Black Enterprise’s Top 100 list

he U.S. is home to roughly 2.5 million Black-owned businesses, according to the Census Bureau. Although the vast majority are sole proprietorships or small-scale affairs, an increasing number have regional reach and national ambitions. Below, we resurface 10 Black entrepreneurs who have recently been featured in Forbes and provide a directory of an additional 90 Black-owned businesses to support. It is by no means an exhaustive list: We aren’t including numerous high-profile celebrity entrepreneurs like Oprah Winfrey or Rihanna or the many successful black business owners who sell services to other corporations, like World Wide Technology’s David Steward.

These entrepreneurs and owners sell cosmetics, clothing, books, cars and financial products that you can buy. Fewer offer healthcare or consumer tech products, in part, because they lack access to venture funding. If you are interested in learning more about other Black-owned businesses, there are a number of apps and directories online, including The Buy From A Black Woman Directory, The Black-Owned Market, Etsy’s Black Owned Shops, Black Enterprise’s Top 100 list, Bank Black and Bon Appetit’s list of Black-owned restaurants.

We originally included 75 businesses on this list. We added an additional 25 for Blackout Day on July 7, 2020.

Here are 10 black-owned businesses we’ve highlighted in print and online.

Founded by Maitland in 1995, the $9 billion investment firm is an expert in defensive investment strategies involving convertible bonds, designed to protect against downside while capturing most of the stock market’s gains. The firm’s $500 million publicly-traded closed-end fund, Advent Convertible & Income (Ticker: AVK), is the easiest for public investors to access with no investment minimums, but it carries the most risk due to a leveraged structure. Principally owned by Maitland, whose surgeon father once operated on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., 55% of Advent’s staff are women and minorities. (For more, see our Forbes magazine feature.) 

One of the top-performing investment firms in the world, Brown Capital’s flagship Small Company Fund has generated an average annual return of 12%-plus since 1992, about double the Russell 2000 Growth Index. While that fund is closed to investors, Brown Capital has successfully expanded into international small-cap stocks and mid-cap stocks, which are funds anyone can buy. A former T. Rowe Price portfolio manager, founder Eddie Brown started the business in 1983. Now fully-owned by employees, 70% of the fast-growing firm’s workforce are minorities. (For more, see our Forbes magazine feature.)

A single mother and breast cancer survivor, Cashmere Nicole founded Beauty Bakerie in 2011 as a new lipstick brand that was vegan, non-toxic and cruelty-free. Beyonce featured the nascent brand on her website, and Nicole (she goes by Cashmere Nicole for business) began marketing her long-lasting lipsticks on Instagram, where it now has 1.2 million followers. Today, Beauty Bakerie has raised $10 million from such investors as Unilever’s venture arm, New Voices Fund and top black execs like Kenneth Chenault (former CEO of AmEx), making Nicole the rare black woman to raise that level of venture funding. “America is at an interesting inflection point,” Nicole says. “Now is a time for everyone to create change and a lasting legacy.” (For more, see our online story.)

Three years into a stint on the commodities desk at Goldman Sachs, Twine’s mother died in a car accident. The tragedy pushed her to reconsider her career path. Inspired by her mother, a chemist who had developed a natural face cream, and her grandmother, who taught her how to make products with natural ingredients, she spent weekends and nights researching the beauty industry. In 2014, she launched natural haircare brand, Briogeo, that targets customers by hair texture (wavy, coily, dry, thin), rather than ethnicity; it was profitable from the start and revenues grew quickly to $10 million by the end of 2018. It launched internationally in 2018, and is now sold on Sephora shelves around the world as well as through online U.K. retailer CultBeauty. She sold a minority stake in the company to Drunk Elephant investor VMG last year for an undisclosed sum. (For more, see our Forbes magazine story.)

After putting herself through college at California State University Sacramento, Dellinger got an internship, and eventually a job, at Intel. While at the tech giant, she spent nights and weekends on her idea for a natural hair care line. She launched Curls in 2002, bootstrapping the business. Her big break: landing a partnership with Target. Today roughly 80% of the company’s revenue comes from selling many of her 150 products in stores such as Walmart, Bed Bath & Beyond and CVS; the rest comes from online sales. She’s written a book about her journey “from the projects to the penthouse” and had her own TV show on Oprah’s OWN Network—Mind Your Business with Mahisha—helping other women-led businesses reach the million-dollar mark. (For more, see our online story.)

