We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Montré Moore. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Montree below.

Montré, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

The story of AMP Beauty is rooted in sisterhood, resilience, and an unwavering belief in our community’s brilliance. Picture this: it’s 2018, and we’re three HBCU graduates—proud Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority sisters—sitting in a coffee shop in Atlanta, brainstorming how to tackle the challenges we knew so many emerging beauty founders were facing. We’d spent the last decade building careers, but our passion for beauty and entrepreneurship kept pulling us back to one question: What if we could create a platform that truly levels the playing field for beauty brands that look like us and serve communities like ours?

Clark Atlanta University, our alma mater, taught us to find a way, or make one. That mantra was embedded in our DNA. We saw an industry that often ignored or undervalued Black creators, brands, and consumers—and we knew that we had the experience, grit, and vision to do something about it. We weren’t just solving a problem; we were addressing a systemic gap. Emerging beauty founders were struggling to break into retail, access safe product curation, or leverage the technology they needed to scale. We realized we could be the bridge between these talented founders and the billion-dollar beauty market waiting to embrace them.

In January 2019, we formed our LLC. By 2020, amid a global pandemic and heightened awareness of the disparities faced by Black-owned businesses, we launched AMP Beauty. It was a bold move, launching when the world was on pause. Resources were scarce, and much of the support for Black entrepreneurs felt hollow—performative at best. But we were determined. This wasn’t just a business to us; it was a mission. Every rejection we faced as Black women pitching beauty to VCs who didn’t look like us fueled our determination. Each “no” reminded us why we had to do this.

We leaned into who we were—three women who loved beauty, celebrated it, and refused to compromise our authenticity. While others might have donned grey suits for Silicon Valley pitches, we showed up in blush pink, a nod to our sorority and our unapologetic flair. When we competed in Fearless Fund’s first beauty pitch competition on Instagram Live, we wore elegant dresses instead of traditional business attire, rewriting the narrative of what it means to be a founder.

AMP Beauty isn’t just about redefining beauty culture; it’s about reshaping what it means to be an owner. We knew this was a worthwhile endeavor because it wasn’t just about us—it was about creating opportunities for the next generation of founders. It was about ensuring that the beauty industry reflects the diverse communities it serves. It was about honoring the strides Black entrepreneurs have made while blazing a new path forward.

Every time we see an emerging brand find its footing on AMP, every time we connect with founders who feel seen and supported, we’re reminded that this isn’t just business—it’s legacy. And we’re only just getting started.

Montree, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’m Montré Moore, a beauty expert and entrepreneur with a passion for creating meaningful change in the beauty industry. My journey started in prestige beauty, where I had the privilege of managing and selling for iconic companies like Neiman Marcus and Revolve. At Neiman Marcus, I led a cosmetics and fragrance business that generated $14M annually, utilizing my expertise in promotions, events, and talent to create exceptional customer experiences.

I’m an alumna of Clark Atlanta University and the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, where I earned degrees in Public Relations and Beauty Industry Management. These experiences laid the foundation for my career and helped me develop a unique perspective on the intersection of beauty, culture, and business.

As the co-founder of AMP Beauty, I’ve been fortunate to see our work recognized by industry leaders and media platforms like CEW, Glossy, Business of Fashion, WWD, and W Magazine. Being named one of the 200 best Black-owned businesses to shop in 2021 by NBC News was a particularly proud moment for us. We also filmed our first television segment, which aired on KNBC’s California Live—a huge milestone for our team and our mission.

AMP’s story began with a simple, personal moment that illuminated a much larger issue. One evening, while out to dinner in downtown Los Angeles, I needed a beauty product that’s essential for Black women—edge control. To my frustration, there wasn’t a retailer nearby that carried it. That moment sparked a conversation about the broader beauty retail landscape and the glaring gaps in access and representation. Black women spend nine times more than their non-Black counterparts on beauty products, yet we remain grossly underserved. That realization fueled my drive to create AMP Beauty.

What sets AMP apart is our commitment to addressing these inequities with a culturally conscious, inclusive approach. As a team of three Black women, we bring an intimate understanding of the needs, desires, and nuances of our audience. AMP is more than a shopping platform—it’s a space where beauty consumers of color feel seen, celebrated, and empowered. We also prioritize partnerships with brands that align with our ethos: non-toxic, sustainable, and culturally relevant beauty solutions.

