Founders Unfound

15/07/2022

🔊 New Episode 👇
Rod Johnson Co-Founder of BLK & Bold Specialty Beverages

Stream:
http://ow.ly/yiLu50JWrK2
Where ever you listen to podcasts or via link in bio

BLK & Bold is the preeminent black-owned coffee company in America. Black & Bold was founded with the desire to unite coffee and tea lovers worldwide through a common interest of investing in community.

Rod grew up in the working-class city of Gary Indiana and eventually went on to Indiana University and a career in development and giving. But he soon developed a restlessness that only business ownership could fix. Along with lifelong friend Pernell, Rod set out to find their entrepreneurial calling, one that could match purpose with profit.

And so BLK & Bold was born in 2018. Since then, Rod and Pernell have grown BLK & Bold into a national brand carried by the likes of Target and Whole Foods. They have a rare licensing deal with the NBA and have been celebrated by Dwanye Wade on the Ellen show. All this, completely bootstrapped from their headquarters in Des Moines Iowa.

Rod has a great story. You’ll want to listen in.

🙏 Thanks to our sponsor
AfriBlocks
The global pan-African freelance marketplace and collaboration platform.
More at afriblocks.com

22/11/2021

🔊 New Episode 👇
James Chapman Founder+CEO of Plain Sight

Available anywhere you get your podcasts or find a link in the bio

Plain Sight is a company that helps you make the right connections at events and workspaces, or connect online from anywhere.

James started as an aspiring NBA player from Chattanooga Tennessee. He made it to the NBA’s D-league, but that’s where that dream ended, and the next season began. Basketball’s loss was entrepreneurship’s gain. James started loading boxes for FedEx. His hustle led him to new opportunities, and eventually starting two different businesses. All along the way sharing his amazing hustle inspiration on Twitter, later turning the collection into a book, aptly named . But it was a chance to work with legendary Detroit businessman Dan Gilbert that led to his 3rd startup journey, Plain Sight.

James has a great story. You’ll want to listen in.

🙏 Thanks to our sponsor
Founders Live
The global venue for entrepreneurs to experience events, content, and community.
To join and find a live event streaming from your city:
Check out https:founderslive.com
To get Founders LiveFest 2021 tickets:
Go to: http://ow.ly/XIzg50GSTo1

06/11/2021

🔊 New Episode 👇
Serge Amouzou Founder+CEO of Finmod

Available anywhere you get your podcasts or via link in bio

Finmod is a startup that helps companies forecast financials 10X faster. Finmod’s predictive-financial projection technology uses company data sources to give decision-ready data and actionable next steps for growth.

Serge was born and raised in Togo. He came to the US at age 12, determined and curious. He set out to master English and assimilate. He thought he would be a neurosurgeon, but a pursuit of coding and tech led him to a career of being a repeat tech founder, starting his first company while still in High School. It was a pain point he personally experienced at one of his past startups that sparked the idea that would become Finmod.

Serge has a great story. You’ll want to listen in.

🙏 Thanks to our sponsor
AfriBlocks
The global pan-African freelance marketplace and collaboration platform. A great resource for devs, designers, and virtual assistants. https://www.afriblocks.com

16/10/2021

🔊 New Episode 👇
Navalayo Osembo Co-Founder+CEO of Enda

Available anywhere you get your podcasts or via link in the bio

With “Run Kenyan” as its motto, Enda makes running shoes in Kenya, for runners around the world.

Navalayo is the first guest we’ve had on from the place of Dan's ancestral heritage - Kenya. She grew up with a military father and a teacher mother, which meant strong themes of discipline and excellence. Combined with her gifts of curiosity, intelligence, and grit, she set out to master accounting, law, and global development. But it was her return to Kenya from the US and UK, that helped her find the calling where she could make her impact. “Run Kenyan.” And so Enda was born.

Navalayo has a great story, you’ll want to listen in.

🙏 Thanks to our sponsor
Aperture Venture Capital - VC for the Multicultural Mainstream. Aperture is a new $75M fund that wants to amplify the voices of diverse founders. Share your story at
aperturevc.com/founders

12/09/2021

🔊 New Episode 👇
Isaac Lymon Founder+CEO of RaxPlay

Wherever you listen to podcasts or via link in bio

Raxplay is a company that uses VR to put fans in the front row, VIP, and backstage - all in the comfort of their homes.