Forbes Under 30 social entrepreneurs, Nigerian-born entrepreneur Wemimo and his business partner Goel co-founded Esusu in 2019. The mobile platform helps individuals mostly from marginalized communities save money, access capital and build credit. Renters typically don’t get credit for making their monthly payments on time; Esusu’s platform has helped change that. It partnered with Equifax in January to use its rent-reporting platform to power credit scores for renters. In May, Esusu launched a fund that provides rental assistance for those most affected by Covid-19. It's since raised nearly $200,000 for the fund. With more than 200,000 users to date, the startup expects revenue to reach $1.2 million this year. (For more, see our online story.)

Founded in 2013 by Imira, 39, Mayvenn is a venture-backed digital salon where customers buy human hair extensions and wigs and book appointments with stylists. Mayvenn employs 63 people (81% of whom are people of color) and it directs business to 3,000 black stylists across the country. Since salons have been forced to shut down during the pandemic, Imira has raised $1.3 million in relief cash that he’s giving to his network of stylists. (For more, see our Forbes magazine story.)

For nearly half their lives, Robin McBride and Andréa McBride-John didn’t know the other existed. The half sisters, who were coincidentally raised in wine regions, in California and New Zealand respectively, met for the first time in 1999. Six years later, they launched their wine business. Last year, McBride Sisters Collection sold nearly 100,000 cases, putting it in the top 3% of the nation’s wineries. Today, 90% of their staff are women and more than half are people of color. Up next: canned spritzers, slated for this summer. (For more, see our online story.)

Back in 2007, Dr. Gentles, who had worked at Texas Children’s Hospital, teamed up with Bryant, a friend from church who had worked as a consultant on technology implementation and training, to start an urgent-care center just for kids. Today, NightLight Pediatric has eight pediatric urgent-care locations, with 130 employees (80% of whom are people of color) and revenue of $11 million last year. An alum of our 2017 Small Giants list, the company remains entirely owned by its three founders. (For more, see our online interview with Bryant.)

Konte founded Red Bay six years ago, and expanded it to include five Bay Area cafes and robust corporate sales. Since March, the pandemic has taken a toll. Though Red Bay’s coffee roastery is running, its cafes had to shut down and it lost lucrative contracts to supply the offices of Facebook, Twitter and Airbnb. Fortunately, its wholesale and retail businesses spiked between March and May. Awareness that Red Bay is a black-owned business tripled online sales in the first three days of June, says Konte, 53. “People want to support us in these times,” he says. A visual artist and former activist who organized protests in San Francisco following the 1991 beating of Rodney King, he says he’s inspired by the Gandhi quote, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” Pre-pandemic, he had 60 employees, all of whom were of color, including 25 people who were formerly incarcerated or who grew up in foster care. His headcount has shrunk by half. “We had to make some painful and drastic cuts,” he says. (For more, see our online story.)

See below for 90 more black-owned businesses grouped by categories like finance and haircare.

