Founders

Lydia Simmons

Motherocity is a testament to my personal journey and the stories of many other moms. I faced the negative effects of Postpartum twice without anyone who understood nor a doctor willing to help. After silently struggling for four years with Postpartum Depression, I've dedicated six years to developing solutions to the global Maternal Health Crisis. Now, I've created a single platform for mothers to recover safely and access vital care and support needed during Postpartum. I'm really honored to be able to share this with you. Please support Motherocity by voting and sharing our Postpartum health tracker app with others.

Brianna Meshack

I’ve been an Educator in some facet my entire life! I love pouring into the next generation flooding into the beauty industry, at droves. I developed StunnerBee Beauty, as an answer to the inefficiencies that keep beauty professionals from soaring to the next level of their careers. Organization, Time Management and Mobility are the keys to being successful. In this business it will make or break you. Our line of travel accessories and luggage are specifically designed with the beauty industry in mind. We help prepare, pack and transport beauty supplies and products efficiently and methodically. We’re helping beauty bosses one bag at a time!

Aniya Cheri

Driven by the need to make a difference in mental health, Aniya founded Mountain Gaming—a platform that creates educational and entertaining games rooted in true Black historical content.

Darian Washington

I do all the things at 👉🏾 OatmealAndCompany . I'm the mother of a 16-year-old son. I have over a decade of corporate retail experience, generated hundreds of millions of dollars for top retailers as a sole contributor. I excel in areas like marketing, branding, vendor management, business development, etc. I'm also skilled negotiator, trained by the Gap Partnership. Currently I'm responsible for overseeing all aspects of the business and of its sales channels, from inception to ongoing operations. My primary objective is to establish and grown a successful global company, ensuring profitability and market presence. I set the strategic direction, drive innovation, manage sales channels and resources, and build a strong supporting team and network to execute a global vision of our oatmeal being enjoyed by the masses.

Adreannia Marie Robinson

Hi Everyone! I’m Adreannia Marie the proud Founder of Sandwich Goat Seasonings. My journey as a restaurateur identified critical gaps in the market with dietary sensitivities, a surge in health-conscious consumers, the need for sustainability, education on healthy eating, and a lack of innovation. Sandwich Goat Seasonings is dedicated to addressing these challenges head-on. We don’t just deliver excellence in taste; we embody excellence in our mission and impact. Every seasoning blend is crafted to be beneficial for gut health, practice global sustainability initiatives, and supportive of a healthy lifestyle.

Sonia Smith Kang

Hola! I’m Sonia Smith-Kang, an AfroLatina mom, entrepreneur, and founder of Mixed Up Clothing, a vibrant children's fashion brand celebrating diversity through cultural storytelling. Born in Puerto Rico then stationed on the beautiful island of O'ahu, my experiences shaped my mission to create clothing that reflects the rich, multicultural tapestry of our world. At Mixed Up Clothing, we design more than just clothes—we weave stories of inclusion, heritage, and pride. Each piece mixes and matches global influences, from bold patterns to unique textiles, empowering children to embrace their individuality and heritage. From leaving a decade as a RN and emptying my 401k to pursuing this dream, I’ve built Mixed Up Clothing into a brand that’s proudly represented at major retailers like Macy's, Target, and Nordstrom. Our mission? To ensure every child sees themselves celebrated in fashion and knows their culture matters. Together, we can make a difference by bringing cultural awareness, representation, and joy to children everywhere!

Naijean Bernard

Naijean Bernard, PhD is a psychologist turned beverage entrepreneur. She is best known for successfully launching Jeany’s Caribbean Elixirs®, a premium juice beverage brand focusing on Caribbean-inspired flavors influenced by her immigrant background. Naijean has been featured in local and national news media such as the Austin Statesman, Austin Chronicle, KXAN, Fox 7 News Austin, QVC’s Small Business Spotlight, along with cultural travel blogs such as Travel Noire. Her beverages can be found at local farmers markets and at some of Austin’s hippest and trendiest restaurants, hotels and coffeehouses.

