Yet many companies approach recruitment in much the same way: publish a vacancy, wait for applications, review CVs, and hope the right candidate appears.

That process can work, but it has limitations. Some talented professionals are already employed. Others are developing their skills, building portfolios, working independently, or waiting for an opportunity that matches their ambitions.

For employers, this raises an important question: Are you looking for the best available talent, or only the people who happen to see your job advertisement?

Why Traditional Recruitment Can Miss Good Candidates

Job advertisements remain an essential recruitment tool, but publishing a vacancy does not automatically guarantee access to the right talent.

A vacancy may receive hundreds of applications without producing a suitable shortlist. Another may attract very few applicants because the requirements are unclear, the salary information is missing, or the opportunity has not reached the right audience.

Several factors can contribute to this problem.

Limited visibility: The right candidates may never encounter the vacancy because they do not use the platforms where it is advertised.

Poorly defined requirements: Job descriptions that combine essential qualifications with unrealistic wish lists can discourage capable applicants.

Overreliance on CVs: A CV communicates experience and qualifications, but it may not fully demonstrate practical skills, problem-solving ability, or suitability for a specific role.

Slow communication: Long recruitment processes and delayed responses can cause promising candidates to lose interest or accept other offers.

Weak employer positioning: Candidates often evaluate employers just as employers evaluate candidates. An unclear company profile or poorly communicated opportunity may reduce interest.

Recognising these challenges allows organisations to improve their recruitment process rather than simply increasing the number of advertisements they publish.

Five Ways to Find Better Candidates

1. Define What Success in the Role Looks Like

Before advertising a vacancy, determine what the successful candidate must accomplish.

Instead of listing every imaginable qualification, identify the responsibilities, skills, and outcomes that genuinely matter.

For example, a social media manager may need to develop content strategies, manage publishing schedules, interpret performance data, and improve audience engagement. A sales specialist may need to generate qualified leads, manage customer relationships, and meet revenue targets.

Clear expectations help candidates understand the opportunity and help recruiters assess applications more consistently.

Separate essential requirements from skills that can be learned after hiring. This can widen the talent pool without lowering standards.

2. Make Your Job Advertisements Specific and Compelling

A good job advertisement should explain the role, key responsibilities, essential requirements, location or working arrangement, and application process.

Where possible, include the salary range, benefits, reporting structure, and relevant information about the company. Transparency helps candidates decide whether the opportunity suits them and can reduce unsuitable applications.

Avoid vague phrases such as “must be a superstar” when you can explain the actual capabilities required.

The more clearly a vacancy communicates its expectations, the easier it becomes for appropriate candidates to recognise themselves in the role.

3. Recruit Beyond Your Immediate Applicant Pool

Do not rely exclusively on people who discover a job advertisement.

Use professional networking, recruitment partnerships, relevant industry communities, employee referrals, and appropriate job platforms to expand your reach.

For specialist roles, consider communities where professionals share knowledge about the industry. For entry-level positions, connect with training providers, educational institutions, and career development organisations.

The objective is to reach people with relevant skills and experience, regardless of whether they were already searching for that exact job.

4. Assess Skills, Not Just Credentials

Qualifications and experience can be valuable indicators, but they should be considered alongside the actual demands of the role.

Depending on the position, employers can use structured interviews, work samples, practical exercises, portfolio reviews, or realistic job-related assessments.

A graphic designer might present a portfolio. A customer support applicant might respond to a simulated customer scenario. A marketing candidate might explain how they would approach a campaign.

Assessments should be relevant, fair, accessible, and proportionate to the role. Avoid requesting extensive unpaid work that effectively asks candidates to complete real business projects for free.

5. Build Relationships With Talent Before Vacancies Arise

Recruitment does not have to begin only when a position becomes vacant.

Businesses can build relationships with professionals, maintain contact with promising previous applicants, participate in industry communities, and establish partnerships with relevant training providers.

A well-managed talent network can help employers communicate future opportunities and identify potential candidates more efficiently.

This does not eliminate the need for fair selection processes. It gives employers a broader starting point when hiring needs emerge.

Why the Candidate Experience Matters

Recruitment is also a reflection of an organisation’s culture.

Candidates notice whether job descriptions are clear, interviews are respectful, communication is timely, and decisions are explained appropriately.

Even applicants who are not selected can leave with a positive impression if the process is professional.

A poor candidate experience, on the other hand, can damage an employer’s reputation and discourage people from applying again.

Businesses should establish a clear recruitment process, set realistic timelines, communicate updates, and protect candidate information throughout hiring.

The Role of Modern Job Platforms

Digital recruitment platforms help employers communicate vacancies and reach people who are actively exploring career opportunities.

For smaller businesses, startups, and growing organisations, a straightforward way to publish vacancies and receive applications can make recruitment more accessible. Larger employers can also benefit from broader visibility and more organised candidate discovery.

However, a platform alone cannot guarantee a successful hire. Results still depend on the quality of the vacancy, the relevance of the audience, the employer’s selection process, and how promptly candidates are engaged.

How Kominiti Supports the Recruitment Journey

Kominiti offers KJobs, a platform where employers can publish employment opportunities and connect with people seeking jobs.

For businesses and HR teams, the starting point is to create a clear vacancy, define the required capabilities, and make it easy for suitable candidates to understand how to apply.

The wider Kominiti ecosystem supports complementary activities: KLearning provides learning resources, the Kominiti Wall offers a professional community environment, and the Marketplace serves people and businesses looking to connect around freelance services.

These functions address different needs. KJobs is the relevant destination for employment vacancies, while the Marketplace is designed for freelance services rather than conventional job listings.

Employers can explore KJobs on Kominiti to see the platform and available job-posting opportunities.

Better Recruitment Starts With a Better Strategy

Finding qualified employees is not simply a matter of collecting more CVs. It requires clear job requirements, appropriate distribution, fair assessment, timely communication, and a candidate experience that reflects the organisation’s standards.

Businesses that combine public job advertisements with proactive talent discovery can create a stronger foundation for recruitment.

The bottom line: Your next great employee may not be actively searching for work today. Make your opportunities clear, build relationships with relevant professionals, and use appropriate recruitment channels to ensure the right people have a chance to discover them.

The post Your Next Great Employee May Not Be Looking for a Job appeared first on Black Elites.

That curiosity has a business dimension. Obama’s name can put a track in front of people who might never search for it themselves. U.S. recorded-music wholesale revenue reached $11.5 billion in 2025, according to the Recording Industry Association of America; streaming accounted for about $9.47 billion. Attention moves quickly in a market that large. The harder question is what an artist can earn from it and how long new listeners stay.

Here are some of the songs I’ve been listening to this summer. -Barack Obama

Obama called the playlist a collection of songs he had been listening to. That is all it claims to be. But the choices do say something about the breadth of his taste, and they give listeners a way into music that crosses the lines streaming platforms and record companies use to organise it.

Hearing the Connections

The Obama Foundation’s playlist begins with Glen Hansard’s “Song of Good Hope,” followed by Gabriel Jacoby’s “the one.” Doechii and SZA’s “girl, get up.” arrives third. Later, A Tribe Called Quest’s “Award Tour” is followed by BossMan Dlow’s “Motion Party.” Folk, rock, jazz, gospel, soul and hip-hop appear along the way. The playlist does not explain the choices; listeners get to make the connections themselves.

Kelela’s “idea 1” is one of those connections. R&B and electronic music have both shaped her work. On her 2026 album new avatar, guitars take on a larger role. In an interview with The FADER, she described writing as a process of finding meaning in sounds and phrases before the words arrive.

I am trying to insert something real into what feels like fantasy. -Kelela

The guitar on “idea 1” changes the texture, not the centre of the song. Her voice still carries the feeling. For someone who knows Kelela’s earlier R&B and electronic work, the track makes the new album’s direction easier to hear.

Older records make their own case. Chaka Khan’s “Ain’t Nobody,” Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get It On” and Sam & Dave’s “Hold On, I’m Comin’” are not grouped together as a history lesson. They turn up among contemporary songs because people still listen to them.

The Names to Keep In Rotation

Doechii and SZA share “girl, get up.”, but the song works because their styles do not blend into one. Doechii shifts between rap, melody and character. SZA can make a line sound like a passing thought, then turn the song in another direction. That exchange gives the collaboration its shape.

Doechii’s public profile grew further in 2025, when she became the third woman to win the Grammy for Best Rap Album, after Lauryn Hill and Cardi B. In her acceptance speech, she spoke to Black women watching and challenged stereotypes about skin tone, intelligence and being “too loud.” The Recording Academy published coverage of the ceremony and her remarks. The award marks a rare achievement in the category; it does not replace the listening experience of the music itself.

