Women Founders; the in between.

It was during the dot-com bubble that I realized technology was a passion. I had no tech background, but while in college I decided to start a tech company. I didn’t second guess or question the risks. I was fascinated to see so many companies started by college students, dropouts, people with talent, desire, dedication but no money. With talent, passion, drive, trials and tests, I believe I can do it. Bringing SAAS to life for all intents and purposes, targeting hip-hop artists, entrepreneurs, artists and the community. We thought that if we provided a service that combined marketing, community, product sales, event and entertainment sponsorship, it would meet the needs of the time. That need is to give hip-hop the opportunity to go out regionally and grow our business in a billion-plus market. Hip hop is growing and I see it growing over 100 times in 10 years. However, it is considered a trend and is policed ​​against certain racial groups. Mainstream white America doesn’t see their children being part of hip-hop culture. I see them listening to music, memorizing lyrics, showing up at clubs to hear singers perform. It’s only a matter of time before they don these clothes, break dance, or even become rappers. I’m not a psychic, I’m just a new bit of history, and new history will be copied, adopted, and then become mainstream. My startup hasn’t been around long enough to participate in this kind of adoption. You see, I am an anomaly. I’m a POC, female, have no coding skills, and am not part of the establishment (Silicon Valley). I was young and naive and had no idea that women couldn’t be taken seriously. Please forgive me for thinking that I have worked since I was 13, served in the military, been responsible for the lives of over 200 men and women, and have entrepreneurial experience. I didn’t know that these weren’t the traits investors were looking for in startup founders. I found myself learning something new about women, and that is that I am not invisible. We are never invisible. We brought life to an entire country. Leadership, maintenance, care, support are the lifeblood of most endeavors and everything human creation. This is actually a fear on both sides, created by those who fear that our abilities are a matter of belief and that our divine design is inferior. We really have nothing to prove. We’ve done this over and over again. What we must understand is that we are capable of anything. Our femininity or masculinity is not defined by our appearance, our job, our motherhood, the clothes we wear or don’t wear. We are divinely designed to create and experience. We live life to the fullest possible extent. Let no one define, set boundaries or limit our potential. Women before us have blazed a trail. So if you find yourself facing an obstacle, know that it is an illusion and a reality check that can teach you something about yourself. Learn the lesson and the illusion of obstacles will disappear.