⦁ In Spring 2022, adidas announced a partnership with Impact Hub and Blavity.org to launch a new program called Cultivate & B.L.O.O.M. (Building Legacies Out of Movements), accelerator program for social entrepreneurs of color.
⦁ Through knowledge sharing and funding, the program creates a thriving ecosystem for innovators to accelerate impact and advance initiatives at the intersection of sports, justice and creativity for Black and Hispanic communities.
Earlier this year, adidas announced its newest Cultivate & B.L.O.O.M. program, designed to provide entrepreneurs of color with the tools and resources to accelerate growth and maximize returns. As part of adidas United Against Racism’s commitment to honoring black women who push boundaries, Cultivate & B.L.O.O.M. continues to narrow the opportunity gap for Black and Hispanic social entrepreneurs by nurturing, co-creating and funding entrepreneurs who impact change in their communities.
17% OF BLACK WOMEN START OR RUN A NEW BUSINESS VS 10% OF WHITE WOMEN AND 15% OF WHITE MEN. DESPITE THIS FIRST AWARD, ONLY 3% OF BLACK WOMEN RUN A COMMUNITY BUSINESS. Harvard Business Review May 2021
Through a careful selection process, eight black women social entrepreneurs were selected to participate in the first-ever Cultivate & B.L.O.O.M. Cohort. The first group started in July 2022 and will end in March 2023.
During the nine-month membership, entrepreneurs will have access to a curated portfolio of resources and opportunities inside and outside the adidas ecosystem to accelerate their impact. These resources include funding, access to industry experts, mentoring, workshops, fireside chats and access to adidas networks.
⦁ Funding: adidas provides each entrepreneur with $100,000 to use to grow and develop their organization.
⦁ Mentorship: entrepreneurs are assigned mentors from a group of talented women of color at adidas in positions on product, retail, marketing, creative and digital teams and meet with them once a month.
⦁ Seminars during business hours: Every month, entrepreneurs attend seminars led by experts from adidas’ internal and external networks. Seminars cover key topics designed to help you grow your business.
⦁ Fireside Chats: Cultivate & B.L.O.O.M. invites influential women of color to host monthly talks on topics such as innovation, networking and self-care. Speakers included Felecia Hatcher, CEO and Author of Black Ambition, Ivy McGregor, Director of Parkwoods Charity, Lena Waite, Actress, Producer, Screenwriter, and Ellie Simon, Yoga and Justice Healing Host.
⦁ Tools: Members receive an annual subscription to Ureeka, the small business growth engine, and connect to the adidas community platform where they learn and interact with leaders in business, sport and the creative industries. They are also connected to many of the resources Impact Hub has to offer.
Upon completion of the program, participants become partners in the Innovation Network, a network of social impact partners who strive to drive change in their communities and organizations. This partner portfolio will allow adidas to further strengthen the diversity of our partner network, expand our footprint in key markets and deepen our relationships over time.
Ayesha Martin, Senior Director Purpose, Communities & Social Impact at adidas said: “At adidas, we are committed to changing lives through sport, and are excited about the opportunity to– through Cultivate & B.L.O.O.M.– start to address and remove systemic barriers Black & Latinx community change-makers on the rise face. This is just the beginning, with so much more to do.”
Celebrate with us our first Cultivate & B.L.O.O.M. a cohort of influential women entrepreneurs with far-reaching impact on their communities.
