A Black business owner standing in front of a row of small storefronts as a growth line rises toward the sun.

The '8 Out of 10' Myth: What the Data Actually Says About Black Business Survival

The most repeated statistic about Black business failure has no study behind it. The federal and bank data tell a different story, one where the gap is real, smaller than advertised, and mostly about cash.

By Pharoh Martin·October 22, 2026

Latest

A founder works at a laptop in a sunlit workshop office

Startups

Inside the Bootstrapped Brands Quietly Outgrowing Their Venture-Backed Rivals

Sample article. A cohort of Black-owned consumer companies is choosing revenue over rounds — and the results are reshaping how founders think about growth.

By Pharoh Martin·October 21, 2026

An investor and a founder in conversation at a conference table

Capital

What a Seed Term Sheet Actually Says — Clause by Clause

Sample article. Valuation gets the headlines, but liquidation preferences, pro-rata rights, and board composition decide who wins later.

By Pharoh Martin·October 20, 2026

Printed financial charts and a notebook on a wooden desk

Data & Research

By the Numbers: Where Black Founders Find Their First Dollar

Sample article. Personal savings, friends and family, and grants still outpace venture capital as the first source of funding for most new businesses.

By Pharoh Martin·October 19, 2026

Three founders plan at a whiteboard in a co-working space

Playbooks

A 30-Day Playbook for Finding Your First Ten Customers

Sample article. A week-by-week plan for validating demand before you write a line of code or sign a lease.

By Pharoh Martin·October 18, 2026

By the Numbers

0.5%

Approximate share of total U.S. venture capital raised by Black founders in 2023.

Source: Crunchbase News, funding to Black founders analysis, 2024. Figure shown as an editorial highlight; verify against the latest release before publication.