Isaac was born and raised in Detroit. At an early stage, he felt called to music. But after a taste of the grind artists endure, Isaac gravitated to what made music happen behind the scenes. It was then that he really came to appreciate the power that technology could have on the industry. And like many famous tech entrepreneurs before him, he made the tough call to pursue his startup dream instead of focusing on college. A hustled-for internship, a hack-a-thon, and a call from Google Startups followed, changing everything. And so Raxplay was off and running.

🙏 Thanks to our sponsor
Aperture Venture Capital - VC for the Multicultural Mainstream. Aperture is a new $75M fund that wants to amplify the voices of diverse founders. Share your story at
aperturevc.com/founders

22/08/2021

🔉 New Episode 👇
Khalid David, Founder/CEO of TracFlo

Available anywhere you get your podcasts or through link in bio.

TracFlo is a company with a predictive financial management platform that is empowering America’s contractors.

Originally from the Bronx, Khalid was born into a family of tradesmen with a deep connection to his Afro-Caribbean roots. So it’s no surprise that, even with education from Morehouse, Columbia, and MIT, Khalid ended up in the construction industry. And it was those experiences that opened his eyes to the opportunity to better track the dynamic cost changes happening on today’s construction sites. And so TracFlo was born. Khalid is a passionate speaker and advocate, and has won competitions at MIT, Harvard, and Stanford business schools.

🙏 Thanks to our sponsor
AfriBlocks (Techstars ‘21)
The global pan-African freelance marketplace and collaboration platform. Tell them "Dan sent you" for 10% off your first order.

14/08/2021

🔉 New Episode 👇
Patrice Darby Neely, Founder/CEO of GoLogic Solutions

Anywhere you get podcasts or stream from link in bio

GoLogic is a data aggregation and economic development platform helping small businesses accelerate growth and reduce failure.

Patrice spent many years in childcare before starting her first startup, GoNanny, to address the fragmentation of care occurring with the busy schedules of families on the go. Timing wasn’t on her side, unfortunately, as her company fell victim to the whipsaw of the US economy that came with COVID-19. With GoNanny, Patrice saw how vulnerable small businesses are and how inefficient the ecosystem can be in connecting them with timely and impactful resources. And so GoLogic was born. Patrice is an alum of 1871 in Chicago, TechStars, and has been funded by the likes of Pipeline Angels and Google for Startups Black Founder Fund.

🙏 Thanks to our sponsor
The Plug
Delivering clear analysis and powerful insights on what's shaping the Black innovation economy. Get your annual subscription to The Plug

31/07/2021

🔉 New Episode 👇
Roger Roman Co-Founder of AfriBlocks

Available anywhere you get podcasts or through bio link.

AfriBlocks, the global Pan-African freelance marketplace and collaboration platform. They are building THE resource for devs, designers, and virtual assistants.

Roger hails from Chicago, and in his home neighborhood there the Roman name is well known. He was pre-ordained to be a lawyer, but Roger took a different path: business. Roger has been spotlighted in The New York Times, Black Enterprise, and VentureBeat. But it was when co-founder Tongai Choto came calling that Roger saw a chance to take on a massive opportunity: the emergence of Africa in the global tech marketplace. The continent has over 450M Gen Z and young millennials, all eager, ambitious, and tech-enabled. Fertile ground for a startup like AfriBlocks.

🙏 Thanks to our sponsor
Founders Live

17/07/2021

🔊 New Episode 👇
James Jones, Esq. Jones Co-Founder/CEO of Ownors

Stream or listen wherever you get podcasts or through link in bio

Ownors is an AI-driven Fintech platform that helps artists retrieve payouts from streaming services.

Inspired by his upbringing, James originally became an attorney. Alongside his wife, he then went on to form his first startup, Court Buddy. This brought accolades like Black Enterprise Entrepreneur of the Year.
After successfully fundraising and scaling that business, James was eager to scratch the startup itch again.
Leveraging his legal experience and personal passion for music, he set out to solve a different inefficiency he saw: creators being paid equitably and timely for their music.

And so, Ownors and its flagship brand Bump was born.