Annya Santana, Hood Health: Hood Health’s the primary media platform and way of life logo on the intersection of fitness, well-being and way of life. A uncommon area that makes a speciality of inclusive, practical, purposeful well-being of human beings of shadeation thru thoughtful, educational, interesting content material wherein nutritional, physical, conscious health and way of life collide. IG: @hood_health
Briana Thompson, Spiked Spin & Wellness Co: Briana released Spiked Spin & Wellness Co in 2016 to diversify the country of fitness and well-being through growing training and assets for Black girls and allies to experience visible and supported. Spiked Spin has for the reason that grown its ridership to over 4,000 human beings in NYC and gives indoor cycling, Pilates, yoga, nutrients publications and month-to-month institution intellectual check-in classes with certified therapists and psychologists. IG: @spikedwellness
Corinne Milen, WRK: Corinne based WRK, a expertise sourcing organization that specialize in connecting sports, media and enjoyment groups with a network of certified expertise, to get rid of bias and boundaries for the ones traditionally excluded from conventional hiring practices. Her infectious electricity towards “doing good” for others and in the long run paying it ahead is assisting to degree the gambling area for all. IG: @lets.do.wrk
Elisa Shankle, HealHaus: Elisa merged her ardour for included conscious and holistic tactics to wellbeing together along with her ardour for layout to create HealHaus, a one forestall store for numerous restoration services, to be had at its Brooklyn flagship vicinity or via an internet subscription-primarily based totally club or place of business program. IG: @healhaus
Jasmyne Spencer, The Black Women’s Players Collective: Serving on the executive board of BWPC, a nonprofit created by the Black players in the National Women’s Soccer League to advance opportunities for Black girls in sport and beyond, Jasmyne helps elevate the image, value and representation of Black women as athletes and leaders across industries. IG: @blackwplayercollective
Lauren Spearman, R&B Yoga: Noticing a lack of diversity in the yoga community she was so passionate about, Lauren created R&B Yoga to break down barriers to yoga for those who’ve previously not felt included in the community. By blending upbeat, modern music with beginner-friendly techniques, the classes encourage body positivity and make fitness accessible to all in a welcoming, lighthearted and fun environment. IG: @rnbyoga
Sinikiwe Dhliwayo, Naaya: Sinikiwe is committed to using wellness as a means to make society more equitable and just, which led her to found Naaya. By highlighting practitioners and instructors of diverse backgrounds and bodies, Naaya is disrupting the status quo of the wellness industry, helping change the wellness narrative from exclusive to inclusive and creating safe spaces for BIPOC folks to exist as the fullest expression of their humanity. IG: @naaya.wellness
Wanda Jones, Ahmad Arbery Foundation: To honor her son Ahmad Arbery, she established the Ahmad Arbery Foundation to empower, serve and support black boys on their mental health journey. IG: @ahmaudarberyfoundation
The next cohort, which will focus on equipping and empowering Black and Hispanic social entrepreneurs, will begin in 2023, with cohort applications open in June. To be eligible, entrepreneurs must be part of a business or organization:
⦁ Located in Portland, Oregon, where adidas North America is headquartered
⦁ Early in development (first 1-3 years)
⦁ At least one Black person have Person and/or Latino Founder
⦁ Whose goal is to remove barriers to access and security at the intersection of community, justice and creativity.
About adidas
adidas is a global leader in the sporting goods industry. Headquartered in Herzogenaurach/Germany, the company employs more than 61,000 people across the globe and generated sales of € 21.2 billion in 2021.
About Impact Hub
Impact Hub is a global network catalyzing entrepreneurial action and business for good.
With 108+ locations across 60+ countries and 25,000+ people driving change, they connect
entrepreneurs and innovators to large organizations, investors, and the public sector. Why?
To enable inclusive and sustainable innovation – at scale.
About Blavity.org
Blavity.org is a new racial equity and social impact organization created by the founders of Blavity Inc. Blavity.org Foundation is not-for-profit group to drive Black economic advancement forward through entrepreneurial fellowship programs featuring grants, education, and sponsorship. A groundbreaking social-cause organization, Blavity.org’s Foundation has been created by Blavity Inc., the leading media company for Black culture and millennials. Blavity.org was built to further Blavity Inc.’s social impact through the development of digital programs designed to advance economic progress and racial equity for Black entrepreneurs. Blavity.org understands the need of a foundation to drive, support, and amplify Black economic achievement and mobility.