunity gap for Black women in fashion; founded by Vera Moore. LoveVera.com

MCMULLEN: An inclusive Oakland, California-based boutique offering luxury women’s wear from emerging and established designers; founded by Sherri McMullen. ShopMcMullen.com

NL THE LABEL: A clothing brand that aims to bring out the sophistication and confidence inside of all women; founded by Nichole Lynel. NLTheLabel.com

SATORI NOTES: A jewelry company specializing in affirming accessories to positively affect mood and improve mindset; founded by Chyna Cyrus. SatoriNotes.com

SORELLA: Los Angeles, California-based clothing company inspiring strong, working and independent women of all ages, colors and sizes to be confident; founded by Heather Sanders and Brittney Turner. Sorella.com

Beauty and Personal Care

A’ME-KE: Online retail space featuring inclusive makeup, beauty and grooming brands made with melanin in mind; founded by Emeka L. Anyanwu, Esq. Ame-ke.com

AMINA ADEM NATURAL SKINCARE: Natural luxury skincare that combines modern science and aromatherapy; founded by Amina Adem. AminaAdem.com

ASE NATURALS: Plant-based skincare products designed to inspire you to nourish your skin; founded by Shannon Cann. AseNaturals.bm

AVOCURL: Hair care products for all hair textures made with natural ingredients like avocado and coconut; founded by Jasmine Curtis. AvoCurl.com

BASE BUTTER: Aloe vera moisturizer made for oily and combination skin; founded by She’Neil Johnson. BaseButter.com

BELLE BODY: Sugar and salt scrub that exfoliates and nourishes for glowing skin; founded by Megan Carter. BelleBodyGlow.com

BLACK GIRL SUNSCREEN: All-natural vegan sunscreen for women of color; founded by Shontay Lundy. BlackGirlSunscreen.com

BLACKTRAVELBOX: Clean beauty essentials on the go for travelers of color; founded by Orion Brown. TheBlackTravelBox.com

BREAD BEAUTY SUPPLY: Haircare basics for not so basic hair; founded by Maeva Heim. BreadBeautySupply.com

COLOURED RAINE COSMETICS: Bright, high-quality products for everyone, regardless of skin tone, age or gender; founded by Loraine Dowdy. ColouredRaine.com

THE CRAYON CASE: Makeup designed for amateur makeup artists; founded by Raynell Steward. TheCrayonCase.com

EPIPHANY ESSENTIALS: A luxury skincare company committed to using all natural ingredients; founded by Tamera Beard. ShopEpiphanyEssentials.com

FORHERCOSMETICS: All-natural and inclusive beauty brand committed to empowering women and girls of color; founded by Alyssa Space. ForHerCosmetics.com

GILDED BODY: Luxury body care and home fragrance products; founded by Blair Armstrong. GildedBody.com

GLORY SKINCARE: Personalized skincare for every hue made simple through science and technology; founded by Alisia Ford. GlorySkincare.com

GRN GOODS: Beauty essentials that aid in an all-natural approach to wellness and self-care; founded by Alexia Armbrister. GrnGoods.co

HANAHANA BEAUTY: All-natural skincare products on a mission to disrupt the global beauty industry; founded by Abena Boamah-Acheampong. HanahanaBeauty.com

HONEYPOT: All-natural feminine hygiene products made to cleanse, protect and balance your vagina; founded by Bea Dixon. TheHoneyPot.co

HYPER SKIN: Hyper Clear Brightening Clearing Vitamin C Serum combines vitamins C and E to clear away hyperpigmentation; founded by Desiree Verdejo. GetHyperSkin.com

KNC BEAUTY: Paraben-, sulfate-, petroleum- and animal cruelty-free masks, scrubs and balms; founded by Kristen Noel Crawley. KNCBeauty.com

KAEESS NAIL POLISH: Bold nail color free of toxic chemicals that cause cancer and fertility issues; founded by Tekoa Savage. KaeessNailPolish.com

KREYòL ESSENCE: Ethical beauty products made with all-natural ingredients harvested by farmers in Haiti; founded by Yve-Car Momperousse. KreyolEssence.com