Baby Rose brings the energy down with “Friends Again,” featuring Leon Thomas. Her low voice keeps the song close and unhurried. That intimacy continues on her 2026 album YEARNALISM, which moves through love, longing and vulnerability. In a conversation about the album, Rose spoke about expressing care openly. “Friends Again” makes a natural first stop; the rest of the record stays with the same subject from different angles.

October London’s “Make Me Wanna” nods more directly to soul’s past. London has named Marvin Gaye as an influence on his singing and songwriting, and has also explored country music through the persona Sam Nash. He told Notion that he wants to honor the people who shaped him while telling his own story. That tension—inheritance and individuality—is audible across his work.

The rap selections make a quick turn. Vince Staples’ “White Flag” is spare and observant, with the dry delivery familiar to listeners of the California rapper. BossMan Dlow’s “Motion Party” is more immediate, built for a crowd and the momentum of a club. Their different approaches show how little one label can contain.

Then come Yebba and Tyla. “West Memphis” lets Yebba’s voice move from restraint to full power. Tyla’s “SHE DID IT AGAIN,” featuring Zara Larsson, carries a South African pop sound to an international audience. Neither track needs the other to make sense, but placed together they show how wide the playlist’s map is.

A burst of streams is only one outcome

Obama’s 2015 summer playlist brought Lianne La Havas and Aoife O’Donovan into the news. TIME interviewed both after their songs appeared. La Havas said she was “very, very honored”; O’Donovan said she was surprised to see her track on the list. The feature recorded their reactions, not a change in sales or income.

Low Cut Connie saw a more measurable effect. Spotify reported that streams of “Boozophilia” rose 18,813% in the week after the Philadelphia band appeared on Obama’s 2015 playlist. A 2017 Thrillist account said album sales did not rise at the same rate. Frontman Adam Weiner recalled that some people came to shows because of the Obama connection, but said the effect was limited.

Low Cut Connie is not a Black band, so its experience cannot tell us what this year’s artists will see. It does show why a stream count, on its own, tells an incomplete story. A listener may play one song and move on. Another may buy a ticket, follow the artist, or return to the album months later. Those outcomes carry different value.

RIAA’s $11.5 billion figure measures wholesale revenue across the U.S. recorded-music business; it does not tell us what individual performers took home. Streaming payments pass through rights holders and contracts. An artist who owns a master recording may keep a different share from someone working under a label deal or still recouping recording costs. A playlist cannot show those terms.

Black artists have shaped popular music for generations. The ownership and control of the business built around that work have often sat elsewhere. Discovery matters, but the terms of the deal influence how much of the value returns to an artist.

Listeners can take a track beyond the playlist: play the album, check who wrote and produced it, look for a live date or buy directly if that option is available. The playlist may introduce an artist; those choices help decide whether the introduction lasts.

Obama’s list is one person’s selection, not a final word on Black music. Its best use is simpler: it gives curious listeners a few doors to open. Follow Kelela’s guitar into new avatar. Stay with Baby Rose’s YEARNALISM. Hear how October London carries soul history into his own songs. Then find the next name that catches your ear.

FAQs

What Black artists appear on Obama’s 2026 summer playlist?

The list includes Doechii and SZA, Kelela, October London, Vince Staples, BossMan Dlow, Baby Rose with Leon Thomas, Tyla, Yebba, Chaka Khan, Luther Vandross, A Tribe Called Quest, Marvin Gaye, the Temptations, Anderson .Paak, Ledisi and others.

Which less familiar artist should I listen to first?

For contemporary soul, try Baby Rose’s “Friends Again.” Kelela’s “idea 1” moves between R&B and alternative-rock textures, while October London’s “Make Me Wanna” carries clear ties to earlier soul and R&B.

Does appearing on Obama’s playlist mean an artist will earn more?

A playlist may bring new listeners, but earnings depend on streams, ownership rights, contracts and other income, including touring. A placement alone does not show how much an artist makes.

What does Kelela’s “idea 1” reveal about her music?

It introduces the guitar-led direction of her 2026 album new avatar, adding alternative influences to the R&B and electronic sounds associated with her earlier work.

Why does the playlist include older Black artists?

Songs by Chaka Khan, Marvin Gaye, Sam & Dave and others show that older recordings remain part of how people listen now. Their presence gives the playlist more than one musical era.

Where can I listen to the full playlist?

The Obama Foundation lists the tracks and links to its 2026 summer playlist. Apple Music also has a 46-song edition titled Barack Obama’s Summer Songs 2026.

The post What Obama’s Playlist Reveals About Taste, Influence and the Black Artists Worth Knowing appeared first on Black Elites.

That kind of appearance gives a collection a life beyond the runway. Photographs circulate through news coverage and social media, carrying the clothes to people who never attend a show. They don’t tell us whether an outfit led to sales or whether the person wearing it was paid by the brand.

The 15 appearances here are not a measured ranking. They span New York, London, Milan and Paris during the Fall 2026 season. Some guests worked within a fashion house’s familiar style; others made more personal choices with color, proportion or texture.

Black American Celebrities

1. Zendaya at Louis Vuitton

The dress took the outline of a shirt and changed its proportions with a sculptural bubble hem. A pointed collar and black belt gave the volume definition. Zendaya is a Louis Vuitton brand ambassador, so her appearance also reflects a continuing relationship with the house.

2. Teyana Taylor at Chanel

Taylor wore a Chanel raincoat to the house’s Paris show on March 9. Red stones and pale detailing brought decoration to the practical garment; the rain supplied an unplanned backdrop. When Vogue asked about the weather, Taylor said:

The weather understood the assignment. I looked up and said, ‘Merci. — Teyana Taylor

Her answer was as playful as the moment.

3. Lori Harvey at Chanel

A cropped checked jacket, red top and cream midi skirt formed Harvey’s Chanel outfit. The high slit shifted the look away from the house’s familiar skirt suit, while sunglasses, a black clutch and neutral heels kept the styling neat.

4. SZA at Dior Homme

At the January 21 show in Paris, SZA paired a teal double-breasted blazer with wide-leg grey trousers and pointed black shoes. Layered necklaces and a white fringed bag loosened the tailoring. The blazer’s color made the strongest impression; the accessories stopped the outfit from reading like a standard suit.

5. Chase Infiniti at Louis Vuitton

Purple denim gave Infiniti’s outfit its character. She wore a cropped jacket with matching straight-leg trousers outside Louis Vuitton’s March 10 show, adding a thin chain belt, brown bag and black boots. It was an easy, coordinated street-style look rather than a formal front-row statement.

6. Colman Domingo at Ralph Lauren

Domingo arrived at Ralph Lauren’s Milan show on January 16 in a three-piece suit, with a matching overcoat draped over his shoulders. Boucheron stud earrings supplied a small flash of detail. The way he wore the coat took some of the formality out of the suit and suited the collection’s layered outerwear and Texan tailoring.

7. Paloma Elsesser at Chanel

Elsesser wore a Chanel skirt suit that Vogue described as an “uptown” look. Its familiar tailoring placed the house’s codes front and center. Elsesser’s presence brought another dimension: she has challenged narrow expectations in fashion casting. One invitation cannot show how far inclusion reaches across campaigns, runways and industry leadership.

8. Oprah Winfrey at Chanel

Winfrey called her outfit “classic Chanel but modernized” in her interview with Vogue. She explained her preference in a way that needed little interpretation:

I love simplicity, and I’m always a neutral girl. — Oprah Winfrey

The quote puts her own taste ahead of any reading of the label.

9. Monica at Marc Jacobs

An oversized leopard-print coat was the center of Monica’s outfit at Marc Jacobs’s New York show on February 9. Its scale made it well suited to arrival photographs, where guests are often captured standing still. The veteran R&B singer brought a bold piece of outerwear to a show with a strong visual identity of its own.

The Global African and Afro-Caribbean Diaspora

10. Damson Idris at Prada

British-Nigerian actor Damson Idris wore a black tailored coat over a black shirt, with grey trousers and dark sunglasses, at Prada’s Milan menswear show on January 18. The muted palette left the coat’s cut to carry the outfit. Prada has identified Idris as an ambassador, giving the appearance a clear connection to the house.

11. Lewis Hamilton at Dior Homme

Hamilton’s black wool coat had a shearling collar and gold-tone buttons. He wore it over a white shirt and wide-leg black trousers. The details gave the coat a formal edge, while the loose trousers relaxed the silhouette. Fashion is a visible part of Hamilton’s public life beyond racing.

