MVP: Momentum & Value for People of Color’s Post

May is Small Business Month May is the month we celebrate small businesses. By coincidence, it’s also the month I became an entrepreneur 21 years ago. Small businesses play a vital role in driving economic prosperity and innovation. Most large companies began small, serving a niche to fill a need or by creating a brand new market. 33 million small businesses employ almost half of the workforce in America. Small businesses enhance local communities by sponsoring community events and philanthropy to build strong social ties and enhance the quality of life. #SmallBusinessMonth #Entrepreneurship #Innovation

This National Small Business Week, we're thrilled to spotlight the incredible strides made by local entrepreneurs at our recent Spectrum's Small Business Forum in Charlotte. Together with the National Institute of Minority Economic Development, we hosted a dynamic gathering designed to empower, enrich, and connect small business owners with invaluable resources.   🍿 A Highlight of the event? Derrick Jackson, Co-Founder and President of Popstarz Popcorn, shared his inspiring journey during our forum. A shining example of success and community spirit, Popstarz Popcorn not only thrives as a business but also gives back through the heartwarming "Share A Smile Campaign."   From humble beginnings as part of our Pay It Forward Program, Popstarz Popcorn has created awareness and growth, emphasizing the importance of community and the power of paying it forward. Their unique approach to enhancing cultural celebrations through gifting and fundraising has become integral to their success, showing what small businesses can achieve with the right support.   Watch the video clip from the event, featuring Derrick’s passionate insight on experiences while partnering with us. Learn more about how Spectrum Reach is dedicated to fostering small business growth and offering the tools to thrive!   💬 Engage with us, learn about our initiatives, and see how, together, we can continue to support and celebrate the small businesses that are the backbone of our communities, https://lnkd.in/gYJShEcm.   #SmallBusinessWeek #SpectrumReach #PopstarzPopcorn #CommunityImpact #BusinessGrowth #Entrepreneurship #PayItForward #SpectrumReach #NationalSmallBusinessWeek #supportsmallbusinesses #SmallBusiness #smallbusinessowner

The formidable Lakeysha Hallmon, EdD has founded a number of businesses and nonprofits created to support Black entrepreneurs. Here, 6 founder/ CEOs share how participating in Hallmon's incubator ELEVATE has helped build their revenues and social media followings while still caring for their personal wellbeing. My latest for Forbes. #blackownedbusiness #womenownedbusiness #elevatedcities #entrepreneurs

Happy Monday LinkedIn! 👋🏿 It has been a busy last few months since my first speaking event with the Atlanta Black Chambers where we discussed how to fund and scaled your business through grants. In this new quarter, I am having to reimagine what being a business owner looks like for me and have had to pivot in different places. This is the part of #entrepreneurship that true business owners recognize and have to grow through. I am so grateful for my team at A&G Suite Co. and SDR Brand and all the work we are able to continue doing. The Grant Research Team at A&G Suite Co. just dropped the June Grant List and there are tons of grant opportunities open and available for business owners in various industries to apply to. I have a lot of friends and peers that are business owners, so I really want to encourage you to get serious about growing your business through grants. So many people know about grants yet so many never actually take the time to apply. Like I mentioned before, being a business owner has required me to pivot so I've learned firsthand the importance of utilizing all of my available resources to still get the job done and be able to grow. I'm excited to see how this season propels me further in my journey of entrepreneurship. #businessowner #pivot #entrepreneur #grants #funding #scale #business #journey #becoming #adjust #businessgrowth #grantresearch #grantwriting

Here’s my advice for AAPI founders who have an idea but don’t know what to do with it. What’s helped me tremendously in my founder journey at SOSHE Beauty is going out and making genuine connections with other founders in my space. I have not only learned so much, but made many good friends just spending time getting know other AAPI founders, learning about their businesses, and finding ways to support each other. I grew up in a small town in Missouri, and I didn’t have a strong AAPI or entrepreneurial community growing up. Finding and connecting with other founders in my space has allowed me to truly see what was possible in a community that supports me on my mission. It's why I recently organized an AAPI Founder Event in Los Angeles for AAPI Heritage Month. Working with Brian Chung and Esther L., we partnered with Gorgias and Awesome CX to host an amazing evening of community building at the Olivia Restaurant for nearly 100 AAPI founders and creators in Los Angeles. Our goal was to provide more spaces for our community to get in the same room, exchange ideas and help each other. After the event, many of the attendees told us how much they enjoyed meeting others and couldn't wait for more. Having this community has not just helped me learn so much in building a business, but also has brought me a ton of joy. Comment with your email below if you’re interested in coming to the next one. I'll put you on our list! Sam Montecer Esther Choi Lauren Lovato #aapifounders #dtc #entrepreneurship #community