THE LIP BAR: A vegan and cruelty-free beauty brand on a mission to change the way you think about beauty; founded by Melissa Butler. TheLipBar.com

LUV SCRUB: 100 percent nylon mesh exfoliator used in West African skincare for generations; founded by Caroline Owusu-Ansah. TheLuvScrub.com

MELANIN HAIR CARE: Simple, natural, luxurious and toxin-free styling products; founded by Whitney White. MelaninHairCare.com

MENTED COSMETICS: Vegan, paraben-free, non-toxic makeup for all skin tones; founded by KJ Miller and Amanda Johnson. MentedCosmetics.com

ORGANIGROWHAIRCO: Vegan, organic and all-natural hair products created for every hair porosity; founded by Kay Cola. OrganiGrowHairCo.com

PAT MCGRATH LABS: Premium lipsticks, eye shadows and highlighters created by veteran beauty visionary Pat McGrath. PatMcGrath.com

ROCKY ROBINSON: A self-care product line and movement celebrating the brilliance, beauty and magic of Black and brown girls; founded by Audra Robinson. ItsMeRocky.com

SOAP DISTILLERY: A soap company focused on sustainability and specializing in cocktail-scented soaps; founded by Danielle Martin. SoapDistillery.com

SHEA YELEEN: A social enterprise financially empowering women in Africa through its shea butter products; founded by Rahama Wright. SheaYeleen.com

UOMA: A beauty brand that believes beauty starts when you decide to be yourself; founded by Sharon Chuter. UomaBeauty.com

WHEN SHE COMES HOME: A company that curates beautiful care packages filled with items that encourage prenatal and postpartum women to exercise small acts of self-care; founded by Diana Hillaire. WhenSheComesHome.com

Books and Media

BLACK GARNET BOOKS: A Minneapolis, Minnesota-based bookstore specializing in Adult and YA contemporary literature by Black and racially diverse authors; founded by Dionne Sims. BlackGarnetBooks.com

BRAIN LAIR BOOKS: A South Bend, Indiana-based bookstore striving to help its customers see themselves through books; founded by Kathy Burnette. BrainLairBooks.Handseller.com

FULTON STREET BOOKS AND COFFEE: A Tulsa, Oklahoma-based shop that elevates life stories about the experiences of people of color and marginalized communities; founded by Onikah Asamoa-Caesar. FultonStreet918.com

GOOD BOOKS: An Atlanta, Georgia-based store that combines the wonder of books and Black culture; founded by Katie and Katherine Mitchell. GoodBooksATL.com

HARRIET’S BOOKSHOP: A bookstore that honors Harriet Tubman and celebrates women authors, artists and activists; founded by Jeannine Cook. HarrietsBookshop.com

THE LIT. BAR: An independent bookstore and wine bar combination located in the Bronx, New York; founded by No?lle Santos. TheLitBar.com

LOYALTY BOOKSTORES: A Black and queer bookseller working to diversify the book industry and promote anti-racist reading; founded by Hannah Oliver Depp. LoyaltyBookstores.com

SEMICOLON BOOKSTORE: A Chicago, Illinois-based bookstore and art gallery nurturing the connections between literature, art and the pursuit of knowledge; founded by Danielle Mullen. SemicolonChi.com

SHADES OF AFRIKA: A California-based store that offers books, natural hair care, oils and holistic products and strives for the betterment of its communities; founded by Renee Quarles. ShadesOfAfrika.com

SISTER’S UPTOWN: A New York City-based bookstore and culture center on a mission to provide a positive source of information and ideas; founded by Janifer and Kari Wilson. SistersUptownBookstore.com

Community Organizations

ALGORITHMIC JUSTICE LEAGUE: A movement that uses research, advocacy and art to address harmful artificial intelligence systems; founded by Joy Buolamwini. AJL.org

DIGITALUNDIVIDED: An organization dedicated to using data and advocacy to spur economic growth and create pathways for Black and Latinx women entrepreneurs; founded by Lauren Maillian. Digitalundivided.com

GIRLS ARE POWERFUL: A Minnesota-based organization that empowers girls to foster strength of character through educational workshops and special events; founded by Shawntan Howell. GirlsArePowerful.org