12. Little Simz at Tolu Coker

Little Simz performed in a long electric-blue coat during Tolu Coker’s London Fashion Week show on February 19. The coat made her part of the presentation, not just a guest watching it.

Coker also previewed an 18-piece Topshop capsule alongside her mainline collection. ASOS, Topshop’s parent company, confirmed the preview, linking the runway event to a retail collaboration. The announcement establishes the partnership, though it does not tell us how the collection later performed.

13. Olivia Dean at Burberry

Dean wore a beige crewneck sweater with an asymmetrical skirt, brown heels and a fringed bag to Burberry’s London show. The simple top left the skirt and bag to bring movement. Her outfit was more restrained than some of the show’s other celebrity looks, and her presence connected a rising British singer with a British fashion house.

14. Jodie Turner-Smith at Burberry

Turner-Smith combined a glittering black mini dress with a shaggy coat and thigh-high boots. The mix of shine and texture gave the outfit its energy; the coat added volume and kept the dress from feeling like conventional eveningwear.

15. Tyla at Miu Miu

Tyla attended Miu Miu’s Paris show on March 10 in a look Vogue France described as Y2K-inspired. The styling matched the South African singer’s pop image. Her presence also placed an African artist among the public faces of a major European fashion show. The photographs show visibility; they do not establish whether it led to a commercial partnership.

What the Front Row Can—and Cannot—Show

A celebrity can draw eyes to a collection, but a photograph is only a record of an appearance. It cannot show who was paid to create the outfit, whether the attention brought new customers to a designer or how revenue from a collaboration was shared.

Those questions matter for Black designers, stylists and customers. In Coker’s case, the Topshop capsule gives the runway story a retail connection. It is one example of a public appearance linked to a specific project, but the available coverage does not establish the project’s sales results.

The 15 outfits offer no single formula for style. Zendaya changed the proportions of a shirt dress; Taylor made a raincoat part of the occasion; SZA wore tailoring on her own terms. These were individual choices, made in front of cameras. The next story is whether that attention brings lasting work and recognition to the Black creatives behind fashion.

FAQs

What does “Fall Fashion Week” mean here?

It refers to the Fall 2026 collections shown in New York, London, Milan and Paris. Many shows took place between January and March 2026, although the clothes were designed for autumn and winter.

Is this a ranked list?

No. The numbers organise the 15 entries; they do not rank the celebrities. “Most stylish” is an editorial judgment based on the outfits and documented appearances.

Did every celebrity have a deal with the designer?

No. Zendaya’s Louis Vuitton ambassadorship and Damson Idris’s Prada ambassadorship are documented. Attending a show or wearing a designer’s clothes does not by itself establish a paid partnership.

Do these appearances prove that the brands made sales?

No. The coverage documents the appearances, not sales, revenue or profit from a particular outfit or collection.

Why include Little Simz at Tolu Coker’s show?

Simz performed in a long blue coat during Coker’s London presentation. The event also previewed Coker’s Topshop capsule, linking the performance with a retail collaboration.

The post The 15 Most Stylish Black Celebrities at Fall Fashion Week and What Their Looks Say appeared first on Black Elites.

The companies range from an insurance brokerage and a nuclear energy startup to an event platform, a hair-care brand and a Nigerian defense technology firm. Their funding announcements show where investors have committed capital. They don’t show whether the companies are profitable, how much ownership the founders kept or whether customers will stay.

Insurance, Energy and Live Events

1. Dakotah Rice, Harper

Harper announced $46.8 million in combined seed and Series A financing in February. Emergence Capital led the Series A, with Y Combinator, Peak XV, Antler and other investors participating. Harper is building an AI-enabled commercial insurance brokerage for businesses seeking coverage and insurers assessing risk.

The company said it had served more than 5,000 businesses in its first 13 months. That figure comes from Harper, but it offers a sense of the early customer base Rice says the company has reached. He has linked the idea for Harper to his family’s experience trying to secure insurance for a trucking business.

The financing and insurance costs crushed him before he had a chance. — Dakotah Rice

Harper works as a brokerage rather than selling software to existing brokers. That puts the company closer to the customer, but it also means building carrier relationships and handling complex risks. Rice’s family experience may explain the problem he set out to address; the company’s service will determine whether customers find a better way to get covered.

2. Kofi Asante, Bluecore Energy

Bluecore Energy announced $50 million in seed financing in September to develop floating nuclear power systems for ports and other infrastructure. Its first target is the Port of Long Beach. The company has reported progress on fuel supply, regulatory engagement and maritime classification. It has not announced an operating reactor.

The funding figure needs a qualification. TechCrunch described a new $50 million seed round after a $10 million pre-seed. Axios said the $50 million figure includes the earlier money. Bluecore’s newsroom calls it a $50 million seed financing. This article uses the announced figure without adding the pre-seed to it.

Asante told Axios that Long Beach is the company’s priority.

The financing backs a project that still has to clear technical and regulatory hurdles, and win cooperation from port authorities, before it can supply power. Investor interest is established; a working system is not.

3. Avante Price, POSH

POSH raised $37 million in a Series B led by FirstMark Capital in March. Price co-founded the event platform with Eli Taylor-Lemire. The company gives organisers tools to create and promote gatherings, and helps users discover events.

POSH is expanding from event management into consumer discovery. Its business now depends on two groups finding value in the same platform: organizers who use its tools and attendees who want to find something worth doing. A larger product budget may help, but the company still needs enough events to keep users browsing and enough users to make the service useful to organizers.

4. Eli Taylor-Lemire, POSH

Taylor-Lemire co-founded POSH with Price. The company says the two met while working at events in New York: Price was a DJ and Taylor-Lemire a photographer. They started building tools for organizers after finding the systems available to them inadequate.

Taylor-Lemire is included as a founder whose company raised venture capital. His financing is POSH’s $37 million Series B, the same round listed for Price. The founders count separately in a ten-person list; the investment does not.

POSH is competing with other event and social discovery services for people’s time. Organizers and attendees have to keep using it for the platform to work as intended.

5. Cameron Carter, Rosarium Health

Rosarium Health raised $6 million in seed funding in May, led by Kalos Ventures. It coordinates home-based care, including clinical assessments and home modifications for older adults and people with disabilities. Rock Health Capital, Symphonic Capital and the American Family Insurance Institute for Corporate and Social Impact also participated, according to reports.

Rosarium says its network includes more than 800 clinicians and 3,000 contractors across 34 states. Those are company-reported figures. They don’t show how many providers are active or whether every patient can access the service.

The work involves coordinating providers, home modifications and payment systems. Rosarium is trying to bring those pieces together so health plans can arrange more care at home. Its seed round will fund that operating network, not just software development.

Computing, Beauty and Defense

6. Kunle Olukotun, SambaNova Systems

SambaNova announced the first close of a $1 billion strategic financing as part of a Series F in July. The company reported a post-money valuation of $11 billion; General Atlantic led the financing. Olukotun is a co-founder and chief technologist, and a Stanford engineering professor.

The phrase “first close” matters: SambaNova announced that portion of the financing as completed, not that the entire Series F was finished. Reuters reported the company had also raised $350 million in a Series E earlier in the year. SambaNova makes AI chips and systems for inference, when a trained model generates responses.

AI hardware is expensive to develop and deploy. The size of SambaNova’s financing also shifts the broader funding picture: Crunchbase reported that the company’s earlier 2026 round made up a large share of first-quarter venture funding to US startups with Black founders. One large deal can move an aggregate total sharply. 

7. Tendai Moyo, Ruka

Ruka, a UK-based textured-hair brand co-founded by Moyo, closed a $4.5 million round in May. Henkel Ventures and Freedom Trail Capital co-led the financing; Big Issue Invest and Backed VC also participated. Ruka makes textured-hair products and is developing synthetic fibers for extensions and braiding hair.

Ruka said it would put the money toward fiber innovation, production, US retail expansion and education initiatives. Henkel brings consumer-products experience to the round, alongside Freedom Trail Capital’s venture backing. For Ruka, moving into more stores will mean keeping production and inventory in step with demand. Repeat purchases will be a clearer sign of traction than initial interest.

8. Nathan Nwachuku, Terra Industries

Terra Industries added $18 million in August, bringing its seed round to $52 million. The Nigerian defense technology company builds autonomous systems for security and infrastructure monitoring. It said the new funding would support manufacturing, deployments and a London office.

