The first two companies slated to receive investments are:
Equiano, a London-based Afro-Caribbean rum brand founded by Ian Burrell and Aaisha Dadral and named in honor of writer and abolitionist Olaudah Equiano, who was enslaved at 11 years old and later bought his freedom using money he earned trading rum.
Jack From Brooklyn, Inc., the first-known Black-owned distillery in the country following Prohibition.
The fund is now accepting applications on its website. One day, someone would be willing to invest in it and in me
Jack From Brooklyn, Inc., founded by Jackie Summers, is the maker of Sorel Liqueur, a traditional Caribbean liqueur blending flavors of hibiscus, cloves, ginger, nutmeg and cinnamon. Sorel will make its comeback to the spirits market this year thanks to Uncle Nearest Venture Fund s investment.
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SHELBYVILLE, Tenn., June 1, 2021 /PRNewswire/ Today,
Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey, the fastest-growing American whiskey brand in U.S. history and the most-awarded Bourbon of 2019 and 2020 worldwide, announced the formation of the Uncle Nearest Venture Fund. The $50 million fund was created specifically to invest in rapidly growing, minority-founded and owned spirit brands. According to Fawn Weaver, Uncle Nearest founder and CEO, it s by design that the timing of the announcement comes on the 100
th anniversary of the destruction of Black Wall Street.
Fawn Weaver, Uncle Nearest founder and CEO, and founder of the Uncle Nearest Venture Fund On June 1, 1921, an entire community of wealthy and successful African Americans was wiped out in a matter of hours. We are talking about 35 square blocks known as Black Wall Street, said Weaver. As an African American, learning about that history broke my heart because we, as a people, were really onto something in