“Spotlight on Tulsa: Roots of a Self-care Economy”

I’ve returned from another inspiring and empowering trip to Tulsa, Oklahoma where I had? the pleasure of attending the Black Venture Summit (BVS) hosted by Build in Tulsa. This event marked a significant milestone in our ongoing partnership with Build in Tulsa , known as B3: Build Black Beauty in Tulsa. During the summit we ( BrainTrust Founders Studio ) showcased our signature Black Beauty Bazaar and introduced the remarkable BrainTrust Founders Studio?founders to the BVS ecosytem!?

The Black Beauty Bazaar is our dynamic live shopping pop-up event dedicated to showcasing BTFS founders and their in-demand products within welcoming, inclusive settings. Our mission is to raise awareness, offer effective marketing support, and drive purchase, all while celebrating the vibrant community of Black beauty and entrepreneurship?

The Black Beauty Bazaar featured a distinguished lineup of participants, including:

• Fallon L. D., Founder of TropicalOrigin.com
• Tracy V. Green and Nancey Harris , Co-Founders of VONTELLE Eyewear

• Kene Onuorah , Founder of Comme Homme
• Shawna Stepp-Jones , Founder of Spundle

• Kim Roxie , Founder of LAMIK Beauty

Did You Know: Build In Tulsa provides entrepreneurs with a network of accelerators, mentoring, education, networking, and direct financial assistance to build community and strategic partnerships.

Another highlight of this trip was the release of “Spotlight on Tulsa: Roots of a Self-care Economy” a survey of 33 Black entrepreneurs doing business in the City of Tulsa, Oklahoma that was sourced via B3: and is part of the 2023 Economic Advancement Report published by BTFS highlighting the economic impact of founders across the beauty and wellness industry.

If you know me, you know I’m about tangible, verified results especially in this climate of uncertainty for Black led initiatives. I firmly believe in the importance of both demonstrating and delivering real results. This is not only essential for showcasing the worth of our efforts but also serves as a crucial testament to the advantages of investing in and supporting programs specifically tailored for racially underrepresented audiences.?

A few highlights from the survey:

• The founders surveyed collectively reported sales of $2.289 million in 2022.
• The founders accounted for 3.8% of Tulsa’s $60.39MM GDP despite being less than 0.3% of Tulsa’s 11,000 registered businesses.?
• Over 50% of the founders surveyed reported participating in Tulsa entrepreneurial programming such as W.E. Build, Female Founders Pitch Night, TEDC, Nest Collective, Sky’s The Limit and more.

The U.S. wellness and beauty market, which generates nearly $1 trillion in sales yearly, is expected to lead “a new era of expansion” globally as self-care expands via strong annual growth rates, according to The Business of Fashion and 麦肯锡 . Beauty sales are expected to grow 6% annually through 2027, wellness sales are expected to grow 10% annually.

For today’s consumer, self-care has become a central and enduring focus, rather than a passing trend. Shoppers demand quality ingredients, eco-impact, mindfulness, and inclusivity. Among the surveyed entrepreneurs in Tulsa, a diverse range of businesses offer products and services that encompass skin care, hair care, nail care, and physical and mental wellness. Almost every single business emphasizes healthy, non-toxic, organic self-care, spanning from inclusive spa and yoga services to award-winning, non-toxic, vegan nail polish.

“Rooted as we are in the legacy of Black Wall Street, we are thrilled to hear that the programs being developed in Tulsa to empower Black founders are working,” said Ashli Sims , Managing Director of Build in Tulsa, a non-profit organization committed to catalyzing multi-generational Black wealth through tech and entrepreneurship.? “We are excited to do more via B3 to create pathways to capital and strategic resources toward growth.”

A BIG Thank you to all the B3 Survey Participants!

ICYMI: Founders House is coming to LA on Oct 25th for our last pop-up experience this year to celebrate our two anniversary! Make sure to RSVP now. Space is limited!?

A few highlights:

- Founders House during NYFW was a huge success! Check out what you missed!

- Founders House LA is Oct. 25th 11:30am - 6pm hosted by our partners at Beverly Hills Estates at a stunning estate in Bel-Air!?

- Starz is hosting a Power Luncheon and screening for the next season of Power Book III: Raising Kanan!

- Sir John joins me for a special conversation with a surprise announcement!?

- Lisa Stone , BTFS co-founder and CIO moderates our keynote panel: “New Builders of the Club: How 2023 changed beauty, wellness and CPG investing forever.”

- Our signature Sip and Shop featuring the Black Beauty Bazaar will spotlight 20 innovative beauty and wellness companies!?

- And many more ...?

We have limited sponsorships still available. Please email [email protected] to participate.