Afri-Soul Changes Business Model To Maximize Impact and Better Serve Black Businesses

Last month, Afri-Soul became a 501 3c non-profit corporation and changed its name to Afri-Soul Education Center.

Afri-Soul is a black small business incubator that aims to help African American entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses. It was founded by Drs. Darlene and Mike Little, to offer resources to African Americans looking to start their own businesses.  The incubator opened in 2019, with 1 associate business,  ending 2019 with 10 businesses. Currently, there are 24 small businesses at the facility with a wide range of products and services.

The 10,000 sq. foot building houses workspace and the infrastructure needed for innovators and small business owners to develop and try out their ideas and products and at the same time get the needed support.  The owner’s expectation is that the Afri-Soul incubator will have a positive economic impact on the community

Afri-Soul is not just about buying and selling. It also hosts a variety of events that are of interest to the community. It has become a hub for networking, community dialogue, and mutual support.

Entrepreneurs are encouraged to apply to become associate businesses at the facility.  Drs. Darlene and Mike Little hope that, by becoming a non-profit, Afri-Soul will attract grants to diversify its funding, and increase its impact. They also hope that more African Americans thinking about starting a business will bring their ideas to the incubator, and thus, achieve their mission to foster entrepreneurship, reduce unemployment among African Americans in Arizona, decrease the opportunity gap and grow the community of Black businesses.