Founding your own company is no easy feat, often made even more difficult when you’re a Black woman. To be an entrepreneur takes dedication, the ability to be flexible and decisive at the same time, and—of course—funding. Yet, according to Crunchbase, companies led by Black women typically receive less than 1% of all venture capital investment—even though they account for 42% of new women-owned businesses.
Specific to the beauty industry, Black women have long struggled to find brands that are created with their needs in mind (limited shade offerings, untested efficacy claims, and irritating ingredients, just to name a few common shortcomings). This leads to an even greater need for entrepreneurship in the space.
Inclusivity and innovation are as important as ever, so we’re using our platform to highlight the work of three wonderful Black owned beauty brands that deserve your support.
Here, Maya Njie, Krys Lunardo, and Keta Burke-Williams share more about their brands, their sources of inspiration, and the best advice they’ve ever received.
What’s the best advice you’ve gotten so far? Who gave it to you?
Krys Lunardo, Founder and CEO of Dealbodies: “The best advice I received came from a colleague of mine, a venture capitalist. She emphasized, even if you’re comfortably bootstrapped, it’s crucial to first leverage your family and friends before seeking external capital. The level of care and dedication you put into managing the funds from those closest to you should mirror the approach you take with future investors.”
Maya Njie, Founder and CEO of Maya Njie: “‘You can’t put a price on your health’. I hear my friend Katie say when I try and get out of exercising in the morning because I have too much to do at work. My partner often says something similar: ‘There are no work tasks that cannot wait one hour’. The bottom line is that nothing is more important than your physical and emotional wellbeing. Be sure to exercise but also to rest and do nothing when you need it.”
Keta Burke-Williams, Founder & CEO of Ourside: “One of the best pieces of advice I’ve received came from my perfumer, Darryl. He once told me, ‘You shouldn’t have let them put this on you.’ This was in response to me feeling pressured by an impossible deadline. It was a wake-up call. As a Black woman business owner, I realized that while external pressures will always exist, I have to take the reins and trust my vision. There will always be things outside my control, but no one else should dictate how I build my business.”
What gap in the market made you want to start your own brand?
Krys Lunardo, Founder and CEO of Dealbodies: “Dealbodies was crafted to eliminate unnecessary fillers and deliver clinically-fuelled body concentrates that effectively treat (re)active skin conditions with precision—without being derailed by dilution. I was raised surrounded by agriculture and fisheries in the Bahamas, with a family legacy of pineapple farming and stone crabbing stretching across generations. Living off the land was central to my upbringing. Removing water as an ingredient was a deliberate, sustainable choice—both for our bodies and our community—especially considering the global freshwater crisis and its impact on the very marginalized communities I come from.”
Maya Njie, Founder and CEO of Maya Njie: “When I started, I wasn’t thinking about filling a gap as much as creating something that felt personal and meaningful. I wanted to translate my Swedish and Gambian heritage into scent in a way that wasn’t being explored at the time—through olfactory storytelling with a strong visual connection. The fragrance industry can often feel either highly commercial or too exclusive, and I wanted to create something approachable, where people could connect with scent on a deeper, more personal level.”
Keta Burke-Williams, Founder & CEO of Ourside: “I’ve always loved scent as my way of escape and reconnecting to my spirit, but I didn’t see enough perspectives like mine reflected in the fragrance industry. As the daughter of a Jamaican immigrant, growing up mostly in a small town in Ohio, I often felt like an outsider. The fragrance world, even indie brands, didn’t reflect my experiences, dreams, or even my scent preferences. Many were also male-founded. I wanted to create something different—a brand that invites people into a world where they feel seen, celebrated, and connected through scent.”
What advice would you give to someone who wants to start their own brand?
Krys Lunardo, Founder and CEO of Dealbodies: “New brands are emerging every day—my advice is to lead with purpose. While it seems easy to create a product that generates a viral moment with short-term profit, those fleeting trends must transform into a lasting impact with practical, long-term solutions. Embracing the inevitable challenges along the way is crucial to reaping the rewards.”
Maya Njie, Founder and CEO of Maya Njie: “Take your time to build something that feels authentic to you. It’s easy to get caught up in trends or the pressure to launch quickly, but creating a strong foundation -whether that’s refining your craft, understanding your audience, or developing a clear vision – will serve you in the long run. Be patient, stay curious, and don’t be afraid to experiment and evolve.”
Keta Burke-Williams, Founder & CEO of Ourside: “There’s no one way to do it. Every success story looks different when you get behind the scenes. The path to building a business is never a straight line—there’s no singular “right” or “wrong” way, and there is very rarely an easy way. It’s just the way that works for you at this time in your journey.”