AJ Crimson Beauty 


Founder: AJ Crimson

Headquarters: Los Angeles

Description: makeup for all ethnicities, shades

Website: ajcrimson.com

Instagram: @ajcrimson

Black Girl Sunscreen 


Founder: Shontay Lundy

Headquarters: Los Angeles

Description: sunscreen products

Website: blackgirlsunscreen.com

Instagram: @blackgirlsunscreen

Danessa Myricks Beauty


Founder: Danessa Myricks

Headquarters: New York City

Description: cosmetics brand

Website: danessamyricksbeauty.com

Instagram: @danessa_myricks

Foot Nanny 


Founder: Gloria L. Williams

Headquarters: Los Angeles

Description: aromatherapy foot products

Website: footnanny.com

Instagram: @footnanny

Golde


Founders: Trinity Mouzon Wofford, Issey Kobori

Headquarters: New York City

Description: smoothie boosters and face masks made with superfoods

Website: golde.co

Instagram: @golde

Juvia’s Place


Founder: Chichi Eburu

Headquarters: Jersey City, New Jersey

Description: makeup inspired by Africa

Website: Juvia’s Place

Instagram: @juviasplace

KNC Beauty 


Founder: Kristen Noel Crawley

Headquarters: Los Angeles

Description: natural, collagen-infused face masks

Website: kncbeauty.com

Instagram: @kncbeauty

The Lip Bar


Founder: Melissa Butler

Headquarters: Detroit

Description: custom, vegan lipsticks

Website: thelipbar.com

Instagram: @thelipbar 

Mented Cosmetics 


Founders: KJ Miller, Amanda Johnson

Headquarters: New York City

Description: cosmetics in inclusive shades

Website: mentedcosmetics.com

Instagram: @mentedcosmetics

Pat McGrath Labs


Founder: Pat McGrath

Headquarters: New York City

Website: www.patmcgrath.com

Description: cosmetics brand from influential makeup artist

Instagram: @patmcgrathreal

Uoma Beauty 


Founder: Sharon Chuter

Headquarters: Los Angeles

Description: cosmetics in inclusive shades

Website: uomabeauty.com

Instagram: @uomabeautyon

Camille Rose 


Founder: Janell Stephens

Headquarters: Macon, Georgia

Description: handmade and all natural hair and skin products

Website: camillerose.com

Instagram: @camillerosenaturals

Curlbox 


Founder: Myleik Teele

Headquarters: Atlanta

Description: monthly subscription box of curly hair products

Website: curlbox.com

Instagram: @curlbox

CurlMix


Founders: Kimberly and Timothy Lewis

Headquarters: Chicago

Description: organic haircare products for curly hair

Website: curlmix.com

Instagram: @CurlMix

The Cut Buddy


Founder: Joshua Esnard

Headquarters: Pittsboro, North Carolina

Description: hair template for cutting

Website: thecutbuddy.com

Instagram: @thecutbuddy

Mielle Organics 


Founder: Monique Rodriquez

Headquarters: Crown Point, Indiana

Description: organic haircare and skincare products

Website: mielleorganics.com

Instagram: @mielleorganics

Myavana


Founder: Candace Mitchell

Headquarters: Atlanta

Description: personalized hair products

Website: myavana.com

Instagram: @myavanahaircare

Melanin Haircare


Founder: Whitney and Taffeta White

Location: Boston

Description: natural hair products designed for black women

Website: melaninhaircare.com

Instagram: @melaninhaircare

Pattern Beauty


Founder: Tracee Ellis Ross

Headquarters: El Segundo, California

Website: patternbeauty.com

Description: hair products for five hair texture types between 3B (medium curly) and 4C (super kinky)

Instagram: @patternbeauty

Rucker Roots 


Founders: Ellen and Ione Rucker

Headquarters: Waxhaw, North Carolina

Description: natural hair products designed for black women

Website: ruckerroots.com

Instagram: @ruckerroots

Aminah Abdul Jillil 


Founder: Aminah Abdul Jillil

Headquarters: Las Vegas, Nevada

Description: luxury shoes and boots for women and kids

Website: aminahabduljillil.com

Instagram: @aminahjillil

BLK MKT Vintage 


Founders: Kiyanna Stewart, Jannah Handy

Headquarters: New York City

Description: vintage collectibles celebrating black culture

Website: blkmktvintage.com

Instagram: @blkmktvintage

Bolé Road Textiles 


Founder: Hana Getachew

Location: Kingston, New York

Description: textiles made by artisans in Ethiopia

Website: boleroadtextiles.com

Instagram: @boleroadtextiles

Brother Vellies 


Founder: Aurora James

Headquarters: New York City

Description: handcrafted shoes and accessories from African artisans

Website: brothervellies.com

Instagram: @brothervellies 

Cherry Blossom Intimates


Founder: Jasmine Jones

Headquarters: Glenarden, Maryland

Description: bras for women who have had mastectomies

Website: cherryblossomintimates.com

Instagram: @cherryblossomintimates

Cushnie 


Founders: Carly Cushnie, Michelle Ochs

Headquarters: New York City

Description: women’s ready-to-wear and accessories

Website: cushnie.com

Instagram: @cushnie

Diop


Founder: Mapate Diop

Headquarters: Detroit

Description: streetwear made of West African fabrics

Website: weardiop.com

Instagram: @weardiop

Fini Shoes


Founder: Dami Adepoju

Headquarters: New York City

Description: men’s and women’s footwear

Website: fini.shoes

Instagram: @finishoes

The Folklore 


Founder: Amira Rasool

Headquarters: New York City

Description: clothing, accessories and housewares from designers based in Africa and the African diaspora

