“Every entrepreneur that I've talked to, so far, in Kansas City is already at the business growth stage meaning they're making revenue," said Keenan Beasely, founder of Venture Noire. "What they’re trying to figure out is how to scale.” The organization's first public event in KC is set for Sept. 24.
Symrise along with Johnson & Johnson Innovation–JJDC, Inc. (JJDC) and Ignite Venture Studio has invested in Infinite Looks Inc., a United States-based startup that is looking to drive the growth of its athleisure hair care brand, Sunday II Sunday a brand for textured hair care. The series A funding totals $4.2 million.
Symrise is taking this step to expand its expertise in the textured hair care segment and to develop formulations that are adapted to the needs of active women with textured hair.
The current direct-to-customer business model of Infinite Looks presents an opportunity to translate consumer desires into new products.
Venture Noire Launches New Cohort Program For Black Entrepreneurs With $1.3 Million Grant
47
Smiling young African entrepreneur wearing an apron standing in front of the counter of a trendy cafe using a digital tablet
Funded to launch a new cohort program for Black entrepreneurs, Venture Noire has received a $1.3 million grant from the Walton Family Foundation.
The money will be used to kick off In The Black, which will facilitate eight-week courses to advance the entire health of Black-owned firms in crucial fields like consumer technology, healthcare, and fintech. A nonprofit committed to helping Black and minority entrepreneurs, Venture Noire says it is recruiting qualified entrepreneurs nationwide to join the inaugural course program. It aims to address income inequality by improving minority workforce creation and development, ultimately helping to close America’s racial wealth gap.
CoffeeAndMilkGetty Images
I can’t stress this enough: Every texture of natural hair is beautiful iconic, actually! Whether we choose to freely wear our Afros and voluminous curls in all of their glory, switch up our look with a sleek blowout and silk press, or give our strands a rest by wearing protective styles like braids, twists, and hair extensions, the freedom and versatility that our coils embody is truly powerful.
Unfortunately, natural hair hasn’t always been accepted and offered a seat at the table with mainstream hair care brands. Once upon a time, looking for products that truly nourished curly and kinkier hair types was akin to searching for a needle in a haystack borderline impossible.