Nwachuku is the company’s co-founder and chief executive. Terra says its systems help governments and infrastructure operators monitor and protect critical assets. In its funding announcement, Nwachuku described what the additional capital would support:

This funding lets us scale that work and deepen our manufacturing base. — Nathan Nwachuku

Terra argues that security systems should be designed for the conditions in the markets they serve. The company will have to turn that case into contracts, deliveries and maintenance work.

9. Maxwell Maduka, Terra Industries

Maduka co-founded Terra Industries with Nwachuku. He shares the company’s $52 million seed round; it was not a separate financing. Terra says its systems cover land, air and maritime environments and are designed for governments and infrastructure operators.

The company has also announced plans for a 34,000-square-foot facility in Ghana, which it says is due to open in the fourth quarter of 2026. The facility is planned, not yet completed production. Terra says the seed funding will support manufacturing and deployments.

For Maduka and Nwachuku, the round gives Terra money to build capacity. The Ghana facility and the company’s deployments will show how quickly it can turn that capital into operating infrastructure.

10. Ryan Williams, Ellis

Ellis emerged from stealth in July with more than $10 million in seed funding, led by First Round Capital. Williams, a former co-founder of real estate investment company Cadre, is building software for private credit managers. Ellis says its platform connects information held in documents, spreadsheets and accounting systems, with AI agents handling recurring tasks.

Private credit firms work with loan, portfolio and investor records spread across different systems. Ellis is targeting the administrative work behind those investments. Williams has experience in private markets from Cadre, but managers will need to trust Ellis with sensitive financial information and see enough value to keep paying for it.

First Round and the other investors are funding product development and early customer work. Ellis is entering a market where the case for AI will rest on whether it can make those tasks more accurate or less costly.

What the funding reveals

The companies won’t use capital in the same way. POSH needs organizers and attendees to keep returning. Rosarium is coordinating providers and health plans. Bluecore, SambaNova and Terra face substantial engineering, manufacturing or regulatory demands.

SambaNova’s first close is much larger than the other rounds. POSH and Terra each have two founders represented by one company financing.

Venture capital can pay for hiring, product development and expansion. It can also dilute founders’ stakes and bring investor expectations. Because the terms of these rounds have not all been made public, the amounts alone can’t show who controls each business today. The companies’ operations, customer relationships and products will tell more about what the funding achieved. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Are these ten separate venture rounds?

No. The article profiles ten founders across eight companies. Price and Taylor-Lemire share POSH’s Series B; Nwachuku and Maduka share Terra Industries’ seed round.

Why does the article mention nine financing stages?

Harper’s $46.8 million announcement combined a seed round and a Series A. The other seven company announcements each describe one stage, giving nine stages across eight company announcements.

Was SambaNova’s $1 billion Series F fully completed?

The company announced a first close of $1 billion in strategic financing as part of its Series F. The article describes it as a first close and does not claim the entire fundraising process was complete.

Does the Bluecore figure include its pre-seed?

Reports differ. TechCrunch describes a $50 million seed round after a $10 million pre-seed; Axios says the $50 million financing figure includes the pre-seed. The article notes the difference and does not add the amounts together.

Does raising venture capital mean a company is profitable?

No. A funding announcement shows that investors provided capital. It does not establish profitability, customer retention, long-term growth or how much of the company the founders still own.

The post 10 Black Founders Who Raised Venture Capital This Year and What Their Funding Reveals appeared first on Black Elites.

This is one of the frustrations of modern job searching. While many people depend entirely on public job advertisements, some opportunities are discovered through professional relationships, referrals, industry communities, and direct conversations with employers.

This less visible side of recruitment is commonly known as the hidden job market.

Understanding how it works can help job seekers broaden their search, improve their professional visibility, and discover opportunities beyond conventional job boards.

What Is the Hidden Job Market?

The hidden job market refers to employment opportunities that are not widely advertised or are discovered through professional networks and direct employer engagement before they attract public attention.

Companies may identify potential candidates through employee referrals, existing professional relationships, recruitment agencies, industry events, or conversations with people who have demonstrated relevant skills.

Some employers also explore internal candidates or professional networks before deciding whether to advertise a vacancy publicly.

However, the hidden job market does not mean that every job is secretly filled or that qualifications no longer matter. Public job advertisements remain an important route to employment. The advantage comes from combining conventional applications with proactive networking and relationship-building.

Why Professional Connections Matter

Employers are not simply looking for people who meet the minimum requirements for a position. They also want candidates who understand the role, communicate effectively, demonstrate relevant skills, and can contribute to the organisation.

Professional connections can help candidates learn about an industry, understand what employers need, and discover opportunities they might otherwise miss.

A meaningful professional relationship could begin with a conversation at an industry event, a thoughtful message to a recruiter, participation in an online professional community, or a discussion with someone working in a field that interests you.

The objective is not to ask every person you meet for a job. It is to build genuine relationships, exchange useful information, and make your professional interests and abilities visible.

Five Ways to Access More Career Opportunities

1. Build a Professional Online Presence

Your online presence can influence whether recruiters, employers, or potential collaborators take an interest in you.

Keep your professional profiles current and ensure they communicate your skills, experience, interests, and career direction. Instead of simply listing qualifications, explain what you can do and the value you can bring to a team.

For example, a digital marketer could highlight campaign experience, content strategy, audience growth, and analytical skills. A software developer could showcase projects, technical capabilities, and problem-solving experience.

Where possible, include a portfolio, project examples, or measurable achievements that demonstrate your abilities.

2. Connect With People in Your Target Industry

Identify professionals, hiring managers, recruiters, and organisations operating in your preferred field.

Follow their work, participate thoughtfully in discussions, and reach out with specific, relevant questions. A short message explaining your interest in their industry will generally be more effective than a generic request for employment.

Professional networking is most valuable when it creates opportunities for learning and mutual connection rather than becoming a series of requests for favours.

3. Contact Employers Directly

You do not always have to wait for a vacancy announcement to introduce yourself to an organisation.

Research companies you would genuinely like to work for and identify the departments or teams that align with your skills. You can then send a concise introduction explaining your background, the type of work you do, and how you might contribute.

Keep the message professional and respectful. Not every employer will respond, and an unsolicited introduction is not a guarantee of consideration, but it can help establish a useful connection for future opportunities.

4. Participate in Professional Communities

Online communities can provide access to industry discussions, professional advice, events, collaborations, and employment information.

Choose communities where people share useful knowledge and where you can contribute meaningfully. Ask informed questions, offer relevant insights, and build relationships over time.

Platforms that bring people together around professional interests can help make networking more accessible, especially for graduates, remote workers, and professionals who may not have extensive industry connections.

5. Continue Applying for Publicly Advertised Jobs

Networking should complement your job search, not replace it.

Use reputable job platforms, tailor your CV to suitable positions, follow application instructions, and prepare for interviews. Set aside time each week for both advertised opportunities and proactive relationship-building.

Combining these methods gives you more ways to discover and pursue suitable roles.

How Skills Can Help You Stand Out

Professional connections may help you discover an opportunity, but you still need to demonstrate that you can perform the work.

Employers increasingly assess practical capabilities alongside formal qualifications. Depending on the role, these may include communication, project management, digital literacy, analytical thinking, technical expertise, and the ability to collaborate.

If you identify a gap between your current abilities and the requirements of your target role, look for practical ways to close it. Short courses, independent projects, volunteering, internships, and portfolio work can help you demonstrate progress.

Learning becomes more valuable when you apply it to real tasks and can show what you have achieved.

Where Kominiti Fits Into the Modern Job Search

Finding career opportunities often involves more than one activity. A job seeker may need to develop new skills, connect with professionals, identify vacancies, and present evidence of their abilities.

Kominiti brings together several features that support different parts of this journey.

• KJobs: Explore employment opportunities and discover job listings.
• KLearning: Develop practical skills through learning resources and courses.
• Kominiti Wall: Participate in a professional community and build connections.
• Kominiti Marketplace: Explore freelance services and opportunities to connect with potential clients.

These features serve different purposes, but together they reflect a useful principle: career development involves learning, relationships, and taking action on opportunities.

You can explore the platform at Kominiti.com and visit KJobs to look for available employment opportunities.

The Best Time to Build Your Network Is Before You Need a Job

One of the biggest mistakes job seekers make is waiting until they are unemployed or urgently need a new role before building professional relationships.

Networking works best as an ongoing activity. Maintain relationships, keep developing your skills, participate in relevant communities, and stay informed about your industry even when you are not actively searching for work.

