BrainTrust Founders Studio

Announcing our 2024 Economic Advancement Report, showcasing the commercial and cultural leadership displayed by entrepreneurs in the BrainTrust Founders Studio community! This year’s report is further proof that American shoppers across all races and ethnicities are buying more beauty and wellness products created and sold by Black founders, driving sales, retail traffic and jobs: ↗️ Commercial leadership: $142.6 million in collective sales ↗️ Cultural leadership: Who bought? Basically everyone. Many Black-led companies sold more products to Asian, Caucasian and Hispanic customers combined than to Black customers. See CreatorIQ data. ↗️ Product leadership: 39,000+ product SKUs sold, up from 4,000+ last year. ↗️ Retail leadership: 47,000+ retail “doors,” up from 23,000+ last year. ↗️ Ally leadership: As venture funding to Black founders hit a three-year low, retailers and some key LP communities emerged to partner with underrepresented funders and founders. ↗️ Entrepreneurial leadership: Black founders are openly discussing plans to sell their companies, create wealth and give back to the community. #BrainTrustFoundersStudio #2024EconomicAdvancementReport LAMIK Beauty MYAVANA thirteen lune Pressed Roots CurlMix CreatorIQ https://lnkd.in/g4mVpuua

CALLING EXPERIENCED COACHES TO VOLUNTEER ONE HOUR A WEEK WITH CPG ENTREPRENEURS! Big News: 10 Women Just Won Spots in the W.E. Build Accelerator Program in Tulsa! Apply below to mentor if you have experience with early-stage consumer start-ups. We are thrilled to announce that one of BrainTrust Founders Studio's partners, Build in Tulsa, is gearing up to launch a second cohort of W.E. Build! W.E. Build, (https://lnkd.in/escr7wfU) which stands for Women Entrepreneurs Build, is an entrepreneurship accelerator program created by Build in Tulsa aimed at leveling the playing field and providing support to women who have historically faced barriers in accessing resources and funding. This 15-week program is designed to advance founders' professional development and ALSO to foster personal growth and empower entrepreneurs to build companies that catalyze multi-generational wealth. That's why the program seeks experienced entrepreneurs as coaches. The Build in Tulsa team knows from experience that a critical difference can be made via 1:1 coaching by business professionals who know the start-up space -- enterprise or consumer -- and care enough about other women entrepreneurs to volunteer. Here's how to apply: Dates: July 22 - Oct 11, 2024 Time: One hour every week via Zoom How: Apply here (https://lnkd.in/gQBTQbRi) We hope you join us in supporting this wonderful program!

Congratulations to IGL Nails on your latest Retail News!

Thank you Beauty Independent & Rachel Brown for assisting us in welcoming Melissa R. Hibbért as the president of #BrainTrustFoundersStudio! “For me, this role is not just about the title. It really is about the work that we are going to be able to do. There isn’t a lot of organizations that are in the trenches the way we are with early-stage founders,” says Hibbert. “An important goal is the amplification of these founders and getting more visibility for them, not just with the consumers, but with people investing in particular brands or categories.” You can read the full article on #BeautyIndependent. Let's extend a warm welcome to Melissa as she joins the BrainTrust Founders Studio family. 👏🏾

BIG NEWS: We are excited to announce Melissa R. Hibbért as President of BrainTrust Founders Studio and the integration of her company, award-winning SHYFT Beauty Consulting Agency. With a proven track record of enhancing global beauty brands, Melissa Hibbert propelled SHYFT Beauty into prominence in 2019. A former corporate marketing executive turned beauty entrepreneur, Ms. Hibbert’s comprehensive approach tackles the intricacies of today's beauty landscape, with valuable expertise in consumer product testing, and strategic partnerships, fostering inclusive product development, brokering impactful influencer partnerships, and executing immersive product experiences. Moreover, her expertise extends to successfully assisting clients in scaling to national retailers, from specialty beauty to department stores, including the more than 47,000 retail doors through which hashtag #BrainTrustFoundersStudio members collectively sold more than $142 million in products last year.

In honor of #iwd2024 and the work so many of us do EVERY day!

BrainTrust Founders Studio just published our second annual 2024 Economic Advancement Report, and Kendra Bracken-Ferguson and I are celebrating! Last year, studio members – 91% Black women – drove sales, national retail traffic, jobs and much needed innovation by creating new beauty and wellness products and services: > $142.6 million in collective sales, up 42.5% from last year. >39,000+ product SKUs sold in market, up from 4,000+ last year. >47,000+ retail “doors,” up from 23,000+ last year > Who bought? Short answer: Everyone across all races and ethnicities! See CreatorIQ data in our report below. Congratulations #BrainTrust Founders Studio members and team. Onward! https://lnkd.in/g-BHu-C7

Calling all women entrepreneurs! If you're looking to take your startup to the next level and know how you would deploy venture capital funding, look no further than Build in Tulsa's @W.E. Build accelerator. Powered by the Goldman Sachs One Million Black Women Initiative, this program is designed for tech-enabled startups in the beauty and wellness space or high-growth professional services. Selected candidates will receive a $25,000 stipend and gain access to invaluable resources and mentorship. As a member of the selection committee, I can attest to the quality of this program. Apply now for the July 8-Oct. 10, 2024 cohort. Learn more at https://lnkd.in/gKxCRXAG #BrainTrustFoundersStudio #BuildinTulsa #AllRaise #WomenofColorandCapital P.S. Hat-tip: Alum Kim Roxie, Founder and CEO of LAMIK Beauty, pictured below.

Have you heard of W.E. Build by @BuildInTulsa? Last year at #FoundersHouse Martha’s Vineyard, as part of our B3: Build Black Beauty in Tulsa initiative, Ashli Sims and I had the privilege of talking about Build in Tulsa’s mission to level the playing field and help women who have been historically denied access to resources and funding. It's not just about building businesses, it's about building generational wealth and breaking ceilings! The 2024 W.E. Build cohort is currently open for applications, and you DON’T WANT TO MISS your opportunity to join fellow founders in taking their business to the next level. 💪🏽 This program will help you advance your professional development, achieve personal growth, and build companies that catalyze multi-generational wealth. Powered by Goldman Sachs One Million Black Women Initiative, the W.E. Build Accelerator will empower 25 innovative and diverse early-stage startups to create and launch scalable ventures in Tulsa, OK over the next two years.  - W.E. Builders Benefits: 💰 A $25,000 non-dilutive business award 📚 3 months of business training 🤝 Networking and mentorship opportunities 📊 Free legal and accounting services 🏢 Coworking desks and conference room access 💻 Laptop devices and connectivity 💰 Financial education 💸 Cost of living stipends to help provide housing, childcare, and health care 🤝 Bi-weekly mental health counseling Want more information, visit bit.ly/WEBUILD2024 to sign up! #WEBUILD2024