GIRLTREK: A public health nonprofit that encourages Black women and girls to use walking as a practical step in the direction of a healthy life, family and community; founded by Vanessa Garrison. GirlTrek.org

LUNCH ON ME: A California-based nonprofit dedicated to ending starvation while providing opportunities to enrich the mind, body and spirit of Los Angeles’ homeless community; founded by Larayia Gaston. LunchOnMe.org

PLANTING PEOPLE GROWING JUSTICE LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE: A Minnesota-based nonprofit planting seeds of social change and cultivating emerging leaders through education, training and community outreach; founded by Dr. Artika Tyner. PPGLI.org

#SHARETHEMICMN: A social media movement on a mission to make Minnesota a more inclusive and equitable state through storytelling, exposure and relationship development; founded by Jasmine Stringer. ShareTheMicMN.com

SUPPER CLUB FROM NOWHERE: A collective of chefs and farmers who are dedicated to combating food injustice by providing food items to those affected by food deserts; founded by Kia Cooks. KiaCooks.com

UNCHARTED POWER: A New York-based full-service power infrastructure technology company that builds, owns and operates power infrastructures that provide communities with clean, low-cost energy; founded by Jessica Matthews. u-pwr.co

URBANNATURE4KIDS: An organization dedicated to educating and exposing kids in elementary school to STEM careers within the environmental sciences; founded by Raven Wright. UrbanNature4Kids.com

Food and Beverage

BROWN GIRL JANE: Premium-grade, non-intoxicating CBD products free of binders, fillers, excipients, dyes or unknown substances; founded by Malaika Jones. BrownGirlJane.com

CHEESECAKE FUNK: A Minnesota-based cheesecake company revered by legendary musician Prince and featured in restaurants everywhere; founded by Vanessa Drews. CheesecakeFunk.com

CHELLES’ KITCHEN CATERING: A Minnesota-based catering company normalizing healthy eating and celebrating food culture centered on soul food history, nutritional healing and social justice; founded by Lachelle ‘Chelles’ Cunningham. LachelleCunningham.com

CHERAMIE WINE: A Texas wine company on a mission to put Texas on the map in the wine industry; founded by Cheramie Law. CheramieWine.com

HERE’S THE SCOOP: Hand-dipped ice cream and dessert shop located in northwest Washington, D.C.; founded by Karin Sellers. HeresTheScoopDC.com

JUNITA’S JAR: A social enterprise on a mission to bake hope into every cookie purchase, helping women live their best lives; founded by Junita Flowers. JunitasJar.com

LOVE AND CONFECTION: A Gaithersburg, Maryland-based baker specializing in delicious and beautifully decorated treats and making customers’ life events special; founded by Robin Frazier Anderson. LoveAndConfectionLLC.com

MARJORIE’S BEEF JERKY: A delectable selection of beef jerky made from fine cuts of beef; founded by Michelle Timberlake. MarjoriesBeefJerky.com

ME AND THE BEES LEMONADE: A honey-sweetened lemonade company that uses a portion of proceeds to fund nonprofits dedicated to bee preservation and education; founded by Mikaila Ulmer. MeAndTheBees.com

NAIMA'S FARM: A certified organic farm growing carrots, kale and Swiss chard at Big River Farms in Marine on Saint Croix, Minnesota; founded by Naima Dhore. Naima’s Farm

NEAREST GREEN DISTILLERY: The first distillery in U.S. history to honor African American Nathan “Nearest” Green, the “Godfather of Tennessee Whiskey”; founded by Fawn Weaver. UncleNearest.com

PARTAKE FOODS: Gluten-free, allergy-friendly and vegan-friendly cookies and snacks; founded by Denise Woodard. PartakeFoods.com

PIPCORN: A delicious popcorn snack made from heirloom corn; founded by Jen and Jeff Martin and Teresa Tsou. Pipsnacks.com

SIP WINE AND BEER: An Escondido, California-based tasting room offering the largest selection of wine in California from Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) winemakers; founded by Cassandra Schaeg. SIPWineAndBeer.com

