The $100 Billion Takeover: How Black & Brown Women Are Building Empires Online & Offline

Let’s talk about something huge a takeover that’s been quietly happening in plain sight, with the power, creativity, and brilliance of Black and Brown women leading the charge. We're not just talking about side hustles or passion projects anymore. We're talking empires. Real, thriving businesses. And here’s the kicker: these women are collectively building something that’s worth over $100 billion… and counting.

This isn’t your typical rags-to-riches tale. It's about resilience, boldness, innovation, and unapologetic ambition. From beauty brands born on kitchen counters to tech startups shaking up Silicon Valley, Black and Brown women are not just showing up, they're taking over.

The Rise of the Digital Empire

Let’s start with the internet. The online world has been a game-changer for marginalized communities, especially women of color. It removed so many of the gatekeepers that previously stood between them and success. Don’t have investors? No problem. Build your brand on Instagram, drop your products via Shopify, and watch the magic happen.

Take someone like Melissa Butler. She started The Lip Bar in her kitchen while working on Wall Street. She got rejected on Shark Tank, but kept pushing. Now? Her brand is in Target stores across the U.S. She’s built a multimillion-dollar empire rooted in inclusivity and boldness, and she didn’t have to water it down to do it.

And it’s not just beauty. From finance to fitness, fashion to food, Black and Brown women are showing up everywhere. They’re influencers, content creators, and business owners who understand how to use the algorithm to their advantage. They don’t just go viral they create movements.

Offline, They’re Building Too

While the digital world opened doors, the physical world wasn’t left behind. Black and Brown women are opening brick-and-mortar shops, salons, restaurants, wellness centers, co-working spaces, and everything in between. And they’re doing it in style.

Think of Pinky Cole, founder of Slutty Vegan. She turned a late-night craving into a $100 million vegan fast-food chain. She didn’t just open a restaurant; she built a community around it. People waited in line for hours because she turned a burger into a cultural event. And she gives back, funding scholarships, supporting entrepreneurs, and hiring from the community.

These women aren’t just about profit. They’re about purpose. They’re rewriting what it means to be a successful businesswoman and they’re lifting others as they rise.

Why Now? Why This Moment?

You might be wondering-why are we seeing this massive surge now?

It’s been brewing for a while, honestly. Black and Brown women have always been creative, resourceful, and entrepreneurial. But they were often underfunded, underestimated, and overlooked.

Now, with more access to tech, platforms, information, and each other, they're reclaiming power on their terms. Social media gave them a voice. E-commerce gave them independence. And the community gave them fuel.

Let’s not forget the pandemic’s role, too. It disrupted everything, but it also inspired a wave of people, especially women of color to stop waiting for permission and start building what they’d always dreamed of.

Let’s Talk Numbers

When we say "$100 billion takeover," we're not just throwing around buzzwords. This is backed by real economic power.

According to American Express’s report, Black women are the fastest-growing group of entrepreneurs in the United States. Between 2014 and 2019, the number of businesses owned by Black women grew by 50%. That’s five-zero percent. Latinx women? Not far behind.

And these aren’t just side hustles. They’re creating jobs, generating wealth, and changing the game.

Even Beyoncé knows what’s up her Ivy Park brand and multi-million dollar partnerships are rooted in the same entrepreneurial spirit. Rihanna, too. She didn’t just become a billionaire because of music Fenty Beauty and Savage X Fenty are masterclasses in inclusive branding and digital-first business building.

The Blueprint: How They're Doing It

Let’s break down the secret sauce. What’s making these women so damn successful?

1. Authenticity Over Everything

No more code-switching, no more dimming down. Black and Brown women are showing up as their full selves afros, accents, ancestors, and all. That authenticity is what attracts customers and fans.

People want real. They crave connection. And when you’ve got someone saying, “Hey, I built this for us,” it hits differently.

2. Community Is Currency

These women aren’t just building brands, they're building tribes. The comment sections, the Facebook groups, the pop-up events… they all add up. And these communities are loyal.

It's not unusual to see people support a launch just because they love the founder’s story. It’s deeper than marketing, it's movement-building.

