There are more than 105,000 firms owned by Black & Brown founders across Tennessee. However, these businesses tend to start smaller and stay smaller (averaging only $19,800 annually) than their peer non-minority-owned firms. In this episode hear from Black entrepreneurs in the Nashville area on ways to thrive as a founder and leader while growing a thriving business.

On this special episode, join Brynn Plummer as she passes the torch, and quite literally the microphone, to her guest Brittany Cole, who will take over as host of the show going forward. As the Entrepreneur Center’s new Chief Equity & Inclusion Officer, Cole will also be responsible for further enhancing the ECs Twende program, working to amplify the voices of entrepreneurs of color and make it easier to connect them to resources in the state. Join us in welcoming Brittany and saying a fond farewell to Brynn, our show's founding host.

Over the past two years, disparities in healthcare and race in the American system have amplified. Not only are people of color not receiving adequate healthcare services, but founders of color who operate in the healthcare sector struggle to receive necessary funds for their ventures. In today’s episode, Kathryne Cooper, Partner at Jumpstart Nova, and Marcus Whitney, Founder and Managing Partner of Jumpstart Nova joins Brynn Plummer to discuss why they started a fund that invests exclusively in black healthcare founders. They’ll also share how their company Jumpstart Nova emerged and why they’re passionate about investing in healthcare solutions for today and for the future. 

Jason Scott, head of startup developer ecosystems at Google and partner of the ANIM Fund, sits down with Brynn Plummer to discuss his winding path into the world of venture capital, and how he aims to play the role of a superhero sidekick in the careers of founders of color by providing them with the capital, resources, and mentorship they need to be successful no matter their geographical location.

Behind every great entrepreneur is a compelling story, a passion to change the current narrative and turn roadblocks into opportunities. In today’s episode, CEO & Founder of Podpal, currently the first black-owned podcasting startup, Aaron P. Woods joins Brynn Plummer to share how his mission to provide for his family led him to develop a startup that seeks to remove the overwhelming steps that come from producing your own podcast. They’ll also discuss how he balances family life and his full-time job with building a startup, and why he’s passionate about pioneering a path for other founders of color.

“The data exists” to show that investing in BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) founders pays off, says Monique Villa, co-founder of Build In SE and early-stage investor at Mucker Capital. Originally from Los Angeles, California, Villa organically found her way to Nashville and into the VC world. Today, she's paying it forward by starting a project called Unprocess that focuses on how paving a path for a career is more organic and less linear. She joins Brynn Plummer in this episode to help explain how venture capital works and how it’s changing for the better to support BIPOC.

Henry Beecher Hicks, president and CEO of the National Museum of African American Music, sits down with Brynn Plummer to share about his early professional career and how a decision to buy Gray Line, a premium sight-seeing tour bus and public transportation company, led him to Nashville. He also shares the many lessons he has learned as an African American man navigating the world of entrepreneurship.

Despite the growing diversity around us, less than 3% of all venture capital in the U.S. is given to Black, LatinX or woman-led companies. Founders of color face incredible obstacles starting and growing their businesses including access to financial resources, education and mentorship. Join host Brynn Plummer as she partakes in open and honest conversations with entrepreneurs and innovators of color about their journeys to success while overcoming hurdles and working tirelessly to level the playing field for all.