1st quarter of the year = done! I'm sure I'm not the only one wondering how that has happened! But I'm grateful for the opportunities and learnings provided thus far. Like the opportunity to share a little about my experience, in this CBC article, as a #blackowned #business on the path to build community, confidence and growth with the help and support of organizations such as Empowerment Squared . A big thank you to the SWOBEN coordinators for their continued support; thank you CBC Hamilton's Justin Chandler for a candid conversation, peppered with internet and video mishaps but I'm glad a still showed up! Check out the article, reach out and let me know your thoughts or if you simply want to hear about my video mishaps (let's just say #momlife #EndlessJuggling ) 😊 #Entrepreneurship #techstartup #GrowthMindset

Isn't it amazing when we lift each other up?🚀 Community is key in the entrepreneurial journey, and that's what we foster at Fund Labs. From our networking events that build bridges between dreamers and doers, to workshops that sharpen your skills, we're here for you. Our mentorship programs are tailored to ensure you're never alone on this path. Embrace the power of a supportive community.💡 Share how collaboration has shaped your entrepreneurial story or Contact us to join our thriving network! #Entrepreneurship #CommunityBuilding

Unlock the Power of Community! As an entrepreneur or small business owner, do you often find yourself going it alone? You're not alone! Our latest blog post reveals the importance of community in achieving success. From support systems to networking opportunities, discover how surrounding yourself with like-minded individuals can take your business to the next level! So, we want to hear from you! What's the most valuable connection you've made as an entrepreneur or small business owner? Share your story in the comments below! Like, share, and tag a fellow entrepreneur who needs to read this! Let's build a supportive community together! #entrepreneurship #startups #smallbusiness #communitymatters #supporteachother #CollaborationOverCompetition #Technology #Motivation #Knowledge #networking

Why Giving Back is Every Entrepreneur’s Responsibility As entrepreneurs, we often focus on growth, scaling, and profits. But true success goes beyond just business metrics—it’s about the impact we make on the people and communities around us. Giving back isn’t just a nice gesture; it’s a responsibility that every entrepreneur should embrace. When you contribute to your community, you’re not only creating goodwill, you’re building a legacy that transcends business. Supporting the community means uplifting those who may not have the same opportunities. It’s about using your platform, resources, and influence to make a difference, whether through mentorship, charity, or creating opportunities for others to succeed. Entrepreneurs who give back are investing in the future. By empowering others, you create a ripple effect that benefits everyone, including your business. The relationships and trust built through acts of generosity are invaluable. People remember those who cared about something greater than themselves. In the long run, giving back strengthens your brand, your network, and your own sense of purpose. Business success is more meaningful when it’s shared, and the real win is knowing that you’ve contributed to making the world a little better. So, remember—profit alone doesn’t define success. The legacy you leave behind will. #GiveBack #Entrepreneurship #CommunityImpact #Legacy #SocialResponsibility #BusinessWithPurpose #Leadership #PayItForward #EntrepreneurMindset

We have to celebrate the easy days. The days when nothing incredible happens, but it just seemed to all happen easily. We show up, we do good work, we enjoy the day. I had a day like this recently. Things went according to plan at work. My wife and I went out for lunch and enjoyed a long conversation. My kids came home from school and were kind to each other. We had some laughs around the dinner table. Nothing was amazing that happened that day. It was all good stuff. But it just felt easy. At the end of that day, I looked at my wife and said “We have to celebrate the easy days like this.” When you’re running a business and raising kids and trying to do all the things days aren’t necessarily easy. So when one shows up, we should celebrate it. Shane Parrish talks about this concept in his new book, Clear Thinking. I found this quote in my Evernote recently and realized that this is what probably primed me to think about celebrating the easy days. I love how he phrases it: "What we consider defining moments, like promotions or a new house, matter less to life satisfaction than the accumulation of tiny moments that didn't seem to matter at the time. In the end, everyday moments matter more than big prizes. Tiny delights over big bright lights." Tiny delights over big bright lights. I’m here for the tiny delights. #entrepreneurship #smallbusinessowner #outdoorindustry