November is National Entrepreneurship Month, which aims to highlight small business founders and owners and their contributions to innovation and economic impact. According Fudge there are 12.3 million women-owned businesses in the United States. For many, launching, growing and scaling is a lonely journey. Jenny Shum, CEO of Chase Ink says that one thing that can help make the journey less isolating is to lean into a community of like-minded people for support. “It’s that community connection that helps business owners find the resources they need to succeed.”
The role recognized can play
While the importance of being part of a community is nothing new, something less often talked about is the power of winning awards. “Small businesses are at the heart of our communities,” says Shum. “Continuous recognition and collaboration with trusted partners and peers can often help a business overcome potential headwinds and thrive.”
That’s why in 2022, Chase Ink partnered with Businessman to launch it Entreprenista 100 Awards. The awards honor and celebrate pioneering female founders who are changing the world. Jessica Abo sat down with three winners to learn more about their business and how the recognition helped boost their visibility, credibility and results.
The story of Anouck Gotlib
Anouk Gottlieb
After studying fashion design and working for fashion houses such as Zac Posen and Natan, Belgian-born Anouck Gotlib became marketing director of Belgian Boys, which makes quick breakfasts and cookies in whimsical packaging to bring happy European treats to families across America. In 2018 she was appointed CEO.
When the pandemic caused the sudden loss of almost a third of Belgian Boys’ business from airlines, food service accounts and more, Gotlib not only donated more than 80,000 treats to struggling local communities and frontline workers, but also increased revenue and doubled the team. She joined The Entreprenista League and she says being part of the community gave her the strength she needed to get through this difficult time. “Having a community gives you a sense of belonging. It’s seeing people and seeing you. It lifts others up and they are staples.”
She leveraged her network to secure Belgian Boys’ first outside investment in 2021 from Equilibra, the family office of KIND Snacks founder Daniel Lubetzky, and was recognized as an Entreprenista 100 winner. She says the win and award gave her the confidence to reach higher and raise the bar for more impact. Her advice for other female founders is to “surround yourself with amazing people and build the strongest team around you. Bring together people who inspire you and together you will build great things.”
Tori Bell
The story of Tori Bell
Tori Bell discovered firsthand the power of community while founding Black Women at Facebook, which grew to 3,000 members worldwide under her leadership. Her passion to create inclusive change within companies inspired her to take up entrepreneurship herself and start Included without packaging in 2021. Bell says the biggest hurdle has been securing startup funding. “Black women receive on average less than 1 percent of available business dollars,” she says. “I knew the hurdle would be steep.” It was able to raise the funds it needed to build its digital community of members, which provides training, events and a support network for founders and leaders committed to building diverse, fair and inclusive companies from the ground up.
“After applying for many grants and programs, I finally secured one after receiving the Entreprenista 100 Award. The grant came at a critical time for us. Since winning the award, we have secured venture capital investment and experienced an increase in sales from new customers.” With the support of her own trusted community, Bell has earned many impressive achievements and accolades, including being admitted to several notable incubator programs, as well as being the first black woman to win Columbia Business School’s prestigious startup pitch competition. He says, if you’re starting out, you have to make yourself visible. “Being part of a network is essential. A significant part of your early success is often a result of others supporting and supporting you.”
Jill Apgar
The Jill Apgar Story
After struggling firsthand to manage her biracial daughter’s curly hair, Jill Apgar was inspired to create a solution for other multicultural families. When she noticed that silk pillowcases helped her hair, she turned off a light bulb and Apgar designed an original silk bed sheet. Cora’s daughter’s tangles and dry skin improved almost magically overnight using Coco Beans Soft Sheets. In 2020, after a terrible pandemic layoff from her corporate role, she decided to take the plunge and officially launch Coco beans, a luxury bedding and sleepwear brand specially designed for children with textured hair. It also fearlessly pioneered a new line of bamboo pajamas amid market uncertainty, further differentiating the brand’s offerings with an eco-friendly construction that’s kinder to both skin and planet.
Apgar says it has had to deal with its own share of challenges, including supply chain problems caused by the global pandemic. “We were able to overcome our cash challenges by transitioning to an organic marketing strategy leveraging our small but loyal social media following as well as activating the Central Ohio market through a series of local pop up stores,” he says. “My advice is to start fast and small. Instead of waiting for a product or service to be “perfect” and prioritize the market and start building a relationship with your customers. Feedback will help you deliver a better product or experience and ultimately build trust with customers – a key pillar of long-term success.”
Apgar says the transition from a corporate environment to owning her own business was a lonely road, but being involved in female founder communities like The League was critical. “These women have been so generous, sharing lessons from victories and failures, showing compassion during difficult times, encouraging me to level up, and cheering me on every step of the way.” She adds that being honored with an Entreprenista 100 Award has boosted her brand credibility as well as her credibility as a founder and encourages more women to put themselves out there.
Coming Full Circle
As these three founders overcome obstacles with the help of mentors and peers, they not only lead fast-growing companies, but also empower the communities around them. This year, he will be on the selection committee for the Entreprenista 100 Awards. The deadline to Apply it is November 22, 2024.
