Founders

Francisca Francois

I'm Francisca Francois, a dedicated Haitian entrepreneur, passionate Professional Cosmetologist, and Beauty Enthusiast. In 2018, I embarked on a journey that led to the birth of Aeva Beauty. Recognizing the lack of representation for deep complexions like myself in the beauty industry, I felt compelled to make a change. We are an inclusive Black-owned makeup brand, dedicated to under-represented deep and melanin hues. Our mission is to promote diversity one beauty product at a time. Aeva Beauty is about empowerment, embracing unique identities, and reshaping an industry to reflect the beauty all around us.

Aisha Mccain

Aisha McCain is an inventor, entrepreneur, and healthcare innovator who believes the best solutions come from people who have lived the problem. A three time cancer survivor, Aisha spent years navigating surgeries, recovery, and the realities of life as a patient. Along the way, she experienced firsthand the challenges patients and caregivers face every day and was inspired to create solutions that improve safety, dignity, and quality of life. As Founder and CEO of Casual Recovery Enterprises, Aisha develops patented healthcare innovations designed to improve patient safety, emergency response, and recovery. She holds 9 U.S. utility patents, 1 international patent, and multiple international patents pending. Her work has earned international recognition, including multiple Gold Medals at the Silicon Valley International Invention Festival, the RIVA Award for Innovation, and recognition from the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Among her innovations are Smart Case, a patented connected emergency response device for rescue inhalers, Drain Care Wear, a patented post surgical recovery garment, and Wound Care Wear, a patented smart textile technology designed to improve wound care and patient recovery. Aisha is also the creator of Pediatric Superheroes, an initiative dedicated to empowering children facing serious illnesses through hope, courage, and compassion. After losing her sister to asthma, Aisha became even more determined to create technologies that help people access life saving care when every second matters. Through innovation, advocacy, and lived experience, she is building a future where patients feel safer, more supported, and better connected to the care they need when it matters most.

Alexandra Baker

Alexandra is an award-winning TV personality with a presence on HSN and the founder of the lifestyle brands Home with Alexandra® and In the Kitchen with Alexandra™. Every holiday season, she would share a taste of her Haitian heritage with friends and family with a hand-made jar of pikliz, a Haitian cuisine condiment. Flavorful-heat, clean ingredients, a superfood! The response was astounding! Now, she's thrilled to share her perfected recipe for just-spicy-enough, use-on-everything pikliz with you, so that you can bring a bit of Island flavor to family dinners and so much more.

Alicia McKay

Born and raised in Detroit, Alicia knows the true spirit of Detroit can be nourished through education. This generation is ready for more than germ-infested inflatables and ball pits! Our kids are scientists, engineers, architects, coders, and professional gamers. We are ready to lean into the untapped talent through fun and engaging educational experiences and No Fear Cafe and Alicia McKay is prepared to lead the way.

April Lancit LMFT

ALATherapy is a private practice that provides mental health services and supports. We provide mental health treatment, consultation services and workshops. Although we service people of all walks of life and all walks of faith. We specialize in Black and Brown couples. We specialize with this population because of limited access to this form of treatment. We help Black and Brown couples heal. Couples are often the foundation of most families. A couple can come in many different forms rather it be a heterosexual couple, same sex couple, interracial couple, blended family couple, co-parenting couple, cohabitating couple etc…We all face challenges and struggles within the context of our relationship. We help Couples strengthen, and heal.

Archie Clay III

WEAR BRIMS, a luxury hat company co-founded by longtime friends Archie Clay III and Tajh Crutch in 2016, stands on three basic principles: family, faith, and confidence. These principles are the foundation of all their business decisions and designs, celebrating their culture, family roots, and owning your confidence. Archie, a graduate of Tuskegee University with a BA in Sales and Marketing, started in the retail industry in HR and Operation roles, giving him a strong background to successfully start and run the business. Tajh, a graduate of Troy University with a BS in Information Systems, utilizes his education and corporate experience to help WEAR BRIMS gain and maintain a competitive advantage. A successful four years brought features

Ashton Clark

Ashton is the CEO and Co-Founder of Ticket Falcon. Ticket Falcon is a Black-owned, minority certified event management and ticketing platform with instant payouts for in-person, virtual and hybrid events. Our intuitive system offers all the key features to maximize the success of events without the overbearing costs. Make more memorable experiences happen with Ticket Falcon. Ashton founded Ticket Falcon in 2019 with his identical twin brother Ryan Clark, CTO.

Kenia Best

Peace and Love everyone! My name is Kenia Best and I am a senior at Bowie State University. I am the Founder of Your Very Own! - Where we create personalized skin care products that are ALWAYS naturally yours. View my BGV NextGen Pitch here: https://youtu.be/cj3k9QubpuM . Stay connected with Your Very Own!: linktr.ee/yourveryown