10 Black-Owned, Purpose-Led Brands And Why We Love Them

In past eras, Black-owned businesses worked as a way to reach inward, with founders building up communities through hard work, grit, compassion, and ingenuity. Many Black-owned businesses continue to embody these traits. Now, having overcome the barriers their ancestors fought against, they can operate in markets all across the country, and even the globe. Each founder brings their own unique style to the fabric of our economy, offering something new by doing things their way—while still honoring the foundational work and determination embodied by their ancestors.

Much like the seven principles of Kwanzaa, many Black-owned businesses are built on community-oriented values, which honor the contributions of past generations while making space for future generations. This ethos is a big part of what the B Corp Movement was founded on. The B Corp Certification acts as a megaphone, echoing an already determined, purpose-driven voice.

This article applauds Black-owned, purpose-led brands already living out this mission—and reminds them they don’t have to do it alone. B Lab has an active Black-owned business community and several resources to support you on this journey. 

Read on to know the brands that made our list and how a B Corp Certification validates your mission. 

10 Outstanding Black-Owned Businesses with Mission-Aligned Values

Edward Freeman once said: “Great companies endure because they manage to get stakeholder interests aligned.” And these Black-owned companies are on the right track.

Seed 2 Shirt

This woman-owned, earth-friendly cotton apparel company is empowering Black farmers, cooperatives, and consumers by investing in organic, fair-trade products and community-building programs, such as the Farmer Enrichment Program, which supports soil health, early planting needs, and legacy planning for U.S. and African farmers. 

Gemini Energy Solutions

Gemini is redefining clean energy standards by offering affordable investment-grade energy audits for small commercial buildings. It’s also addressing racial and gender bias in the green energy sector by hiring women, people of color, and folks from rural communities. 

Wellness Worx

This personalized wellness platform uses an 8-dimensional framework to provide proactive health solutions to local communities. Founded by Ann Cunningham, this innovative wellness platform provides access to culturally aligned professionals and community engagement.   

Harlem Hops

Harlem Hops is an NYC-based African-American bar offering an array of rare craft beers, meals, and event planning services. As a way to support the growth of people of color, many of their beers come from family-owned small businesses. 

The Lip Bar

Melissa Butler founded The Lip Bar (TLB) to offer safe, vegan makeup products to people of color. This Black and resilient founder braved through a Shark Tank rejection to grow TLB into a national brand that’s now available in Target, Amazon, Walmart, and CVS stores. 

Kahawa 1893 Coffee

This specialty coffee brand is the first black-owned, woman-owned coffee brand to take up shelf space at Trader Joe’s. Margaret Nyamumbo, a third-generation farmer and former banker, is transforming coffee tips into an empowerment fund for indigenous female farmers and school-aged girls in Kenya, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. 

Inclusive Data Solutions

This Black-owned grant consulting firm is helping Black founders access funding and market research data to build thriving businesses. Committed to digital equity and justice for underfunded ethnic communities, Inclusive Data Solutions has helped several Black-owned companies raise over $3 million in monthly grants. 

InnoPysch

Dr. Charmain Jackman founded InnoPsych, a black-owned mental health platform, for people of color. Not only does it match people of color with therapists of color in their communities, but it also helps Black and ethnic therapists launch their practice. 

Zuli Ali and Associates

This father-daughter duo is fighting for Blacks in and out of the courtroom. This ‘underdog’ law firm takes on challenging cases in criminal, immigration, family, and personal injury law. It also founded a jury reform initiative to advocate for more Black jurors and is educating Black youths on street protection and interaction with law enforcement.

The Creator’s Law Firm

This Black-owned, woman-owned legal and business consulting firm prioritizes legacy cases that protect the intellectual property of creative entrepreneurs across all 50 states in the United States. 

Good Business Deserves Validation: Why Become A B Corp? 

It’s simple: because you were born to do good. Businesses have immense capacity to effect positive social and economic change without sacrificing profit. At B Lab U.S. & Canada, we’re helping purpose-driven, impact-oriented brands stay committed to their promise of doing good business. We want you to move from claiming to do good business to showing you do. 

Your stakeholders deserve to know you’re sticking to your promise of uplifting your local community regardless of the economic or social climate—and a B Corp Certification says just that. It signals to prospective and active consumers, investors, and collaborators that your word is your bond—literally. 

Today, 60% of consumers assert that a B Corp logo influences their purchasing decisions, and 86% note it reinforces trust. Wouldn’t you want to have that advantage? Going through something as rigorous as the B Corp Certification echoes that you ‘care’ about not just how you’re perceived, but how you deliver value. 

If you’re ready to go from claiming to showing you do ‘good’ business, check out our free B Impact Assessment tool, and start measuring your brand’s social and environmental sustainability performance today.

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