Скачать или смотреть Startup Standup Ep. 1, S2 | Nile Creates an Equitable E-Commerce Ecosystem for Black-Owned Brands

Say hello to Khadijah Robinson, founder of Nile, a blossoming e-commerce website and digital platform that connects online shoppers to products sold from Black-owned businesses. Not only does Nile drive consumers to these businesses through a dynamic search engine, but it also curates and promotes resources so people can learn more about these companies and their founders, helping fuel more production.

During my chat with Khadijah, who's in Washington, D.C, but due to COVID-19 currently working out of Lagos, Nigeria, we got a snapshot of where her company stands presently following their launch, which happened right before the pandemic hit in early March. After hearing about some of Nile's early successes, including Khadijah winning a pitch competition with Black Girl Ventures (an organization that works to create access to capital for Black and Brown women founders), we got into a great question and answer session about the company's greatest challenges and next steps.

Watch the latest SUSU episode, where Khadijah and I talk about funding tips for companies, red flags to avoid sourcing early investors, how to state your company's mission clearly, and the key to valuation projection in young startups. Stay tuned for more episodes of Startup Standup, a series where I mentor and advise female founders who are looking to raise funds while navigating industry gender biases and brand challenges, and follow me on LinkedIn:   / marclore  .

Editor’s Note: After reviewing the cut of this episode, I wish I would have taken more time to think through the answer to Khadijah’s second question around her being a Black woman navigating potential funding. I realize my answer didn’t necessarily hit her question head-on and should have acknowledged the disappointing lack of diversity in the Venture Capital world and the difficulties women, especially Black women, face in raising money. My advice to Khadijah is honestly no different than to anyone else – create a tight, elevator pitch about your mission and vision…if potential investors are enthusiastic about it and want to learn more then that’s great. If they don’t and jump immediately to the next step, then that’s a red flag you know where you stand. I also encourage Khadijah to look for investors with similar core values and a diverse portfolio – not necessarily from a business perspective, but more from a diverse set of founders. Anu Duggal of Female Founders Fund and Kirsten Green of Forerunner Ventures are VCs she should definitely talk to.