You cannot control every hiring decision, and professional connections cannot guarantee employment. However, you can improve your chances of discovering relevant opportunities by becoming more visible, prepared, and proactive.

The bottom line: Do not limit your career search to vacancies you can see. Combine job applications with professional networking, direct employer engagement, and continuous skills development. The next opportunity you pursue may come from a connection you build today.

The post The Hidden Job Market: How to Find Jobs Before They’re Advertised appeared first on Black Elites.

The figure is an estimate of how many businesses Black women own. It does not count first-time founders or show how many businesses opened and closed during the year. That distinction is easy to lose in a headline about who is “launching” fastest.

Wells Fargo estimates that Black women own about 2.9 million U.S. businesses, roughly 18% of all women-owned companies. Their average annual revenue was about $41,000 in 2025. For women-owned businesses overall, the estimate was $179,000.

Those numbers describe revenue, not what owners take home. They also raise a question that a business count cannot answer: how many of these companies have the income and resources to grow?

The Numbers Depend on What Is Being Counted

Wells Fargo’s 13% figure compares estimated business numbers from 2024 to 2025. Its report also found that Black women-owned employer firms, those with paid staff, grew 18.3% from 2022 to 2025. Hispanic or Latino women-owned employer firms grew 37.2% over that period. The figures cover three years and only firms with employees, so they tell a different story from the one-year comparison.

The Kauffman Foundation tracks another stage of entrepreneurship: how many adults start a business in an average month. Its national rate for 2025 was 0.36%. The rate was 0.45% for Black adults, 0.53% for Latino adults, 0.33% for Asian adults and 0.29% for white adults. Kauffman separately put the rate at 0.28% for women and 0.44% for men. Those figures compare race and gender separately; they do not give a rate for Black women specifically.

So the available measures offer different glimpses. One estimates the number of businesses already owned. The other counts adults entering entrepreneurship. Neither follows a particular founder from opening day through the first year, a profitable year or an expansion.

The businesses themselves vary widely. Some are solo professional practices or online shops. Others have paid employees and larger operating costs. Digital storefronts and social media can help a founder find customers without first renting a shop, but a following does not always become steady sales. The owner still has to pay for stock, insurance, platform fees and her own time.

More Control Can Come with More Risk

The reasons women start companies vary. Some want greater control over their careers, income or schedules. Others start after a layoff or when advancement at work stalls. Those experiences can overlap, but the decision is rarely explained by one figure or one trend.

Wells Fargo’s report links the growth in Black women’s business ownership with barriers around capital, networks and business opportunities. A 2026 Wall Street Journal account described Erin Giddens, who had long wanted to start a company but stayed in corporate communications. After she was laid off and could not find another job, she focused on her video-production business.

Building something I own may be riskier in the short term and requires real sacrifices, but it gives me more control over my long-term future. — Erin Giddens

Giddens’s words capture the appeal without making self-employment sound easy. She gained more say over her work, but also took on the task of finding clients and covering costs. A founder may have more control over her direction and still face months when income is uncertain.

The average-revenue estimate offers another view of the challenge. A business bringing in $41,000 a year may have little left after operating costs. The figure cannot tell us how much any particular owner earns, but the gap with women-owned businesses overall points to a difference in scale.

Financing and Contracts Can Change a Company’s Prospects

Many businesses have to spend before a customer pays. A founder may need equipment or inventory, or have to cover payroll while waiting for an invoice. When a loan is unavailable, personal savings and credit cards can carry the business through. That can help keep it open, while moving more financial risk to the owner and her household.

The Federal Reserve’s 2026 chartbook on firms by race and ethnicity draws on its 2025 Small Business Credit Survey. It found that 32% of Black-owned employer firms that did not apply for financing said they were discouraged because they did not think they would be approved. The survey does not isolate Black women-owned firms, but it shows that some business owners rule out an application before a lender makes a decision.

Contracts can bring in repeat work. A government agency or large corporation can become a regular buyer, and completed work may help a business approach other customers. Wells Fargo identifies procurement as one possible route to growth for women-owned businesses. Yet finding an opportunity is only part of the job.

A company may need insurance, staff and working capital to deliver a contract. If the buyer pays late, the owner still has to cover costs in the meantime. And if the price is too low, a large order can keep people busy without leaving enough profit to hire or invest.

Outside investment and supplier certifications also bring decisions about ownership. Wells Fargo’s report describes ownership thresholds used in some supplier-diversity programmes. Equity financing can bring money and connections, but may reduce a founder’s share of her company. The right choice depends on what the business needs and what its owner wants to retain.

Ownership Is Only One Measure of Wealth

A small business is not always a failed growth story. A solo consultancy may suit its owner. An online shop can provide useful income without employees. Other firms stay small because their owners cannot afford staff, get credit or reach larger buyers. Business-count data cannot tell us which is happening.

Survival offers another measure. Kauffman reported that 77.9% of U.S. startups were still active after one year in 2025. That is a national figure for startups overall. It does not say how many Black women-owned businesses remained open, hired employees or expanded over several years.

Emma Grede, co-founder of Good American and founding partner of SKIMS, spoke about demand for Black-founded brands at the 2025 Washington Post Global Women’s Summit.

There are plenty of incredible retailers that see the need, that see the appetite from consumers. — Emma Grede

Retailers seeing demand can help a brand find customers. The company still needs to meet orders and keep enough cash on hand to operate. A strong product or a busy launch may open a door; consistent sales and retained earnings determine what a business can do next.

The 13% increase is a sign that Black women own more businesses than Wells Fargo estimated a year earlier. The revenue and financing figures point to the harder questions that follow: which companies can keep customers, earn enough to reinvest and secure the resources to expand?

For owners, tracking costs and payment schedules can show whether growth is bringing in enough cash to support the next step. For lenders and corporate buyers, access matters too: whether firms ready to expand can obtain financing and compete for contracts.

Business ownership can provide income and greater control over work. For some founders, a company may also become an asset they can keep, sell or pass to their families. The available business-count figures show momentum. They do not yet tell us how broadly that momentum is turning into lasting wealth.

Frequently Asked Questions About Black Women Entrepreneurs

How quickly are Black women-owned businesses growing?

Wells Fargo estimates that their number rose about 13% between 2024 and 2025. Women-owned businesses overall grew by 4.4% in the same period. These are business-count estimates, not counts of first-time founders.

How much revenue do Black women-owned businesses generate?

Wells Fargo estimates average annual revenue of about $41,000 per Black woman-owned business in 2025, compared with $179,000 for women-owned businesses overall. Revenue is measured before expenses, so it does not show how much owners kept.

Does business growth mean these firms are scaling?

Not necessarily. A rise in the number of businesses does not show whether firms are profitable, hiring or expanding. Revenue, employment, financing, and survival over time provide other measures.

What can make it harder for Black women-owned businesses to grow?

Limited access to financing, business networks and large contracts can restrict expansion. In the Federal Reserve’s 2025 survey, 32% of Black-owned employer firms that did not seek financing said they were discouraged because they did not expect approval.

Are Black women starting businesses only because of job losses?

No. Some founders seek greater control over their work and income; others start companies after layoffs or limited advancement opportunities. The reasons differ from person to person.

Can entrepreneurship help build intergenerational wealth?

It can, when a business provides reliable income or becomes an asset its owner can retain, sell, or pass on. Growth in business numbers signals more ownership, but does not establish how many owners have accumulated lasting wealth.

The post The Rise of Black Women Entrepreneurs: Why They’re Launching Businesses Faster than Anyone appeared first on Black Elites.

Across seven campuses, homecoming took different forms: a school theme, a close game, a student showcase, an alumni reunion or a fundraising campaign. These moments show what universities and their communities put on display during the 2026 season. They also show the limits of a busy week: attendance and excitement are visible right away; longer-term effects take time to measure.

Howard’s week brought tradition into new settings

1. “Wildest Dreams” Gave Howard’s Week a Common Thread

Howard chose “Wildest Dreams” as its homecoming theme. The phrase gave students and alumni a way to connect their own ambitions with the university’s history and the lives of Bison who came before them. Howard’s homecoming page sets out the theme.

2. Howard Scored Twice in the Fourth to Beat Morehouse

Morehouse pulled level at 17 in the third quarter. Howard answered with two touchdowns in the final quarter and won 31–17. The result gave the Bison a homecoming victory during a difficult season, in front of a crowd of 9,995, according to Howard’s official recap.

