National Black Business Month ??

August is here, and it's time to shine a spotlight on the incredible Black-owned businesses that are making waves and driving change. Although we represent a small but powerful 3% of businesses in the U.S., our impact is monumental. This month, I’m thrilled to share a curated list of Black-owned businesses that are not just making a difference today, but are also paving the way for a brighter future.

Boddle Learning:

Boddle Learning ’s mission is to help K-6 students grow their love for learning through their interactive game platform so they can build a brighter future. They want to ensure that fun and high-quality learning is available and accessible to all students around the world. They make learning fun to help students develop a lifelong love for learning and transform the learning experience from one-size-fits-all to fun, interactive, and individualized.

FCTRY LAb:

FCTRY LAb is a tech-enabled footwear prototyping lab that democratizes footwear development and innovation for brands, athletes, and influencers. They are helping disrupt the economic monopoly of large sneaker brands while providing domestic speed to the market in an environment constrained by overseas supply chain delays.

Bags:

Bags is building a better way for diverse and women-owned businesses to find funding for entrepreneurship. They believe diverse and women-owned businesses are key to strong communities, better local economies, and a future we can be proud of. They help you secure the bag to grow a successful business.

EngineEars:

ENGINEEARS ’s mission is to evolve the way the entire music industry operates, making it more equitable, efficient, and accessible. They are a vertical Software as a Service (SaaS) web platform built to provide the tools the music industry needs to conduct efficient business and increase equitability.?

Gigs:?

Gigs helps businesses succeed by helping them find the best, most reliable hourly workers. They are creating a marketplace that matches businesses and workers based on the leading indicators of reliability: geographic location and shift availability. By bridging the gap between humanity and opportunity, they are ensuring that you get more seamless access to job opportunities, not just geographically, but in alignment with your skills, aspirations, and lifestyle needs.?

ChargerHelp!:

ChargerHelp ’s mission is to maximize electric vehicle (EV) charging station uptime, driving seamless and widespread EV adoption for a sustainable future with their innovative Reliability as a Service (RaaS) solution. They are fixing the greatest barrier to bigger, faster EV adoption: the charging experience, by addressing core challenges in EVSE Operation & Maintenance (O&M).

Impact Innovation Foundation (IIF):

IIF - Impact Innovation Foundation, Inc ’s mission is to support startups created to improve social impact in climate change, education, health, youth mental health, and technology for human betterment. They empower startups with the knowledge, skills, and financial support they need to succeed, offering comprehensive educational programs and fellowships that nurture innovation from inception.?

Metaverse United:

Metaverse United, led by Muhsinah Morris, Ph.D , is an educational consulting agency that helps all people find where they belong in the embodiment of the internet called the "Metaverse". It was founded in 2021 primarily to ensure that Baby Boomers to Generation Alpha could navigate the Metaverse.?

ColorStack:?

ColorStack is a tech non-profit cultivating the strongest cross-campus community of its kind to deliver community building, academic support, and career development opportunities at scale. Their mission is to increase the number of Black and Latinx Computer Science graduates who go on to launch rewarding technical careers.

Fêtefully:

Fêtefully is a virtual experience that mirrors the traditional planning experience by utilizing wedding planners and an intuitive wedding planning platform that manages every aspect of the planning process from start to finish. Their mission is to leverage technology to create a world where magical moments and professional event planning are accessible to everyone.

The Folklore:

The Folklore Group 's software and marketplace technology helps global brands manage and grow their wholesale business, source talent, and access capital. Their mission is to provide global brands with technology, education, and community resources to grow their business and enable retailers and service providers to collaborate better with brands.

Stemuli:

Stemuli is a generative gaming platform at the intersection of AI, education, and workforce development that redefines continuous learning through immersive experiences and personalized pathways. Their mission is to make education and workforce development personalized and accessible to billions of people while helping them navigate intellectually and economically fulfilling careers.

It is important to acknowledge and support Black-owned businesses that are contributing to a better future not only today but beyond. What are some of your favorite Black-owned businesses?