Website: shopthefolklore.com

Instagram: @thefolklore

FUBU 


Founder: Daymond John

Headquarters: New York City

Description: hip hop apparel

Website: fubu.com

Instagram: @fubu

Hanifa 


Founder: Anifa Mvuemba

Headquarters: North Bethesda, Maryland

Description: women’s apparel

Website: hanifa.co

Instagram: @hanifaofficial 

Hope For Flowers 


Founder: Tracy Reese

Headquarters: New York City

Description: sustainable clothing for women

Website: hopeforflowers.com

Instagram: @hopeforflowersbytracyreese

Kahmune 


Founder: Jamila Acheampong

Headquarters: Columbia, Maryland

Description: shoes sold in 10 inclusive shades of nude

Website: kahmune.com

Instagram: @kahmune

Mateo New York 


Founder: Matthew Harris.

Headquarters: New York City

Description: fine jewelry with diamonds and gemstones

Website: mateonewyork.com

Instagram: @mateonewyork

Nude Barre


Founder: Erin Carpenter

Headquarters: New York City

Description: intimate apparel in 12 shades of nude

Website: nudebarre.com

Instagram: @nudebarre

Pyer Moss


Founder: Kerby Jean-Raymond

Headquarters: New York City

Description: fashion brand

Website: pyermoss.com

Instagram: @pyermoss

Soundoff


Founders: Drew Ferguson, Bret Grafton, Daryl Sneed

Headquarters: Chicago

Description: gender-neutral streetwear

Website: soundoffdesign.com

Instagram: @soundoffdesign

Telfar 


Founder: Telfar Clemens

Headquarters: New York City

Description: unisex bags

Website: telfar.net

Instagram: @telfarglobal

The Sixes  


Founder: Franci Girard

Headquarters: New York City

Description: fashion for tall women

Website: thesixes.com

Instagram: @thesixesnyc

Voluptuous Clothing


Founder: Angela Samuels

Headquarters: Toronto

Description: plus-sized women’s clothes

Website: voluptuousclothing.com

Instagram: @voluptuousinc

The Wrap Life 


Founder: Nnenna Stella

Headquarters: Brooklyn, New York

Description: head wraps, headbands, turbans and bandanas

Website: thewrap.life

Instagram: @thewraplife

Unwrp


Founder: Ashley Fouyolle

Headquarters: New York City

Description: sustainable gift wrap, greeting cards and home décor in bold designs

Website: unwrp.com

Instagram: @unwrp

UjuuMedia


Founder: Kelechi Anyadiegwu

Headquarters: New York City

Description: marketplace for emerging brands from around the world

Website: ujuumedia.com

Instagram: @ujuumedia

Ariel Investments 


Founder: John Rogers

Headquarters: Chicago

Description: mutual funds

Website: arielinvestments.com

Instagram: @arielinvestments

Awoye Capital


Founder: Jordan Awoye

Headquarters: Woodbury, New York

Description: investment advisor

Website: awoyecapital.com

Instagram: @awoyecapital

Fola Financial


Founder: Sheneya Wilson

Headquarters: Tuckahoe, New York

Description: tax, bookkeeping and financial services

Website: folafinancial.com

Instagram: @folafinancial

Industrial Bank 


CEO: Doyle Mitchell Jr.

Headquarters: Washington, D.C.

