The Game Wasn’t Built for Them—So They’re Building Their Own
Black and Brown women entrepreneurs weren’t supposed to win. The system wasn’t built for them. And yet, they are—building, thriving, leading.
Entrepreneurship hasn’t made it easy for them. They’ve worked twice as hard for half the recognition. They’ve pitched their business ideas to investors and watched them write checks to less-qualified competitors.
They’ve seen others secure the funding, connections, and mentorship that should have been within their reach. It’s frustrating. It’s exhausting. And if it ever felt like the game was rigged against them—it is.
But here’s the thing: They don’t need permission. They don’t need to wait. Right now, Black and Brown women are rewriting the rules of business. They are launching companies, taking over industries, and flipping the script.
And they’re doing it at scale—together, Black women-owned businesses generate nearly $100 billion in revenue (Essence). Latina-owned businesses are growing faster than any other demographic, contributing billions to the U.S. economy (Hispanic Executive).
Nowhere is that shift more powerful than in e-commerce, beauty, wellness, tech, and digital innovation.
Because for the first time in history, they don’t need a storefront, a middleman, or an inside connection to build their empires. All they need is a strategy, a product, and Wi-Fi.
For those waiting for a sign to start—or scale—a business, this is it.
Let’s get into it.
E-Commerce: How Black & Brown Women Are Owning the Digital Economy
The Digital Shift That Changed the Game
Breaking into retail once meant fighting for shelf space and dealing with an industry that overlooked them. Now? They run the store.
The rise of social commerce, digital marketplaces, and direct-to-consumer models has changed everything.
Entrepreneurs don’t need a massive startup budget or industry connections anymore. With Shopify, Etsy, and Instagram Shopping, they can launch a business from their phones.
And they are.
A RAND study of 300,000 Shopify stores found that:
66% of online business owners were female.
15% were Black entrepreneurs—far higher than in traditional retail.
Black women now own 68% of Black-owned microbusinesses in the U.S. Their presence in digital commerce has nearly doubled since 2019 (GoDaddy).
Translation? They’re no longer just consumers. They’re the creators, the sellers, and the ones shaping the industry.
Why Black & Brown Women Are Winning in Business
1. The Barriers Are Lower—The Opportunities Are Bigger
They don’t need a six-figure investment to launch. Platforms like TikTok, Shopify, and Etsy have made it possible to build an online business with minimal upfront costs.
2. Their Community Wants to Buy From Them
Black and Brown consumers spend billions every year in beauty, fashion, and wellness. But instead of that money going to big corporations, more of it is circulating back into businesses owned by women of color.
3. Social Media = Free Marketing
They don’t need million-dollar ad budgets when TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube are giving them free access to an audience. Visibility isn’t reserved for corporations anymore—it’s up for grabs.
And Black and Brown women? They know how to build culture, influence, and trends. Now, they’re using those skills to sell products and grow brands faster than ever.
4 Business Niches Black & Brown Women Are Dominating
Beauty & Personal Care – Black women spend 9x more on beauty products than other demographics. Now, they’re keeping that revenue in their community with skincare, natural haircare, and wellness brands.
Fashion & Streetwear – From Afrocentric fashion to Latinx streetwear, culturally inspired brands are thriving online. Their influence drives trends, and now, their businesses are profiting from them.
Subscription Boxes & Curated Products – Self-care kits, beauty boxes, and artisan products made by and for women of color are booming. These businesses offer recurring revenue—helping them build long-term wealth.
Tech & Digital Innovation – Black and Brown women aren’t just entering tech—they’re transforming it. Angela Benton, founder of Streamlytics, is disrupting the big data industry by helping consumers own and monetize their digital footprints through ethical AI solutions (Inc.).
What’s Next? Scaling Black & Brown-Owned Businesses
This isn’t a trend—it’s a power shift.
They are proving that ownership is the new revolution. But starting isn’t enough—they need to scale.
Here’s how:
Secure More Funding – Businesses can’t grow without capital. Grants, venture capital, and crowdfunding are key to expansion. Angel Rich, co-founder of CreditRich, is breaking barriers in fintech by creating a platform that helps users automatically improve their credit scores, making wealth-building more accessible for communities of color (Fin Health Network).
Build Better Infrastructure – Fast shipping, smooth transactions, reliable suppliers—these are essential for scaling. Fulfillment centers, wholesale partnerships, and automation tools help businesses grow efficiently.
Leverage Their Network – No one succeeds alone. Joining e-commerce accelerators, finding mentors, and building connections can provide critical support and opportunities. Organizations like Black Girl Ventures are actively working to fund and mentor Black and Brown women entrepreneurs.
Proof That This Works: Black & Brown Women Who Did It
Melissa Butler (The Lip Bar) – Launched her beauty brand from her kitchen, got rejected on Shark Tank, and now sells in Target & Walmart with a multi-million-dollar company.
Julissa Prado (Rizos Curls) – Built a natural haircare brand with no outside funding, scaled it online, and landed in Ulta Beauty.
Beatrice Dixon (The Honey Pot Co.) – Bootstrapped a feminine care brand, grew it into a national retailer, and sold it in a $380 million deal while keeping ownership.
Jessica O. Matthews (Founder of Uncharted Power) – Developed technology infrastructure that integrates AI and IoT to create clean energy solutions for smart cities. Her company has secured millions in venture funding (Fast Company).
Morgan DeBaun (Founder of Blavity, Inc.) – Built one of the largest digital media companies for Black millennials, expanding into business education and venture funding through AfroTech (Afrotech).
Final Word: Owning Space in This Business Revolution
The opportunity is here. The tools are available. The money is circulating. So the question isn’t if more Black and Brown women should step into business ownership.
The question is—how far will they take it?
Because Black and Brown women aren’t just building businesses anymore.
They’re building industries.
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