3. Club 520 Brought Podcast Culture into Howard Theatre

On October 14, the Club 520 Podcast taped a live Homecoming Edition at Howard Theatre. John Wall, the NBA All-Star and Howard’s men’s basketball general manager, joined as a special guest. The Cathy Hughes School of Communications sponsored the recording and used the event to launch its Impact Hub with Project 68. Howard’s report connected the hub to support for emerging Black storytellers and civic leaders.

For students, the event brought a familiar online sports show into a campus venue and connected it to a university programme.

4. Jordan’s Howard Collection Put School Colors In a Major Brand Catalogue

Howard announced the rollout of its Jordan MVP x Howard University apparel collection during homecoming. Nike’s Howard merchandise page listed co-branded items, including a Jordan MVP hoodie.

The collaboration gave Howard’s name and colours a place in a major sportswear catalogue. The university and Nike did not report sales figures in the cited coverage, so the collection’s commercial results are not yet clear.

5. Student Designers Got a Homecoming Runway

Howard’s annual student fashion show took place at Cramton Auditorium on October 15. The university presents it as a showcase for student creativity, style and individuality. For the designers, the runway puts work before a campus audience; for the audience, it offers a look at what students are making.

6. The Greek Step Show Carried the Divine Nine’s Traditions

Howard held its Greek Step Show at Burr Gymnasium on October 16, with Black Greek-letter organizations taking part. Five of the nine Divine Nine organisations were founded at Howard, according to the university’s homecoming coverage.

Stepping gives those organisations a public stage for rhythm, movement and group identity. It can also introduce the tradition to students and visitors encountering it for the first time.

7. Grambling Celebrated a Century of the World Famed Tiger Marching Band

Grambling State marked the band’s centennial with a gala and concert on October 1. The university said it honoured generations of band members and launched a Centennial Uniform Fund to support the band’s next century. The anniversary fell within a milestone year for Grambling State, which marked 125 years, and for Tiger Athletics, which marked 100.

President Martin Lemelle Jr. spoke about the ties that connect alumni across generations:

Different generations may experience Grambling State in different ways, but we remain connected by this University and by our responsibility to its future. — Martin Lemelle Jr.

Games and Gatherings Across Other Campuses

8. FAMU’s Theme Took Inspiration from The Wiz

Florida A&M scheduled homecoming for October 18–25 under the theme “There’s No Place Like the Hill,” drawing on The Wiz. The reference tied the week’s programme to a familiar piece of Black popular culture and the university’s own Rattler identity. 

The week was still underway on October 20, so its remaining events were scheduled, not completed.

9. FAMU’s Step Show Was Set for October 23

The university’s NPHC Step Show was scheduled under the title “Galaxy Games: Journey to the Emerald City.” The concept carried the Wiz reference into a performance by FAMU’s Greek-letter organisations.

The show had not yet taken place at the time of writing. Any assessment of its performances or attendance would have to wait until afterward.

10. Alabama A&M Turned an Early Deficit Into a 61–31 Win

Grambling State opened with a two-touchdown lead in its October 17 game against Alabama A&M. The Bulldogs then scored 44 unanswered points across the second and third quarters and won 61–31, according to Grambling’s game recap.

The final score was emphatic. The swing that produced it came in the middle quarters, when Alabama A&M took control.

11. Jackson State Rallied In the Fourth Quarter

Jackson State trailed Florida A&M 17–12 going into the final quarter on October 17. The Tigers scored 15 unanswered points to win 27–17 before a university-reported crowd of 44,173 at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium. Jackson State’s recap also credited the team with forcing four turnovers.

The late rally gave the home crowd a game that changed direction in the final quarter.

12. Prairie View Won with a Field Goal Inside the Final Two Minutes

Prairie View A&M beat Alcorn State 41–38 on October 17. With 1:56 left, Ethan Eddins made a 37-yard field goal after the Panthers drove 47 yards in seven plays. Alcorn had erased two 14-point deficits and taken the lead in the third quarter.

13. Prairie View Reported a Record $6.1 Million In Gifts and Commitments

Prairie View A&M said its homecoming generated more than $6.1 million in gifts and commitments. The university reported that the total included scholarship support, a $1 million endowment for student programmes and corporate gifts from Shell and Dow. It also said the sum contributes to a $15 million anniversary fundraising effort running through July 2027.

The wording matters: gifts and commitments do not mean that all the money had already arrived. Jeff Shaw, the university’s vice president for University Advancement, described the intended use:

These contributions represent more than financial generosity. They are lasting investments in student success and the future of our institution. — Jeff Shaw

14. “Rooted and Rising” Brought Prairie View’s Anniversary Into the Celebration

Prairie View A&M’s homecoming theme was “Rooted and Rising.” Founded in 1876, the university held its 2026 celebrations during its 150th anniversary year. The programme, which ran from October 11 to 17, included events for alumni groups and graduating classes.

Prairie View also tied the anniversary to giving. Its homecoming giving challenge recognised the college or school with the most money raised and the one with the most individual donors.

15. North Carolina A&T’s Centennial Celebration Was Still to Come

North Carolina A&T scheduled the 100th edition of the “Greatest Homecoming on Earth” for October 25–November 1. The university listed its October 31 football game against Elon as sold out. As of October 20, the celebration had not yet begun.

The centennial gave Aggies a milestone to prepare for. Attendance totals and the week’s results would only be known after the events.

FAQs

What is HBCU Homecoming?

HBCU Homecoming is a campus celebration that brings together students, alumni, faculty, families and supporters. Schools may hold football games, concerts, reunions, showcases, parades, religious services and Greek step shows. Each university builds its programme around its own traditions.

Which HBCU reported a record $6.1 million in homecoming gifts and commitments?

Prairie View A&M reported more than $6.1 million in gifts and commitments during its 2026 homecoming. The university said the total included scholarship support, programme funding and corporate gifts.

How did Howard beat Morehouse in 2026?

Howard scored twice in the fourth quarter to win 31–17 on October 17. Howard Athletics reported 9,995 in attendance at Greene Stadium.

What was FAMU’s homecoming theme?

Florida A&M chose “There’s No Place Like the Hill,” inspired by The Wiz. Its homecoming was scheduled for October 18–25, with the NPHC Step Show set for October 23.

When was North Carolina A&T’s centennial homecoming scheduled?

The university scheduled its 100th “Greatest Homecoming on Earth” for October 25 through November 1, 2026. Its football game against Elon was set for October 31 and listed as sold out.

The post HBCU Homecoming 2026: 15 Moments That Defined the Culture and Why They Resonated appeared first on Black Elites.

The post 10 Black Celebrities Positioned for a Breakout Finish to 2026, and Why appeared first on Black Elites.

The awards also came with six months of coaching and introductions to corporate partners. For the founders, the bigger question was what that support could help them do next: find customers, grow revenue and retain a meaningful share of their companies.

One Award Pool, Different Needs

Black Ambition is a nonprofit founded by Pharrell Williams in 2020. The organisation described the 2024 recipients as Black and Hispanic entrepreneurs. Their businesses worked in fields including AI, consumer products, health care, media and technology.

RedDrop’s Dr. Monica Williams and Dana Roberts received the largest award, $1 million. GRIND, a sports technology company founded by Thomas Fields, received $250,000. The company uses its products to encourage children in underserved communities to explore engineering and technology careers. Black Ambition’s announcement put the total awards above $2.7 million.

The prize amounts varied widely. A rough average of more than $90,000 per recipient hides that spread. For a small company, $25,000 might pay for a production run, compliance work or a key hire. It may not cover the costs of reaching repeat sales. A seven-figure award gives a company more room to expand, though the founder still has to turn that money into a lasting business.

Black Ambition said recipients would have six months of support. The programme included town halls with Williams and senior brand partners, investor office hours, and advice on marketing, operations and brand management. Winners could also attend retail-partner meetings and take part in wellness and executive coaching.

The competition had General and HBCU Prize tracks. It also offered a separate $25,000 public-vote award. These parts of the programme were designed to address different needs, from raising capital to meeting people who might help a company reach customers.

Williams described the programme’s larger aim in Black Ambition’s announcement. He said the organisation wanted to create more opportunity and wealth for Black and Brown communities.

Hearing the stories and seeing their products as they pitched on Demo Day reaffirmed that Black Ambition is needed. — Pharrell Williams

RedDrop’s Route to Retail

RedDrop began with a specific customer in mind. Founded by educator Dana Roberts and physician Monica Williams, the company makes period kits and products for tweens, along with educational resources for girls and families. Its products address needs that adult-sized period care may not meet.

The company later rebranded as Scarlet by RedDrop and expanded its product range beyond first-period kits. By 2025, it had entered more than 350 Ulta Beauty stores. In September of that year, the brand said it had reached more than one million tweens and teens with its products and puberty education materials.

Scarlet by RedDrop was also named one of Pepperdine Graziadio Business School’s 14 “Most Fundable Companies” in 2025, selected from more than 2,300 applicants. That recognition signals investor readiness; it does not mean the company received financing.

In an October 2025 interview with the Atlanta Business Chronicle, Williams said the business had grown largely through bootstrapping outside the Black Ambition award. She credited the funding with helping transform the company, including its rebrand, and said that building a category-defining brand still required capital.

The move into Ulta gave Scarlet by RedDrop a much wider retail presence. It also brought new costs. The company has to manage inventory and replenishment, meet retailer terms and keep enough working capital available as it reaches more customers. Whether the new distribution leads to repeat sales and healthy margins will shape what comes next.

We have grown this business pretty much bootstrap, outside the Pharrell Williams opportunity. — Monica Williams

The company’s growth raises a question that runs through the feature: who gains when a product finds a larger market? For Scarlet by RedDrop, the next measure is whether wider distribution can support profitable growth while its founders retain meaningful control.

Different Companies, Different Hurdles

AskSAMIE received $50,000. Founded by occupational therapist Dr. Brandy Archie, the platform first helped older adults find adaptive equipment and care that could help them remain safely at home. Therapists then asked Archie for tools to build their own local practices.

Archie said the company wanted to become a nationwide brand and needed resources to keep growing. In April 2026, Startland News reported that AskSAMIE had joined Techstars with a separate $220,000 investment. The company had brought its co-founder and CTO on full time, released subscription tools for occupational therapists and signed up more than 500 therapists to its platform. Archie identified clinician adoption as the next hurdle.

That investment and product development show continued activity after Demo Day. They should be kept separate from the Black Ambition award. Startland News tracked AskSAMIE’s progress, including the challenge of getting more clinicians to use its tools.

Puzzles of Color faced a different test. The Texas-based company reached Macy’s and Nordstrom’s websites and later appeared in select Barnes & Noble stores. In 2025, co-founder Ericka Chambers told the Associated Press that the founders were reassessing how to expand as some retailers scaled back diversity initiatives. They were considering how to reach new customers while preserving the company’s identity.

The company’s experience shows how much a consumer brand can depend on retailers’ decisions. Capital may help a business prepare for growth; it cannot ensure a store will continue to stock its products.

When Introductions Lead Somewhere

Black Ambition paired its awards with access to companies such as Visa, Comcast, Louis Vuitton, Adidas and the Lennar Foundation. Those relationships could lead to a buyer, supplier or adviser. Whether they did so for individual founders is harder to establish. An invitation to a meeting, for example, does not show that a company received an order.

The preparation began before Demo Day. Black Ambition said 250 semifinalists took part in a three-month mentorship programme. Fifty finalists received pitch coaching and design support. About 3,000 entrepreneurs entered the competition.

There are broader figures, too. Black Ambition reported that its network generated more than $265 million in revenue by the end of 2024. Its 2025 five-year update put the cumulative figure above $348 million and said the organisation had awarded about $14 million to more than 157 startups since 2020.

Those totals cover multiple cohorts. They do not show how much revenue the 2024 recipients generated, or what portion of their sales came through Black Ambition’s network. Revenue measures sales before expenses; it cannot show profit or how much wealth founders retained. The totals also do not measure the return on the $2.7 million distributed at the fourth Demo Day.

Follow the Company’s Next Constraint

The founders’ needs differed by industry. A product company may need money for inventory; a health-care startup may face regulatory work; a media business may need rights or distribution. The award amounts alone cannot show which problem was solved.

Black Ambition could make the program’s results clearer by following each company after the six-month support period. Did the funding lower production costs or help secure repeat customers? Did a meeting lead to an order, and what happened to the founders’ ownership as the company raised more money?

Mentorship and introductions can help founders get in front of people who may be able to help. They cannot replace a buyer, a lender with suitable terms or a reliable supplier. The company still has to make the relationship work commercially.

Scarlet by RedDrop’s rebrand and entry into Ulta show how a prize and wider visibility can accompany a retail push. Williams’s account of bootstrapping also shows that the company continued to need capital after receiving the award.

Two years after Demo Day, the most useful record would link the prize to what each business did next: how it used the money, what support it received and whether the company gained customers or follow-on funding. That would show more clearly where the program helped and what its founders still had to solve.

FAQs

What is Black Ambition?

Black Ambition is a nonprofit founded by Pharrell Williams in 2020. It supports entrepreneurs from backgrounds underrepresented in venture capital through prize funding, mentorship and connections to investors, industry leaders and corporate partners.

How much did Black Ambition award in 2024?

The organisation announced more than $2.7 million in awards for 30 founders. Prizes ranged from $25,000 to $1 million. RedDrop won the $1 million grand prize, and GRIND received $250,000 as the second-place winner.

What support came with the 2024 awards?

Black Ambition said winners would receive six months of support, including investor and executive office hours, invitations to retail-partner meetings, wellness and executive coaching, town halls with Pharrell Williams and senior brand partners, and networking events.

What happened to RedDrop after Demo Day?

RedDrop rebranded as Scarlet by RedDrop, expanded its product line and entered more than 350 Ulta Beauty stores. The company said it had reached more than one million tweens and teens with its products and puberty education materials by September 2025.

Did the award make the companies profitable?

The available network revenue figures cover multiple cohorts and do not establish whether an individual recipient became profitable. Revenue is sales before expenses, so it does not show a company’s costs or the share of its value retained by its founders.

The post Inside Black Ambition’s $2.7 Million Bet on 30 Black and Brown Founders appeared first on Black Elites.

The headline’s “first” refers specifically to ForbesBLK’s inaugural 25-company assessment. It is not the first national ranking of Black-owned businesses. Black Enterprise began its BE 100s in 1973 and has ranked the nation’s largest Black-owned companies for more than 45 years. ForbesBLK also did not publish a numbered order by revenue. Its selection considered revenue alongside growth, longevity and industry reputation. This feature examines that first ForbesBLK national ranking as a group of selected companies, not as a sales leaderboard.

What the Ranking Measures

ForbesBLK’s criteria generally required established businesses to have annual revenue between $75 million and $2.5 billion. Venture-backed startups below that revenue threshold could qualify with a valuation of at least $100 million. Forbes says it consulted business organizations, venture-capital firms and its own journalists, then checked financial information against company data, news reports and third-party sources, including PitchBook. 

The 25 companies are Baldwin Richardson Foods, Cityblock Health, Coca-Cola Beverages Florida, DGN Enterprise, Esusu, Fair Oaks Foods, Heartland Coca-Cola, H.J. Russell & Company, Incredible Health, James Group International, Kepler Computing, McKissack, Moody Nolan, Novig, Ossium Health, Promise, Saalex Corporation, SparkCharge, Squire Technologies, Sun State International, The Anderson-DuBose Company, The Chemico Group, Thompson Hospitality, Vizcom and Voltava.

The selection is a small slice of a much wider business population. The U.S. Census Bureau’s 2024 Annual Business Survey, which covers reference year 2023, counted 201,000 Black-owned employer firms and recorded $249 billion in receipts. These firms made up 3.4% of U.S. employer businesses. Brookings’ analysis of Census data found that the number of Black-owned employer businesses grew 62% from 2017 to 2023; Black Americans represented 14.4% of the U.S. population in 2023. 

The ForbesBLK companies are not typical small businesses. They were selected because they had substantial revenue, growth, longevity, reputation or, for some startups, valuation. Their value as a group is in the range of business models they reveal: firms that supply major brands, contractors that win institutional work, and technology companies seeking to solve specific operational problems.

Suppliers Grow Behind Familiar Brands

Several companies on the list sell to businesses and institutions rather than directly to consumers. They make products, distribute supplies or manage parts of larger companies’ operations. Repeat contracts can support growth, but meeting those contracts requires inventory, facilities, staff and dependable delivery.

Coca-Cola Beverages Florida is the clearest example of billion-dollar revenue with a stated period. Forbes reported that the Tampa-based bottler generated $2.2 billion in revenue in 2025, employed more than 5,000 people and served over 20 million customers. Founder Troy Taylor worked as an investment banker and advised on a Coca-Cola distributor deal in 1995. About a decade later, he purchased distribution rights in Florida. The 2025 figure shows the size of the operation; the territory, bottling capacity and delivery network make that scale possible.