🙏 Thanks to our sponsor
BLCK VC, A focused community built for and by black investors.
If you ever thought about getting into Venture, you definitely want to connect up at blackvc.com or follow for more about their exceptional programs and events.

09/07/2021

🔊 New Episode 👇
Melanie Akwule, MBA Akwule Founder of MINWO Inc.

Available anywhere you get podcasts or in bio link

MINWO is a DE&I tech company that connects companies with organizations that have a specific mission to support Black-owned businesses on their path to scaling.

Originally from Virginia, Melanie was an NCAA track athlete who did her undergrad at Georgia Tech. She worked and excelled in the corporate world with GE. But it was at the Haas School, Cal Berkeley where she built her startup muscle. She used her time in school to conceptualize and develop MINWOA. Melanie is off to a great start in 2021 completing the Techstars program and gearing up for the launch of MINWO’s flagship product Rialto.

🙏Thanks to our sponsor
Trajectory: Startup - Ideation to Product/Market Fit
A brand new book by entrepreneur and investor Dave Parker.
This hot-off-the-presses publication is THE playbook for those at the earliest stages of the startup journey. To get this great resource, go to https://www.dkparker.com or find anywhere you buy books.

07/07/2021

Cause friends rep friends

03/07/2021

🔊 New Episode 👇
Daricus R. Founder of StoreCash

Anywhere you get podcasts or available in link bio

StoreCash is a company that provides mobile banking for teens, as well as for unbanked and underbanked adults.

Daricus is the twin son of a mom in the military. And as you just heard, he came home one day as a kid to find that his dad had taken everything from the house. Since that fateful event, Daricus has been on an entrepreneurial journey, that's gone from cutting lawns to building a FinTech startup in Silicon Valley. Along the way, he's had to persevere through college, hustle his first company into getting promotion by Steve Harvey, to landing roles with Google, Facebook, and Apple.

🙏Thanks to our sponsor
Trajectory: Startup - Ideation to Product/Market Fit
A brand new book by entrepreneur and investor Dave Parker.
This hot-off-the-presses publication is THE playbook for those at the earliest stages of the startup journey. To get this great resource, go to https://www.dkparker.com or find anywhere you buy books.

30/06/2021

🔊 ** Special Episode ** 👇
Fireside chat hosted by Isaac Kato and Techstars Seattle. A keepin' it real panel with Amira Rasool, Daricus R., and Kwame Boler.

2021: The State of Black Entrepreneurship and Fundraising

Wherever you get podcasts or follow link in bio.

19/06/2021

🔊 New Episode 👇
Ezinne Iroanya-Adeoye Founder of SKNMUSE

Find wherever you get podcasts or find link in bio

SKNMUSE is the premium beauty brand dedicated to elevating the beauty experience for the modern black woman.

Ezinne was born and raised in Nigeria. After graduating from high school at 15 and ace-ing her SATs, she came to the US for college. She thought she was going to be a petroleum engineer. Lucky for the rest of us, that didn’t happen. Ezinne never forgot the joy she found in the soothing remedies her mom and grandmother prepared for her dry skin. She’s paying it back now, with her luxurious balms, oils, and body butters. For Ezinne, beauty is culture, and she’s on a mission to make the beauty counter reflect more inclusively.

🙏Thanks to our sponsor
AfriBlocks
The global pan-African freelance marketplace and collaboration platform. Tell them "Dan sent you" for 10% off your first order.

12/06/2021

🔈 New Episode! 👇
Sonja Ebron Co-Founder + CEO of Courtroom5

Listen wherever you get podcasts or via link in bio.

Courtroom5 is a company that makes an automated legal toolbox helping people to represent themselves in court.

Sonja has one of the amazing backgrounds, engineering academia, a repeat entrepreneur, but it took a challenging experience of our own with the legal system to unleash your mission and passion for the startup life. She has a strong conviction that fairness and the justice system shouldn't depend on unequitable access to knowledge or resources and our conversation. She talked about the allure of engineering doing a startup in Durham, North Carolina, and so much more.

🙏Thanks to our sponsor
Founders Live

The global venue for entrepreneurs to experience events, content, and community. Check out founderslive.com to join and to find a live event streaming from your city.

29/05/2021

🔈 New Episode! 👇

Amira Rasool Founder+CEO of The Folklore

Available anywhere you get podcasts or through bio link.