3. Digital Hustle + Strategy

Instagram. TikTok. YouTube. Podcasts. Email newsletters. These women know how to move across platforms, adapt trends, and still stay on brand.

They also know how to leverage data, run ads, negotiate brand deals, and build funnels. It’s not just vibes, it's vision and strategy.

4. Collaboration Over Competition

Forget the “crabs in a barrel” myth. Today’s empire builders are collaborating, cross-promoting, and building tables together. They understand that when one wins, everyone wins.

You’ll see stylists shouting out photographers, wellness coaches doing lives with dietitians, and makeup artists featuring each other’s products. It’s a network and it's powerful.

5. Multiple Streams, Always

They’re not putting all their eggs in one basket. You’ll see one woman running an online boutique, hosting a podcast, launching a course, and selling merch all at once. That’s not hustle culture. That’s smart empire-building.

Even someone like Tabitha Brown, who started with simple vegan recipes on TikTok, now has a cookbook, a Target line, a YouTube series, and more.

The Challenges? Oh, They're Still Real

Let’s keep it real, it's not all glam. Access to funding remains a huge hurdle. Venture capital for Black and Brown women? Still under 1% of all investment dollars. That’s ridiculous.

Then there’s racism, sexism, algorithm bias, and good ol’ burnout. Many of these women are juggling motherhood, full-time jobs, caregiving, and still somehow showing up every day to build something from scratch.

But despite all of it, they keep going. That’s what makes this takeover so powerful. It’s happening against the odds.

Offline Example: From Community Roots to Corporate Clients

Want a great example of someone mixing purpose with professional success? Let’s shine a light on a lesser-known story that’s just as inspiring.

There’s a cleaning company called Sanitairllc, and while it might sound like your everyday business, it’s got a powerful backstory. It was started with community wellness in mind and built on the idea that essential services are powerful tools of empowerment especially when they provide jobs to underserved populations and center dignity in labor. It’s businesses like these, started by everyday women with big hearts and bold visions, that are laying bricks in this empire. Literally and figuratively.

From Haircare to Healthcare: No Industry Left Untouched

This takeover isn’t industry-specific. It’s across the board.

Tech? Black women like Arlan Hamilton are investing millions into other marginalized founders.

Finance? Tiffany “The Budgetnista” Aliche turned budgeting tips into a financial literacy empire and helped pass a law in New Jersey requiring financial education in schools.

Fashion? Aurora James, founder of the 15 Percent Pledge, made waves by calling on major retailers to dedicate shelf space to Black-owned businesses. That pledge? It moved real dollars and shifted retail culture.

Wellness? Black and Brown women are redefining self-care beyond bath bombs. They're creating mental health platforms, culturally affirming yoga spaces, and trauma-informed coaching.

This Isn’t a Trend. It’s a transformation.

Let’s get one thing straight: this isn’t a moment. It’s a movement. It’s not going away because it’s not built on hype, it’s built on hustle, heritage, and heart.

There’s a new generation coming up right behind this one. Little girls watching their moms, aunties, and big sisters build from scratch. Teenagers launching apps in high school. College students starting candle brands in their dorms.

The ripple effect is real.

How You Can Support the Takeover

It’s easy to celebrate the success stories, but let’s talk about action. If you’re reading this and wondering how to support this $100 billion wave, here’s how:

• Buy from Black and Brown women-owned brands regularly, not just during Black History Month.

• Share their content. One repost can change everything.

• Invest if you can. Even a $50 Kickstarter backing makes a difference.

• Write reviews, offer mentorship, recommend them for gigs.

• Listen. Learn. Celebrate loudly.
  

This isn't about charity, it's about recognition. It's about understanding the value, brilliance, and business savvy that Black and Brown women bring to the table every single day.

So yeah, the $100 billion takeover? It's happening right now. In kitchens, on TikTok, at pitch meetings, in boutique pop-ups, and through Instagram stories that turn into six-figure product drops. It's happening because Black and Brown women refused to wait their turn and decided to build their own.

Written by Sara M; infoguestposters@gmail.com