Comcast NBCUniversal Celebrates Women Entrepreneurs on International Women's Day
AAccording to a study by the National Association of Women Business Owners, 42 percent of businesses in the U.S. are owned by women, with more than 1,800 new businesses being started every day. However, according to the same study, women-owned businesses are growing at only half the rate of those run by men, namely because women struggle to access capital and other resources to help them succeed.At Comcast NBCUniversal, we are committed to supporting women business owners through a variety of initiatives. In late 2020, we launched Comcast RISE, which stands for “Representation, Investment, Strength and Empowerment,” to provide underrepresented small business owners with access to the digital tools and funding they need not just to survive, but to thrive. The program also invests in ongoing mentorship and resources to help businesses succeed over the long-term. Earlier this year, we expanded eligibility to all women-owned businesses and the program is on track to support 13,000 businesses by the end of 2022.
Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day provide the perfect moment to shine a spotlight on women entrepreneurs who inspire us as they pursue their passions and bring their vision to life. We’re thrilled to share three stories of incredible women entrepreneurs who were recently selected as recipients of the Comcast RISE program:
As a Queer, Afro-Latina customer, and sustainable fashion entrepreneur in Miami, Joanis recognized that her communities lacked representation, accessible retail, and creative safe spaces. The result was Kalani + Wolf, a sustainable fashion brand that is locally handcrafted from vegan fabric. Through Comcast RISE, Joanis received complimentary creative production for a TV commercial.