Heartland Coca-Cola reached distribution through a different route. Former NBA player Junior Bridgeman built a restaurant-franchise business that included more than 500 Wendy’s, Chili’s and Pizza Hut locations at its peak in 2015. Forbes reports that in 2016 he sold most of those restaurants for an estimated $250 million and used the proceeds to acquire Coca-Cola distribution territory across Kansas, Missouri and Illinois. His son Justin, who joined the firm in 2017, became CEO in April 2025. Forbes says Heartland opened a $400 million production campus in Olathe, Kansas, in 2025. The campus is an investment in capacity, not a revenue result.

Baldwin Richardson Foods makes sauces, syrups, toppings, drinks and fillings for food and beverage companies, including McDonald’s and Kellanova. Forbes describes its sales as an estimate of $600 million, without specifying a reporting year. The family firm expanded through acquisitions: Eric Johnson bought Baldwin Ice Cream in 1992 and Richardson Foods five years later, then combined the businesses. His daughters, Erin Tolefree and Cara Hughes, are now co-owners. Tolefree became CEO in 2023; Hughes became chief customer and community impact officer in 2024.

The Anderson-DuBose Company distributes food and other products to McDonald’s and Chipotle restaurants across several states. Forbes says it reportedly generated more than $800 million in revenue in 2024. Warren Anderson and Steve DuBose acquired distribution rights from Martin Brower in 1991; Anderson later bought out his partner. Forbes reports that the company opened distribution centres in Tennessee and Florida in 2026. Its business depends on moving food and supplies to restaurant locations on schedule, work that most diners never see.

Anderson described the turn from journalism to business ownership in a 2022 video interview, as quoted in Forbes:

I didn’t dream of being an entrepreneur. I just knew after I got fired, I never wanted to work for anybody. — Warren Anderson

Thompson Hospitality runs cafeterias for corporate clients, serves 18 historically Black colleges and universities, and owns restaurant franchises. Forbes gives its revenue as $925 million without naming a reporting year. Its mix of institutional contracts and consumer-facing restaurants spreads the business across different customer groups. The undated figure should not be compared directly with annual revenue figures that specify a year.

Construction and Manufacturing Need Capacity

Construction, manufacturing and logistics firms form another cluster in the selection. These companies work on large projects, supply manufacturers or handle complex operations. Contracts can bring scale, but growth requires skilled staff, equipment, financing and the ability to meet demanding schedules.

DGN Enterprise operates five companies, including businesses focused on electrical work, glass and fire suppression. Forbes estimates its 2025 revenue at $369 million and says DGN expects to approach $1 billion in 2026. That is a forecast, not a completed result. Its TW Constructors unit has worked on data centres for clients including Google. Forbes reports that founder Todd Weaver borrowed $150,000 from construction executive Bob Clark to start his firm and repaid it in six months. Clark later introduced Weaver to World Wide Technology, now one of TW’s customers. The relationship helped connect a smaller contractor to a large technology client.

H.J. Russell & Company manages construction projects, including data centres in Virginia and Texas. Forbes lists revenue of $500 million but does not specify a reporting period. The company’s past work includes Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium and the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. McKissack, founded in 1905, has worked on more than 6,000 projects, according to Forbes. It expects 2026 revenue to reach $118 million. That is a forecast. Its long history and project-management experience help it compete for projects that can take years to plan and complete.

James Group International has grown from trucking into a supply-chain company offering transportation, warehousing, assembly and sequencing services to manufacturers including Ford and General Motors. In June 2026, it acquired EnovaPremier, which handles tire and wheel assembly. Forbes reports that combined annual revenue exceeded $1 billion after the acquisition, without specifying the period measured. The deal added a service line and customer relationships; integrating the operations is part of the work that follows a purchase.

Voltava, owned by former NFL player Bruce Smith, combines Detroit Manufacturing Systems with Android Industries and Avancez. Forbes reports that the companies merged in December 2025 and describes the combined automotive supplier as having $2.3 billion in revenue, without naming the period. Voltava serves General Motors, Ford, Stellantis and Toyota. Forbes says Smith owns the company outright. Its scale grew through a merger that combined operations already serving major automakers.

Saalex shows how a smaller contractor can grow into federal markets. Founded by U.S. Navy veteran Travis Mack in 1999 as an IT consulting firm, it expanded into technology contracting for defense and space programmes. Forbes reported revenue of $178 million in 2025, up 18% from 2024, and noted Saalex’s $75 million acquisition of Spalding Consulting in 2024. In a Federal News Network interview about scaling the company and its employee-ownership model, Mack said:

I’ve got to show up every day changing hearts and minds, showing the innovation and showing how at the end of the day, it’s actually better. — Travis Mack

The quote points to a less visible part of growth: keeping employees invested and convincing customers that a smaller contractor can deliver. Saalex’s revenue increase and acquisition show expansion; its employee-ownership model is one way the company has sought to share that growth.

Newer Firms Measure Reach in Different Ways

Technology and health-care companies often track users, contracts, investment or transactions alongside sales. Those measures can show business activity, but each tells a different story.

Esusu provides a credit-building platform that reports renters’ payment histories and has licensing agreements with real-estate investors including Blackstone and Freddie Mac. Forbes says Esusu’s platform has helped 12 million renters, a company-reported measure, and that the business employs 190 people.

Squire Technologies provides booking, scheduling, payment and marketing tools to more than 3,000 barbershops. Forbes reports that Squire generated $70 million in revenue in the 12 months before publication and processed more than $1 billion in payments in 2023. Payment volume is money moving through the platform, not revenue earned by Squire. That distinction matters when comparing a technology firm with a manufacturer or contractor.

Cityblock Health serves Medicaid and dual-eligible patients. In August 2026, it announced plans to acquire rural health-care provider Homeward Health in an all-stock transaction. Forbes reported that Cityblock announced $116 million in Series E funding at the same time and said its revenue had risen 77% year over year, without specifying the comparison period. The funding is capital raised; the acquisition was a plan, not a completed transaction.

Incredible Health connects nurses with health-care employers. Forbes reported that 1.5 million nurses were using its platform as of December 2025 and that more than 1,500 health-care employers used it. Those figures measure platform reach, not annual revenue. A large user base may help a company compete, but revenue, costs and customer retention determine whether that reach can sustain the business.

Revenue Does Not Show Who Keeps the Value

The selection includes businesses that supply institutions or support large consumer brands. Food producers and distributors supply restaurants. Contractors build data centres and public facilities. Technology firms provide systems used by businesses and workers. These relationships can bring repeat work and access to larger markets. They also require capital, employees and reliable operations.

Revenue measures sales before expenses. It does not show profit, debt, cash flow or the value of an owner’s stake. A distributor can have high sales and high costs for inventory and delivery. A contractor may win a major project but need to pay employees and suppliers before receiving payment. A startup valuation estimates company value in an investment context; it is not annual sales.

Those differences matter when judging whether growth builds wealth. A large customer can help a company win further work. Expansion can create jobs and new capabilities. But if growth depends on costly borrowing or requires owners to give up too much equity, higher sales may not translate into lasting wealth for founders or employees.

The Census figures put the ForbesBLK selection in context. Black-owned employer firms generated $249 billion in receipts in 2023, yet represented 3.4% of U.S. employer businesses. Brookings found that those firms grew quickly from 2017 to 2023 while remaining underrepresented relative to Black Americans’ share of the population. The ForbesBLK ranking shows that some Black-owned firms have built national reach. The wider data show why a list of standouts cannot measure the full state of Black business ownership.

Frequently Asked Questions about Black-Owned Businesses

What does “first national ranking” mean in this article?

It refers to ForbesBLK’s first national 25-company assessment, published in 2026. It does not mean the first national ranking ever published; Black Enterprise began its BE 100s in 1973.

Did ForbesBLK rank the companies by revenue?

No. ForbesBLK selected 25 companies using revenue, growth, longevity and industry reputation, but did not publish them in revenue order. The list is a national assessment, not a numbered sales leaderboard.

How much revenue did Black-owned employer firms generate nationally?

The Census Bureau reported $249 billion in receipts for 201,000 Black-owned employer firms in 2023. Employer firms have paid employees. That national figure covers far more companies than the 25 on ForbesBLK’s list.

Which company reported the highest revenue for a stated year?

Coca-Cola Beverages Florida reported $2.2 billion in revenue for 2025, according to Forbes. Voltava is described as having $2.3 billion in revenue, but its profile does not specify the period measured.

Does revenue show how much wealth a company’s owners have?

No. Revenue is sales before expenses. It does not show profit, debt, cash flow or the value of an owner’s stake. Those measures help show whether company growth is building lasting wealth.

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