Description: banking and financial services

Websiteindustrial-bank.com

Instagram: @bankindustrial 

OneUnited Bank 


Founder: Kevin Cohee

Headquarters: Boston

Description: country’s largest black-owned bank

Website: oneunited.com

Instagram: @oneunited

Adjourn Teahouse


Founder: LaTonia Cokely

Headquarters: Washington, D.C

Description: loose-leaf tea

Website: adjournteahouse.com

Instagram: @adjournteahouse

BLK + Bold


Founders: Rod Johnson, Pernell Cezar

Headquarters: Des Moines, Iowa

Description: fair-trade coffee and loose-leaf tea

Website: blkandbold.com

Instagram: @blkandbold

Brown Estate 


Company: Brown Estate

Founder: Deneen, David and Coral Brown

Headquarters: St. Helena, California

Website: brownestate.com

Description: Napa Valley winery

Instagram: @brownestate

Chicago French Press 


Founder: Kris Christian

Headquarters: Chicago

Description: organic, flavored roast coffee

Website: chicagofrenchpress.com

Instagram: @chicagofrenchpress

Crowns & Hops 


Founders: Beny Ashburn, Teo Hunter

Headquarters: Inglewood, California

Description: craft beer and brewery

Website: crownsandhops.com

Instagram: @crownsandhops

Forty Acres Fresh Market


Founder: Liz Abunaw

Headquarters: Chicago

Description: grocery that operates pop-ups with fresh food in underserved neighborhoods

Website: fortyacresfreshmarket.com

Instagram: @fortyacresfreshmarket

The Furlough Cheesecake 


Founders: Nikki Howard, Jaqi Wright

Headquarters: Oxon Hill, Maryland

Description: cheesecake maker

Website: thefurloughcheesecake.com

Instagram: @thefurloughcake

Golden Krust


Headquarters: New York City

Founders: Lowell Hawthorne (deceased) and family

Description: Caribbean restaurants franchise and seller of Jamaican patties

Website: goldenkrust.com

Instagram: @goldenkrust

International Smoke 


Founders: Ayesha Curry, Michael Mina

Headquarters: San Francisco

Website: internationalsmoke.com

Description: global-inspired barbecue chain

Instagram: @internationalsmoke

Marcus Samuelsson Group 


Founder: Marcus Samuelsson

Headquarters: New York City

Description: restaurant group from the acclaimed chef that includes Red Rooster Harlem

Website: marcussamuelssongroup.com

Instagram: @marcuscooks

Ocean’s 97


Founder: Jarvis Green

Headquarters: Baton Rouge

Description: shrimp pate and other shrimp products

Website: oceans97.com 

Instagram: @oceans97

Partake Foods


Founder: Denise Woodard

Headquarters: Jersey City

Description: gluten-free, vegan and allergy-friendly cookies

Website: partakefoods.com

Instagram: @partakefoods

Pipcorn


Founders: Jennifer Martin, Jeff Martin, Teresa Tsou

Headquarters: New York City

Description: snacks made with heirloom corn

Website: pipsnacks.com

Instagram: @pipsnacks

Bauce Magazine 


Founder: Liane Membis

Headquarters: New York City

Description: lifestyle magazine for self-made women

Website: baucemag.com

Instagram: @baucemag

Black Enterprise


CEO: Earl G. “Butch” Graves Jr.

Headquarters: New York City

Description: multimedia company focusing on black enterprise

Website: blackenterprise.com

Instagram: @blackenterprise

Blavity 


Founder: Morgan DeBaun

Headquarters: San Francisco

Description: online media company for black millennials

Website: blavity.com

Instagram: @blavity

Essence 


Founders: Edward Lewis, Clarence O. Smith, Jonathan Blount, Cecil Hollingsworth

Headquarters: Brooklyn, New York

Description: lifestyle magazine

Website: essence.com

Instagram: @essence

kweliTV


Founder: DeShuna Elisa Spencer

Headquarters: Washington, D.C.

Description: streaming service for movies and shows that tell Black stories

Website: kweli.tv

Instagram: @kwelitv

Mars Reel


Founders: Brandon and Bradley Deyo

Headquarters: Los Angeles

Description: media outlet for high school and youth sports

Website: marsreel.com

Instagram: @marsreel

Urban One Inc 


Founder: Catherine Hughes

Headquarters: Silver Spring, Maryland

Description: public media firm focused on telling black stories

Website: urban1.com

Instagram: @tvonetv

Watch The Yard


Founder: Jonathan Rabb

Description: news site for Black college students involved in historically Black fraternities and sororities