VEGANEIK: A New Jersey-based catering company specializing in vegan, vegetarian and pescatarian dishes that flavor the heart and capture the soul; founded by Tanekia Farmer. Veganeik.com

Health and Wellness

AFROBEAT FIT: Inclusive sweat sessions that include music and movement derived from the artists and influences of Africa; founded by Kemi Omisore. AfroBeatFit.com

COACH VAL: Fitness instructor and lifestyle coach on a mission to create a fitness and well-being movement in underserved communities; founded by Val Fleurantin Turner. Facebook.com/VFCoachVal

LIVE CYCLE DELIGHT FITNESS STUDIOS: A Michigan-based inclusive cycling studio and community welcoming fitness practitioners of all levels; founded by Amina Daniels. LiveCycleDelight.com

TONED BY BAGGEDEM: A brand created for real women on their everyday fitness journey that specializes in yoga mats featuring women of different skin tones; founded by Julia and Cornelia Gibson. BaggedEm.com

Home and Garden

BOLé ROAD TEXTILES: A design studio that specializes in vibrant home decor handwoven in Ethiopia; founded by Hana Getachew. BoleRoadTextiles.com

CLARE: An online paint-shopping experience offering the highest-quality paint and supplies delivered to your door; founded by Nicole Gibbons. Clare.com

DESIGN DUA: Handwoven baby bassinets honoring the craft of artisans in Ghana, Western Africa and providing them with fair wages; founded by Coretta Owusu. DesignDua.com

LT SQUARED: Creators of personalized printed invitations and paper goods, plus a line of scented skincare and home products; founded by twin sisters Laeh Stringer and Leah Hampton. LTSquared.com

LULA’S CANDLE CO.: A giveback company that specializes in handcrafted luxury soy candles in glass jars, travel tins and more, and donates a portion of proceeds to organizations and individuals fighting cancer; founded by Courtney Sykes. LulasCandle.co

MITCHELL BLACK: Commercial and residential wallpaper to make your custom or bespoke ideas come to life; founded by Lynai Jones. MitchellBlack.com

PUR HOME: Green household cleaning products that are simple and sustainable; founded by Angela Richardson. ShopPURHome.com

SIDNEY’S ESSENCE: Hand-poured candles from all-natural ingredients, plus a portion of proceeds are donated to a variety of causes; founded by Syd McLeod. SidneysEssence.com

STUDIO NOM: Geo wall hangings made with simplicity, beauty and honesty in mind; founded by Nom. StudioNom.nl

SUKIE’S CANDLE CO.: Vegan and eco-friendly pure soy wax candles featuring scents designed to shift your environment and consciousness; founded by Sukie Jefferson. SukiesCandleCo.com

YOWIE: A home and life shop focused on bringing together friends, artists and designers in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; founded by Shannon Maldonado. ShopYowie.com

Personal and Professional Services

ADMINISTRATIVE CONCIERGE SERVICES: Strategic administrative support, project management, marketing and more for startups and small business owners; founded by Melissa Gardner. AdminConciergeServices.com

AUTKONNECT: Speech therapy services, sensory-friendly events and products, and individualized treatment plans for kids and families impacted by autism; founded by Catherine Freeman and Carmyn Thompson. AuTKonnect.com

THE BEAUTY LOUNGE MINNEAPOLIS: A Minneapolis, Minnesota-based multicultural hair destination focused on education; founded by Melissa Taylor. MplsBeautyLounge.com

BE SUPER CREATIVE: Award-winning brand marketing, design, product development agency helping people and companies execute create ideas; founded by Delanie West. BeSuperCreative.com

BLACK WINE PROFESSIONALS: A resource that brings together wine industry professionals with the food and beverage community; founded by Julia Coney. BlackWineProfessionals.com

BLACK WOMEN MOGULS: A consulting agency that helps women entrepreneurs increase their visibility and connections to generate profit and multiple streams of income; founded by Averri Liggins. BlackWomenMoguls.com

CREME BRULEE: A luxury salon located in Detroit, Michigan that aims to bring clients into a euphoric realm; founded by Katrina Wilson. CremeBruleeDetroit.com

