August is Black Business Month, a time to acknowledge and celebrate Black-owned businesses in our community. I got a headstart on the celebration last month when Florin Square, “Sacramento’s Black Wall Street,” held its annual Small Business Summit. There, I had the opportunity to meet many Black entrepreneurs and it was exhilarating to learn about their businesses.

Celebrating Local Black Businessess

This week, I want to highlight two Black businesses that also happen to be women-led.

First, let me introduce you to Chelby Gill, the founder of Boummeringue, a reverse logistics service for fashion brands that have a high volume of returns. Chelby is actively leveraging local resources to create a solid foundation for her startup!

Chelby lives in Elk Grove, where she graduated from Franklin High in 2015. She earned her B.A. in Political Science from San Jose State University in 2019. Chelby just joined the 2022 cohort of FourthWave, an accelerator for women-led technology companies and she is also an alumnus of the 2022 Founder Institute Silicon Valley accelerator. You can catch an early intro to Chelby’s business in this 1 Million Cups Sacramento video (starts at 4:30). 

The second business I want to introduce you to is one that I just learned about. I don’t even personally know the founders yet! Here’s why relationships are so important! My friend Faith Roberts, who is the Community & Office Manager at InnoGrove, introduced me to Lisa Duffy, a Black entrepreneur who has a mobile notary business, First Class Signature Service. When Lisa and I connected on LinkedIn, we swapped some information we each thought the other would find helpful.

That’s where Lisa told me about SacTown Collab Spot, a new pop-up retail vendor location, which is having its Grand Opening on August 20. The business was launched by Black business owners Adrienne Latrice, LC Body Fragrances & Kanishia Wallace, UniqueLife Consumer Solutions, who met through the Sisters Inspiring Sisters Alliance. SacTown Collab Spot is a great location for new retail businesses to get a headstart!

Application Due Dates

Find out what’s going on this week for entrepreneurs in our region in this week’s Startup Digest. While you’re there, sign up to get the digest weekly in your inbox.

This Week’s Best Bets

An Introduction to Startup Testing, Aug 18, 11:30 AM. Join StartupSac as the Lean Innovator, Dan Casas-Murray, explains how early stage startups can use experimentation to test their business ideas. Online

Equity Crowdfunding in 2022, Aug 17, 11 AM. Join OpenGrants founder Sedale Turbovsky for a breakdown on equity crowdfunding and lessons learned from Jonny Price, VP of Fundraising at Wefunder. This session is perfect for any founder considering equity crowdfunding. Online

Raising Capital for Impact Startups, Aug 17, 5 PM, Join Founder Institute for this interactive fundraising discussion with Venture Capitalists and Impact Founders who will discuss the latest trends in fundraising and provide practical advice to the audience. Online

Angel/Venture Presentation Bootcamp, Aug 19 at Noon. David Rose, founder of Gust, will walk you through how to prepare and deliver a presentation that will give you the best chance of being funded. David will answer questions from founders about pitching and the startup funding process. Online

Plan Ahead

GFX, Aug 25, 1:00-7:00 PM. Part startup showcase, part venture conference, part entrepreneurial ecosystem building — 100% high energy, interactive and impactful! GFX is the Growth Factory’s first annual event designed to activate the Backyard Advantage at scale. Use promo code “StartupSac” for $5 off admission. In person at @theGrounds in Roseville. 

In Person Mentor Sprint at GFX, Aug 25. Mentor Sprint is happening during the Growth Factory’s GFX event. Mentor Sprint is an opportunity for venture-backable/high-growth startup founders to connect with three mentors in a speed-connection fashion. Apply now! If you are one of the 27 startups selected, you will receive a complimentary ticket to GFX (a $99 value).n person at @theGrounds in Roseville. 

Startup World Cup Sacramento, Aug 30, 5:30 PM. Sacramento is hosting a regional event of the $1M Startup World Cup at Rock & Brews Restaurant at Cal Expo. Startups can apply to compete (applications due 8/15). Ten startups will pitch to a panel of local investors and the winner will advance to the semi-finals in San Francisco next month. In person

Startup Happy Hour with Engage3 CEO, Aug 31, 5 PM. This month’s Startup Happy Hour featured guest is Edris Bemanian, the CEO of retail-tech company Engage3. Join us on Zoom for a Fireside Chat followed by an Ask Me Anything session. Online

Connect

Looking to connect with others? Join the StartupSac Community Facebook Group! Startup founders and those who support the growth of our startup community connect and exchange ideas in this private moderated group.

Resources

Check out our website for information on resources available to help entrepreneurs grow their businesses.