The United States is home to some of the largest and most influential brands, yet Black-owned U.S. businesses with at least one employee represent a fraction of these companies. They face significant obstacles, from access to capital to other institutional barriers. Challenges include everything from accessing venture capital to discriminatory lending practices. Still, in recent years, Black businesses have grown, with regions like Washington D.C., Maryland, and Georgia leading the way. And, of course, some Black-owned brands have consistently exceeded expectations, crossing the billion-dollar mark in assets, revenues, and valuations. Today, we highlight these Black U.S.-based billion-dollar businesses and their inspirational journeys to the top. These businesses from different industries dominate their respective fields and achieve immense success for their owners. Global Infrastructure Partners Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) is an
Tag Archives: Entrepreneurship
Mar
UrbanGeekz founder and CEO Kunbi Tinuoye graced the stage at the inaugural Africa Gate to Growth Forum at the top-ranked university, UC Berkeley Haas School of Business. Tinuoye, a sought-after public speaker and leading voice in the global startup ecosystem, shared her perspective on a dynamic panel discussion on fundraising in Africa. She was joined by Salim Ben Hassim Soumbounou, a multinational business executive, among others. The ‘Unlocking Funding Opportunities for African Tech Companies’ panel offered invaluable insights into the challenges and opportunities faced by African startups. It examined a range of funding sources, including venture capital, crowdfunding, strategic partnerships, and debt financing. A key takeaway is the substantial impact of the African diaspora [whose remittances exceed $100 billion annually] as an untapped financial resource for developing startups on the continent. “We
![American and Israeli Jews [Illustrative] (photo credit: REUTERS)](https://i3.wp.com/images.jpost.com/image/upload/q_auto/c_fill,g_faces:center,h_537,w_822/433149?w=1000&resize=1000,500)
Jan
In an American political climate where meritocracy is the word du jour, it’s not clear if any minority label – for any group – will be an asset or a liability. By SOPHIA TUPOLEV-LUZ JANUARY 29, 2025 02:14 American and Israeli Jews [Illustrative] (photo credit: REUTERS) The US Department of Commerce, on January 13, 2025, signed an agreement with the country’s Orthodox Jewish Chamber of Commerce to confer minority status on Jewish-owned businesses in America through the department’s Minority Business Development Agency. This move has elicited strong mixed emotions for many Jews, myself included. At first glance, this sounds like an impactful step toward the economic inclusion of Jewish business owners. After all, federal programs for minority groups have been around for 50 years. Taking that view, it makes sense
Atlanta Tech Village, the fourth-largest tech hub in the U.S., has opened its second location in Atlanta’s South Downtown. Spearheaded by David Cummings, Jon Birdsong, and other prominent innovators, ATV Sylvan is a uniquely distinctive space for up-and-coming builders and innovators. This week’s ribbon-cutting ceremony attracted founders, investors, city council members, and startup ecosystem builders. Named after the historic Sylvan Hotel, the revamped building offers flexible office options for entrepreneurs, from solopreneurs to fast-growing businesses. “The next generation of Atlanta success stories will be written here in these historic downtown buildings,” Mayor Dickens added during the opening ceremony. “A new generation of builders and dreamers [will find] the infrastructure, the resources, and the community they need to scale even faster.” The Making of ATV Sylvan: A Historic Edifice The project