CULTUREBROKERS: A consultancy partnering with businesses, nonprofits and government organizations to help them get immediate, measurable and valuable results from their diversity, inclusion and equity efforts; founded by Lisa Tabor. CultureBrokers.com

THE ENTREPRENISTA: A Florida-based business coach and consultant on a mission to empower women-owned businesses; founded by Lena Graham-Morris. IAmEntreprenista.com

FEARLESS COMMERCE: An organization dedicated to supporting Black women business owners through the production of books and live events; founded by Shawntera Hardy and Camille Thomas. FearlessCommerce.com

G.A.M.E. CHANGING INDUSTRIES: Helping entrepreneurs turn their passions into profits and create sustainable businesses that solve real-world problems; founded by Gaynete Jones. Gaynete.com

JUMPING JACK TAXES: Providing education and resources to underserved communities to help them build and scale wealth-generating businesses in the financial industry; founded by Dana Chanel and Prince Donnell. JumpingJackTaxes.com

LET’S CONVERSE: A company on a mission to cultivate healthy communities of color through conversation-centered experiences and events; founded by Nadine G. Lets-Converse.com

MATRIARCH DIGITAL MEDIA: A podcasting network and community where women are appreciated and celebrated exactly as they are, no matter what stage of life they’re in; founded by Twila Dang. MatriarchDM.com

THE MENTOR METHOD: An inclusive virtual mentor matching service that provides resources to help build effective employee relationships; founded by Janice Omadeke. TheMentorMethod.com

MY FAB FINANCE: Financial tools and resources designed to educate millennials who want to become financially free and do more of what they love; founded by Tonya Rapley. MyFabFinance.com

THE NAIL BAR: A Minneapolis, Minnesota-based salon focused on elevating client experience in nail care and diversifying the professional landscape; founded by Kiara Ellis. TheNailBarMN.com

OPEN BAR HOSPITALITY: A New York City-based off-premise bar catering company that specializes in A-list clients, corporate events and pop-up experiences; founded by Lisa Lindo. OpenBarHospitality.com

PARKER AND CO.: A publisher dedicated to helping African-American women and mothers transform their ideas into children’s books; founded by Audrey Hinds. AudreyHinds.com

THE PRICE DYNAMIC: A professional family coaching and engagement consulting firm helping single parents learn to co-parent through building and sustaining a relationship with each other; founded by Alysha Price. ThePriceDynamic.com

ROOTED CREATIVE: An international event production and management company specializing in corporate meetings, conferences, galas, and outdoor and special events of all sizes; founded by Junia Joseph-Benham. RootedCreative.com

ROOTS COMMUNITY BIRTH CENTER: A Minnesota-based birth center offering prenatal care, water birth, natural birth, VBAC and extensive postpartum care; founded by Rebecca Polston. RootsBirthCenter.com

SAVVY ESQ: An attorney specializing in helping small businesses protect themselves; founded by attorney Domonique Price. SavvyEsq.com

SLEEP HEALTH SPECIALISTS: A Minnesota-based consultancy that partners with business owners and corporations to educate their workforce about sleep health; founded by Sarah Moe. SleepHS.com

SOCA YACHT CHARTERS: A U.S.-based boutique travel agency coordinating personalized, stress-free, all-inclusive yacht vacations to the Caribbean; founded by Sheila Ruffin. SocaYachtCharters.com

SOCIAL IMPACT STRATEGIES GROUP: A Minnesota-based consultancy working to build a financial ecosystem that prioritizes equitable access to resources, capital and networks for people of color; founded by Y. Elaine Rasmussen. SocialImpactNow.com

TA-OSH DESIGNS: A custom sewing company specializing in “nude” colored materials and products representing all shades; founded by Natasha Clute. AllSkintones.com

WALKER AND WALKER ENTERPRISES: Lolita Walker is a certified coach, TEDx speaker and author who focuses on driving clarity, commitment, accountability and results for women and teams. LolitaWalker.com

WE FREE HEARTS: An indoor family play space and drop-in childcare facility in Seattle, Washington’s South Park neighborhood where children and parents feel welcomed and valued just as they are; founded by Melanie Granger. WeFreeHearts.com