Experience The Journey

As a first-generation entrepreneur, I began my journey by taking on side gigs—offering paperwork assistance, running errands, braiding hair, and more—all while working to build my business from a local Starbucks, as I didn’t have internet access at home. Determined to create opportunities, I prayed over a vacant building for 1.5 years, eventually raising $30,000 through side gigs to acquire it. Despite setbacks like a collapsed roof and limited access to funding, I persevered, raising over $2,000,000 through grants and fundraising to pay off the mortgage and transform the space into a thriving 33,000 sq. ft. hub. Inspired by my own struggles and the systemic barriers I overcame, I created Bootstrap Economics to highlight the resilience, challenges, and strategic thinking required to succeed as a minority entrepreneur, and to spark conversations about equity and empowerment.