The Folklore is an omnichannel platform that is bringing luxury and emerging designer brands from Africa online for the first time.

Amira and The Folklore have been featured everywhere from Forbes and Fast Company, to Vogue and Essence. She has just recently completed the Techstars program here in Seattle. Dan sat down with Amira to talk about The Folklore, and how she sees it as so much more than a fashion brand.

🙏Thanks to our sponsor
The Plug
Delivering clear analysis and powerful insights on what's shaping the Black innovation economy.
Get your annual subscription to The Plug at tpinsights.com

20/05/2021

🎧 Stephen Ajayi Co-Founder of YearOne (Techstars 2020) shares the key differentiator where his company shines: maximizing dev hires' chances of success POST hire.

Full episode wherever you get podcasts or available from link in bio.

15/05/2021

🔈 New Episode! 👇

Stephen Ajayi Co-Founder+CEO of YearOne
Episode available anywhere you listen to podcasts.

YearOne is a company that helps individuals coming out of code schools, land incredible jobs. And they have a secret sauce...community.

Stephen knows the journey of the YearOne community, intimately. He moved away from a pre-med track in college to pursue programming, all from the chance selection of taking an elective course in computer science.

Make sure to listen to his incredible story.

🙏Thanks to our sponsor
Dave Parker and his new book:
Trajectory: Startup - Ideation to Product/Market Fit
THE playbook for those at the earliest stages of the startup journey. To get this great resource, go to dkparker.com or find anywhere you buy books.

06/05/2021

🎧 Patrick Paul Co-Founder of Ikos gives insights into his lessons learned as a founder.

Full episode wherever you get podcasts.

05/05/2021

🎧 Patrick Paul Co-Founder of Ikos talks how COVID-19 brought his startup to that edge of survival...

Full episode wherever you get podcasts

30/04/2021

🔈 New Episode! 👇

Patrick Paul Co-Founder of Ikos
Available anywhere you listen to podcasts or through bio link

Ikos uses data and information to allow property owners to execute and manage the vital, day-to-day tasks of investment property ownership.

Based in Pittsburgh, Patrick and Steven Welles have helped to transform the modern rental experience. along the way raising millions and weathering an industry hard hit by the economic crisis from COVID-19.

Make sure to listen to his incredible story.

🙏Thanks to our sponsor
Dave Parker and his new book:
Trajectory: Startup - Ideation to Product/Market Fit
THE playbook for those at the earliest stages of the startup journey. To get this great resource, go to dkparker.com or find anywhere you buy books.

21/04/2021

🔈 New Episode! 👇

Ashlee Ammons Co-Founder of Mixtroz
Available through bio link or Wherever you listen to podcasts

Mixtroz, a company that creates serendipity at live and virtual events using real-time surveying along with their unique algorithm.

Ashlee has an amazing journey – from Ohio to New York, Tennessee, and eventually to Alabama. She’s gone from interning with Lebron James to becoming one of the first few African American Women to raise over $1M in venture funding. Mixtroz previously won Rise of the Rest. And Ashlee’s also been named as Entrepreneur Magazine’s “100 Powerful Women” in 2019.

Listen in for her great story!

🙏Thanks to our sponsor
AfriBlocks (Techstars ‘21) The global pan-African freelance marketplace and collaboration platform. Tell them “Dan sent you” for 10% off your first order. Afriblokcs.com

tech

26/03/2021

🔈 New Episode! 👇

Evan Leaphart, Founder-CEO of Kiddie Kredit

Kiddie Kredit is a mobile chore tracking app that teaches kids about credit. The company is out to demystify the credit score.

Evan grew up in the Baltimore , has called Miami home for over 15 years. So he’s definitely an OG in the newly blossoming Miami tech scene. Along with Kiddie Kredit, Evan is also a Co-founder of the Miami-based Black Men Talk Tech Conference.

Listen in for his great story!

🙏Thanks to our sponsors
Cascadia Cleantech Accelerator
powered by VertueLab and CleanTech Alliance
This 15-week program delivers mentorship, connections, funding opportunities, and more to early-stage cleantech startups. Applications are open until April 16th. Apply at: cascadiacleantech.org

AfriBlocks,The global pan-African freelance marketplace and collaboration platform. Tell them “Dan sent you” for 10% off your first order. afriblocks.com

24/03/2021

Baratunde Cola of Carbice Corporation shares the extent you can go to when closing on seed funding.