Website: watchtheyard.com

Instagram: @watchtheyard

AptDeco


Founders: Kalam Dennis, Reham Fagiri

Headquarters: New York City

Description: used furniture marketplace

Website: aptdeco.com

Instagram: @aptdeco

Cee Cee's Closet NYC


Founders: Chioma and Uchenna Ngwudo

Headquarters: New York City

Description: headwraps and other West African accessories

Website: ceeceesclosetnyc.com/

Instagram: @ceeceesclosetnyc

Eso Won Books


Founders: James Fugate, Thomas Hamilton

Headquarters: Los Angeles

Description: bookstore with a large selection of books on African-American history

Website: esowonbookstore.com 

Instagram: @esowonbooks

For Keeps Books


Founder: Rosa Duffy

Headquarters: Atlanta

Description: bookstore that carries classic and rare Black literature

Website: forkeepsbooks.com

Instagram: @forkeepsbooks

Jungalow 


Founder: Justina Blakeney

Headquarters: Los Angeles

Description: online retailer of home decor, gifts, apparel

Website: jungalow.com

Instagram: @thejungalow

The Lit. Bar 


Founder: Noëlle Santos

Location: New York City

Description: bookstore and bar

Website: thelitbar.com

Instagram: @thelitbar

Love Notes Fragrances   


Founder: Nya Kam

Headquarters: New York City

Description: scented soy candles

Website: lovenotesfragrances.com

Instagram: @lovenotesllc

Pro Standard


Founder: Mike Harris

Headquarters: New York City

Description: sports apparel

Website: teamprostandard.com/

Instagram: @prostandard

SustainAble Home Goods


Founder: LaToya Tucciarone

Headquarters: Atlanta

Description: fair trade home decor

Website: yoursustainablehome.com

Instagram: @sustainablehomegoods

Thrilling


Founder: Shilla Kim-Parker

Headquarters: Los Angeles

Description: online marketplace for vintage and second-hand items

Website: shopthrilling.com

Instagram: @shopthrilling

4D Healthware


Founder: Star Cunningham

Headquarters: Chicago

Description: virtual health management for patients

Websitewww.4dhealthware.com

Twitter@4DHealthware

BLK + GRN 


Founder: Kristian Henderson

Headquarters: Washington, D.C.

Description: marketplace for natural beauty and wellness products made by black artisans and entrepreneurs

Website: blkgrn.com

Instagram: @blkandgrn

Hammer & Nails


Founder: Michael Elliott

Headquarters: Folsom, California

Description: grooming shop for men

Website: hammerandnailsgrooming.com

Instagram: @hammerandnailsgrooming

The Honey Pot


Founder: Beatrice Dixon

Headquarters: Atlanta

Description: natural feminine care products

Website: thehoneypot.co

Instagram: @thehoneypotco

Shine


Founders: Marah Lidey, Naomi Hirabayashi

Headquarters: New York City

Description: self-care app for people with anxiety and depression

Website: join.shinetext.com

Instagram: @shinetext

Vibrant Health


Owners: Ted and Paige Parker

Headquarters: Shelton, Connecticut

Description: nutritional supplements

Website: vibranthealth.com

Instagram: @vibranthealth

African Ancestry


Founders: Rick Kittles, Gina Paige

Headquarters: Washington, DC

Description: genetic ancestry tracing for people of African descent

Website: africanancestry.com

Instagram: @africanancestry

Diversant


Founder: John Goullet

Headquarters: Red Bank, New Jersey

Description: IT staffing company

Website: www.diversant.com

Instagram: @diversant_llc

Dollaride


Founder: Sulaiman "Su" Sanni

Headquarters: Brooklyn, New York

Description: ride-sharing for underserved communities

Website: dollaride.com

Instagram: @dollaride

RML Automotive


Founders: Robert L. Johnson, Mack McLarty, Steve Landers

Headquarters: Dallas and Little Rock, Arkansas

Desciption: car dealerships selling Ford, GMC, Honda, Suburu, Jeep and other brands

Website: rmlauto.com 

Salamander Hotels & Resorts


Founder: Sheila Johnson

Headquarters: Middleburg, Virginia

Website: salamanderresort.com

Description: collection of luxury properties

Instagram: @salamanderhotels

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *