GreaterHealth Pharmacy & Wellness

Origin: MO | Grant Awarded: 2023 | Status: Active

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What is GreaterHealth Pharmacy & Wellness?

GreaterHealth Pharmacy & Wellness (GreaterHealth) is an innovative pharmacy model that combines culturally responsive pharmacy services with medically tailored dietary meals to provide a comprehensive path to improved healthcare outcomes for underserved communities. Patients experiencing hypertension, kidney disease, high cholesterol, or diabetes are paired with a pharmacist and dietician, and receive free home medication and meal delivery services. This innovative approach to the last touchpoint in the healthcare journey serves to transform the lives of those furthest away from opportunity. This solution has the potential to impact 200,000 Missouri residents and 100M+ people across the U.S.

Company Leadership

MARCUS HOWARD, Ph.D.

Founder & CEO

Dr. Marcus Howard is a North City St. Louis native and graduate of Metro Academic and Classical High School. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in Exercise Science and his Ph.D. from North Carolina State University in Human Development. He returned home in 2020 to start GreaterHealth Pharmacy & Wellness, the very first radically inclusive, culturally responsive pharmacy in the U.S. GreaterHealth is already blazing a trail in the city of St. Louis in its first year of operations, offering free delivery, medically tailored meals, and serving residents who have historically been forgotten in the healthcare space. GreaterHealth is growing fast and expects to be a national pharmacy brand by 2026, ensuring that all people have access to greater health and a greater quality of life.

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Shades of Color

Origin: MO | Grant Awarded: 2023 | Status: Active

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What is Shades of Color?

Shades of Color provides a diverse, equitable, inclusive, and accessible global platform using artificial intelligence and augmented reality to empower beauty brands and consumers with personalized solutions to buy and sell products for their unique needs, cultures, and lifestyles.

Their interactive personalized beauty marketplace enhances the shopping experience by connecting beauty brands and beauty shoppers with unique skin tones, skin conditions, and allergies.

Company Leadership

TASHARA EARL

FOUNDER & CEO

Tashara Earl is a multifaceted entrepreneur, artist & licensed cosmetologist. Growing up in the Baden Neighborhood of North St. Louis led her to embark on the beauty, entertainment, and entrepreneurship journey. Like millions of others, Tashara struggled to find products that worked for her unique needs. With her experience, Tashara passionately founded Shades of Color to address an unmet beauty industry need and empower economic growth in our communities.

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TASHA EARL

Co-founder & CTO

Tasha Earl is the CTO of Shades of Color and a driven senior advisor in the Missouri Air National Guard. Her expertise is enhancing organizational effectiveness, fostering cultural diversity and inclusion, and adapting to evolving operational and technological demands. Tasha earned her B.S. in Information Technology from Lindenwood University. Over the past nine years, Tasha has honed her skills through a series of roles: Systems and Database Manager, Cyber Security Liaison, and IT Specialist.

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michelle storey

co-founder

Michelle Storey is a licensed cosmetologist with 30 years of experience and over 14 years of commercial insurance experience. As a Business Developer, Michelle’s affectionate personality ensures an exceptional client experience.

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Top Tutors For Us

Origin: MO | Grant Awarded: 2023 | Status: Active

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What is Top Tutors For Us?

By Black tutors, for Black students, Top Tutor for Us designs educational programs and curriculums for predominately Black public schools. These curricula work hand-in-hand with the company’s supplementary private tutoring services to provide the younger generation equal opportunity to succeed in the college admission process. Top Tutors has also developed a custom suite of resources including prep books, online videos, and practice problems so that students have access to everything they need to succeed. As an outside source, Top Tutors has the benefit of connecting students with a mentor who has had similar experiences, creating a network. This specialized connection is something many other generic tutoring services are unable to offer. We keep our students in the system so that after they graduate, they can become a Top Tutor, creating a community and cycle of teaching each other.

Company Leadership

ANGELICA HARRIS

FOUNDER & CEO

Angelica Harris earned her third WashU degree, a Masters in Computer Science. Before college, she received $1.5M+ in scholarships, gaining entry to top universities. Starting with a 16 ACT score, she self-improved to 32. Now, for 7 years, she aids students in similar journeys. Noticing low Black student numbers in prestigious institutions during undergrad, she founded a business guiding Black students to boost their university prospects.

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We Hear You

Origin: Peoria, IL |

Grant Awarded: 2023 | Status: Active

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What is We Hear You?

We Hear You® is a startup company that creates accessible technology for those who are often not placed at the forefront of innovation. We Hear You® is currently working on two inventions that are focused on inclusivity and accessibility. The first is a two-way sign language translation software that is able to translate ASL through hand recognition and then translate speech to ASL. The second invention, Push™ , is a revolutionary solution for transforming ADA doors into automatic doors. With a simple press of a personal button, individuals with mobility exceptionalities can easily access public spaces, improving their independence and ease of mobility. This device is versatile; it can be worn as a wristband, attached to a wheelchair, or clipped to a keychain. The low-cost assistive devices empower businesses to accommodate their customers, ensuring a more accessible and inclusive environment. By prioritizing diversity, equity, and inclusion as the foundation of innovation, We Hear You® strives to create a world where everyone can navigate their everyday lives with ease and dignity.

Company Leadership

Pierre Paul

FOUNDER & CEO

Pierre Paul was born in Brazil, grew up shortly in Guyana, and then landed in Ohio. At a young age, he faced extreme poverty, xenophobia and racism for simply being different. Armed with these experiences, he grew up with an unwavering determination to ensure that others who fell outside the “status quo” did not feel unwelcome in the world. Motivated by a vision for change and a burning desire to address the concerns of individuals whose voices often go unheard, Pierre embarked on a mission to establish We Hear You®.

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BETHANY COURI

Co-founder

Bethany is a young, driven Ed.D. student and professional. She works at Bradley University overseeing campus Residential Living. In addition, she serves as the Chief Operating Officer for We Hear You, LLC to ensure that we as a society are proactive with inclusivity and accessibility instead of being reactive to others’ needs.

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Bold Xchange

Origin: NC| Grant Awarded: 2020 | Status: Active

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What is Bold Xchange?

Bold Xchange is the most convenient way to buy black online. The platform emphasizes ease, vetting brands with on-camera product reviews, and guaranteeing fast shipping for every order. With a curated collection of products from black-owned brands, Bold Xchange takes the guesswork out of supporting black businesses.

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Company Leadership

Danielle Deavens

Co-Founder & Co-CEO

Danielle Deavens is the co-founder of Bold Xchange, a platform that is making it easier to find and shop black-owned brands. She was a 2018 Venture for America fellow in Charlotte, where she worked as Director of Customer Success for a local shopping app. Danielle went to Elon University and prior to the VFA fellowship she was on the editorial teams at Brides and Food Network Magazine in New York City.

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doug spencer

Co-Founder & Co-CEO

Doug Spencer is cofounder of Bold Xchange. He holds a BA in Business Management from Elon University. After graduating in 2016, he worked in marketing at both a Fortune 500 telecommunications company and an impact investing startup. He is now in his third and final year at Georgetown Law School, learning about the intersection of law and social impact.

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