Leonard and Yolanda Young, a couple from Wilmington, DE, saw the challenges that Black entrepreneurs face in their everyday operations; their businesses can’t get publicity easily, funding is a prevalent issue, and money often doesn’t stay in circulation within Black communities, anyway. Their answer to these problems? The National Black Guide.
With more than one million users and nearly 250,000 followers on Instagram, NBG has become a go-to resource for those looking to shop Black. Users can use their free app that was relaunched in February, and read news about the national Black community on their website. Any Black-owned business can join the registry and advertise on their page. In addition, NBG has expanded into private lending for the real estate sector.
“We are excited to relaunch this innovative app that will help stimulate economic development in our communities and recycle the black dollar,” says Mr. Young. “The best part of the Black Guide app is that the content is 90% user-generated. As people add their events and businesses to the website (once approved), they are available to be accessed through the website and app.”
Mr. Young says that he and his wife were motivated to start the National Black Guide from their own experiences as entrepreneurs: “Both of us, being Black entrepreneurs, we understand the struggle.” On top of helping Leonard with NBG, Yolanda is a serial entrepreneur and the founder of Business Babes, a successful entrepreneur-coaching platform for women. “This is a form of giving back. This is a form of helping to recycle our dollars. This is a form for us to be able to pay it forward and really help our community,” she says.
You can view all the current black-owned listings in Wilmington, Delaware on the NBG here.
Follow National Black Guide on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Follow Leonard and Yolanda Young on Instagram.
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