Yesterday, April 20th, Fearless Fund announced the awardees of its Women of Color Grant Program that is held in collaboration with The Cru, Tory Burch Foundation and Goldman Sachs One Million Black Women Initiative. One hundred and fifty grants were awarded to women of color entrepreneurs, each receiving either $10,000 or $20,000.
Fearless Fund invests in women of color led businesses, at the pre-seed, seed and series A funding level. Their mission is to fill a funding need that is missing in venture capital funding for women of color founders. With these funds and supporting programs, the women of color entrepreneur awardees will be better able to build their businesses, fulfilling their dreams of entrepreneurial success.
Special to its approach, Fearless Fund is run by women of color to fund women of color. The leadership is comprised of Arian Simone. President and Chief Executive Officer, who is a successful serial entrepreneur, philanthropist, angel investor, author, and PR & marketing specialist. Ayana Parsons, Chief Operating Officer, brings nearly 20 years of experience as both a corporate executive and organizational consultant, leveraging her expertise to drive organizational growth and transformation.
April Harris, founder of Hawthorne-based Keeping You Sweet, is excited and so appreciative of receiving one of the grants.
“The timing was perfect,” says Harris. “We will use the funds to build out our first retail location”.
The following eleven New Jersey women of color entrepreneurs received either a $20,000 or $10,000 grant:
April Harris, Keeping You Sweet Hawthorne, NJ
Beverly Malbranche, Caribbrew Passaic, NJ
Djenaba Johnson-Jones, Hudson Kitchen Kearny, NJ
Kelly Brown, deVINE Plantery Montclair, NJ
Lizeth Morales, El Gordo Restaurant Jersey City, NJ
Monique Hudson, Coffee & Cornbread Co. Montclair, NJ
Onida Cruz, Petite Seats Denville, NJ
Renee Wilson, 3rd Party Virtual Assistance Newark, NJ
Shana Joseph, Glamorous Chicks Cosmetics Newark, NJ
Stephanie Scott-Bradshaw, First and Last PR Jersey City, NJ
Vania Lorvanis, Evolair Beauty Clifton, NJ
For a full list of awardees of the Women of Color Grant Program, visit: https://www.fearless.fund/tory-burch-foundation.
