Watch The Black Startup Series Trailer

Watch Full Episodes Of The Black Startup Series

The Black Startup Series at Harvard University

From the Director and Host of The Black Startup Series, Nate Araya:

Starting a business from ground zero is challenging, especially when one is left with little to no blueprint to follow. Within my own entrepreneurial journey I have constantly found myself leading and learning, simultaneously. 

As I constantly looked around for inspiration and direction throughout my entrepreneurial journey, I began to realize the blueprint was found within my footprints. Each step that I took on a road filled with uncertainty served as a marginal analysis to minimize the doubt and maximize the learning. 

Hence, our new project, The Black Startup Series was born. This new documentary series, powered by Ground Zero Coffee in partnership with EvoZen Design Studio, is focused on helping aspiring entrepreneurs grow as successful business owners.

Each episode explores the intersection of inspiration and impact of Black creativity and innovation through entrepreneurship and enterprise. 

Our guests featured within The Black Startup Series includes the amazing Paola Mathé, Founder of Fanm Djanm, whose work is featured in the New York Times, Vogue, and at Met Gala; JP Udenenwu, Founder of JP’s Pancake Company, who is featured in Forbes for his exceptional work with launching the first gourmet dessert food truck centered around pancakes; and Kobla Tetey, Founder of Break The Box, whose work is focused on increasing African American and minority homeownership through financial literacy, access, data, and epigenetics.

My hope is for you all to see yourselves within these stories of heroic humans that have overcome all odds to create solutions and meet needs within today’s business market. 

Our ultimate purpose with this project is to make an impact - to strengthen the narrative of black-owned businesses, build financial literacy, and bridge divides of economic support.

Impact can’t always be measured but it will always be felt.

Meet the Black Startup Series Featured Guests

Episode 1 featuring Paola Mathé

Haitian by birth and an artist at heart, Paola Mathé uses her inspiring style and love for color in her work as a social entrepreneur and creative director of Fanm Djanm.

Episode 2 featuring Kobla Tetey

Investing in what gives you the maximum return, people, has always been the viewpoint that has guided the Break the Box Founder, Kobla Tetey. Founded in 2019 Break the Box’s vision is to prove that all stakeholders, investors and community win when equitable solutions to the homeownership gap are created.

Episode 3 featuring JP Udenenwu

JP Udenenwu was working as a cook at a Mexican restaurant when he saw that his manager had left behind pancake mix. The first batches he made for his coworkers led him on a journey to opening Austin's first food truck serving deluxe pancakes, which are made from scratch and include toppings like pecans, raspberries, bacon, cookie butter. Since its founding in 2019, the food truck has served more than 20,000 people.

Meet The Creators of The Black Startup Series