Want to know his black founder journey?

Full episode available from bio link or anywhere u get podcasts

18/03/2021

Su Sanni of Dollaride shares the unique aspects of his immigrant story.

Want to know his black founder journey?

Full episode available from bio link or anywhere u get podcasts

18/03/2021

of shares the unique aspects of his immigrant journey.

Want to know his black founder journey?

Full episode below or anywhere u get podcasts
http://ow.ly/HDkE50E1OS0
http://ow.ly/GHN350E1ORZ

11/03/2021

🔊New episode! 👇
Ashlee Wisdom, MPH Wisdom Founder-CEO of Health In Her HUE

Available from bio link or anywhere you get your podcasts.

Health In Her HUE offers a digital platform connecting black women to culturally competent healthcare providers, health content and community. Ashlee's startup has been recognized by Female Founder Alliance, Vital Voices, and the one-and-only Serena Williams. A founder to watch!

🙏Thanks to our sponsor The Plug
Delivering clear analysis on what's shaping the Black innovation economy. Subscribe today: tpinsights.com

11/03/2021

Wole Ayodele of Fliqpay talks of having to move on from an investor who spoke with racial undertones.

Want to know his black founder journey?

Full episode available from bio link or anywhere u get podcasts

-rising

10/03/2021

Kala Fleming of SMAJI & Diaspora AI shares how lived experiences inform her confidence with others.

Want to know her black founder journey?

Full episode available from bio link or anywhere u get podcasts

09/03/2021

Happy . Check the link in bio for some great stories from women

05/03/2021

Not too late to sign up for great venture event March 5-6
Multicultural Mainstream: Reimagining Humanity & Technology
sponsored by Columbia Venture Community
For tix: bit.ly/CVCMM

The Columbia Venture Community is Excited to Announce our First Global Virtual Conference.

05/03/2021

Rica Elysee of BeautyLynk shares her vision for an inclusive beauty industry.

Want to know her black founder journey?

Full episode available from bio link or anywhere u get podcasts.

04/03/2021

Kevin Dedner, MPH of Hurdle shares the 'aha' moment that led to his mental health-focused startup.

Want to know his black founder journey?

Full episode available from bio link or anywhere u get podcasts.

03/03/2021

"So one of the big things that's coming up is this whole need of having, what do we call regenerative agriculture..."Listen to the full episode with CEO https://bit.ly/3e5yqPv

03/03/2021

Shanel Fields of MD Ally shares why minority founders have unique insights into markets.

Want to know her black founder journey?

Full episode available from bio link or anywhere u get podcasts.

02/03/2021

Kirt Debique of SyncFloor shares how he thinks about finding the perfect investors.

Want to know his black founder journey?

Full episode available from bio link or anywhere u get podcasts.

26/02/2021

💎 New episode! 👇 with
Genevieve Leveille, Founder-CEO of AgriLedger

Listen wherever you get your podcasts or available from bio link.

AgriLedger is a company that is revolutionizing the agriculture value chain using distributed ledger and blockchain technology. The platform Genevieve's startup has built is using distributed ledger to RE-distribute value, and reallocate margin and wealth across our food supply chain.
All with THE source -- the farmer -- at the core.

🙏Thanks to our sponsor Columbia Venture Community
and their great event on March 5,6 2021:
"Multicultural Mainstream:
Reimagining Humanity and Technology"
Get your tickets today: https://bit.ly/CVCMM or get link in episode show notes

25/02/2021

Tiffany Kelly of Curastory shares how she overcame doubters to have a successful raise thru crowdfunding.

Want to know her black founder journey?

Full episode available from bio link or anywhere u get podcasts

-tech

24/02/2021

Abbey Wemimo of Esusu shares his fundraising journey and how he conquered a mountain of "no's" from investors.

Want to know his black founder journey?

Full episode available from bio link or anywhere u get podcasts

20/02/2021

Jim Gibbs of Meter Feeder shares his pay-it-forward approach to helping other black entrepreneurs.

Want to know his black founder journey?

Full episode below or anywhere u get podcasts
Episode: http://ow.ly/YgXt50DElFd
Where else to listen: http://ow.ly/yHlz50DElFe