Eno Oduok

Eno Oduok is a first generation Nigerian-American and Houston native, MBA candidate at PVAMU, writer, entrepreneur, community advocate, and an award-winning multidisciplinary creative who is passionate about amplifying the voices and stories of people in the community, especially overlooked ones. She is the founder & CEO of Naija Comm. Naija Comm is an award-winning global brand and media company, social enterprise and community dedicated to supporting Nigerian creatives and overall uplifting the African creator economy by providing opportunities/resources for them to flourish. NC provides social media & content services to companies and create content for their campaigns, which cater to diverse audiences globally. NC has partnered with notable brands, including HBO, WhatsApp, and more. Eno has done work in TV/film, advertising, and data science. She has worked on impactful initiatives along with PR, marketing, and social media campaigns for organizations, TV shows, events and more. These organizations include BET, AMC Networks, CultureCon, and more. From writing about artificial intelligence & cloud software to doing publicity for Emmy Award-winning companies and critically-acclaimed shows, such as Bloodlands, to doing social/community management for cool brands, such as McDonald’s All American Games. She has been a guest speaker on various platforms, notably the NBA and VidCon. She has been featured in Forbes, Forbes Africa, Ad Age and more. She has won awards, such as Forbes 30 under 30, Clio Awards, and more. You can find her bylines in Adweek, BellaNaija, Hewlett Packard Enterprise Data Science Institute, and more.

Peyton Walter

Peyton Walter is a Senior at Langston University. She co-founded her HBCU’s first brick-and-mortar beauty supply, Lion's Mane Beauty Supply, at the age of 20, and effectively bridged a 40-mile gap to the nearest beauty supply. Lion's Mane prides being “More Than Beauty” because they empower the multifaceted beauty of Black women. Peyton created The Hair App powered by Lion's Mane Beauty Supply to empower and educate Black women about their haircare. The Hair App is the first tech-driven black haircare app that provides personalized and interactive educational videos that teach black women how to style and maintain healthy hair.

Gia Tejeda

Gia Taijae Tejeda, earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics with a double minor in management and organization and entrepreneurship and innovation at Spelman College, and she is the Founder of All Things College. Gia is a believer in Christ, daughter, sister, trailblazer, scholar, community builder, and florist. All Things College advocates for quality education by informing students and parents nationwide on college readiness, standardized test-prep, and scholarships, ensuring an increase in minority economic growth. This line of work is extremely near and dear to Gia’s heart because she is passionate about empowering, encouraging, and equipping others to break generational glass ceilings. To date, All Things College has reached over 3,000 scholars across the United States and has helped several students receive full rides, partial scholarships awarding them over $40k in scholarships, and acceptance admission from schools like Vanderbilt, Spelman, Morehouse, Duke, East Carolina University, Emory, Hampton, Howard, NCCU, LSU, NCAT, UNC Chapel Hill, and Ga Tech. Whether she is working with her younger siblings, scholars within her community, or her Spelman Sisters, the thing that drives Gia is knowing she has the opportunity to make an impact. Gia has worked with The Harvey Foundation and was a speaker at the Girls Who Rule The World Event, she has been seen in Essence and Voyage ATL. She is a Girls Inc Bold Award 2019 Recipient and an Echoing Green Fellow. Gia is a student leader on campus and has plans to make her mark at Spelman. She is a member of the Economics Club, Sister Keeping it Real Through Service (SKIRTS), Morehouse Business Association, Future Business Leaders of Spelman, Presidential member of the National Society of Leadership and Success, and President of Girls Going Global Spelman Chapter. Gia participated in Goldman Sachs HBCU Possibilities: Market Madness 14-week program, including induction to Goldman Sachs and deep dive into key financial concepts. During the program, Gia worked diligently with her team members, also known as the “GS Dream Team”. The Dream Team competed against 125 HBCU students and placed first in the business case competition, scouring a grand prize of a $1 Million dollar grant for Spelman College.