I’m most proud of the impact AMP is making. Beyond redefining beauty culture, we’re working to create real change by supporting fellow beauty entrepreneurs of color. The events of recent years have forced the world to confront systemic inequities, and I see AMP as a vehicle to not only address these issues but also to pay it forward by investing in the creators, leaders, and change agents who’ve been overlooked for far too long.

For me, beauty isn’t just an industry—it’s a platform for empowerment and cultural celebration. I’m excited to continue amplifying voices, driving change, and building a legacy that challenges the status quo while creating space for everyone to thrive.

Can you talk to us about how you funded your business?

Funding AMP Beauty was a journey rooted in resourcefulness, collaboration, and a deep belief in our mission to redefine beauty for underserved communities. When we started, we knew we had an uphill battle—not just to bring our vision to life but also to secure the capital needed to get it off the ground.

Initially, we bootstrapped. My co-founders and I pooled our personal savings to cover the bare essentials—building our MVP, setting up our website, and ensuring we had the foundational elements to start validating our idea. We kept our overhead low, working out of shared spaces and leveraging every free or low-cost resource we could find. It was a scrappy phase, but it taught us how to maximize every dollar and stay focused on our goals.

Our big break came when we began pitching to early-stage investors and accelerators. We leaned heavily into storytelling—sharing not just our business plan but the lived experience that inspired AMP Beauty. We emphasized the undeniable market opportunity: Black women spend nine times more than their non-Black counterparts on beauty, yet remain grossly underserved. This resonated with investors who were not only looking for a strong ROI but also wanted to support a mission-driven business with the potential to make a significant cultural impact.

One of our first major wins was being accepted into the Techstars accelerator program. This provided us with seed funding and, more importantly, access to an invaluable network of mentors, resources, and expertise. Through Techstars, we honed our business model, refined our pitch, and prepared ourselves for future fundraising rounds.

From there, we focused on building relationships with mission-aligned investors. We were fortunate to connect with venture capital firms and angel investors who believed in our vision for AMP Beauty and the power of inclusivity in the beauty industry. These investors didn’t just bring funding—they brought strategic insights, connections, and support that helped us scale.

Today, I’m proud to say that our funding journey reflects the resilience and determination of our team. We’ve been able to take the initial capital and turn it into a growing business that’s redefining beauty for the next generation. If there’s one takeaway from our story, it’s this: when you have a mission that matters and a team that’s willing to do the work, the resources will come. It may take time, creativity, and persistence, but the right people and opportunities will align when you’re clear about your purpose and committed to making it happen.

Can you share one of your favorite marketing or sales stories?

One of my favorite marketing stories comes from AMP Beauty’s first major event collaboration. It was early in our journey, and we were determined to introduce AMP Beauty to the world in a way that felt bold, memorable, and culturally resonant. The challenge? We had a tight budget, little brand awareness, and a need to stand out in an oversaturated beauty market.

We decided to partner with a local LA event that celebrated culture, community, and beauty—a rooftop tennis and pickleball mixer called Daycation: Love Tennis LA. The event wasn’t a traditional beauty expo, but that’s exactly why we chose it. It was an opportunity to reach our target audience—millennial and Gen Z beauty enthusiasts—where they already were, in an environment that felt authentic and unexpected.

Here’s where the risk came in: AMP Beauty had never done a live pop-up before, and we were working with limited resources. We had to design a mini shopping experience on a shoestring budget while staying true to our brand’s high standards. We sourced local talent to create a vibrant, welcoming space, complete with product displays, branded swag, and testers. We also took a creative gamble by integrating experiential elements like mini beauty tutorials and edge-control demos (a must-have product for Black hair care) to drive engagement.

The odds felt stacked against us—what if no one showed up at our booth? What if the products didn’t resonate? What if the risk didn’t pay off? But as the day unfolded, the energy was electric. Attendees were drawn to our pop-up not just for the products but for the experience. They lingered, asked questions, tested products, and even shared their own beauty stories with us. We had people walking away saying, “I didn’t even know I needed this,” which was music to our ears.

What made the event even more special was how it became a two-way conversation. We listened to what our audience loved, what they needed, and what they wanted more of. This real-time feedback became invaluable for shaping our future marketing and product curation strategies.

By the end of the day, we had sold out of several products, grown our email list, and, most importantly, left attendees with a lasting impression of AMP Beauty. It was a risk that not only paid off but also solidified our belief in showing up for our community in ways that feel authentic, relevant, and personal.

Looking back, that moment taught me the power of stepping outside your comfort zone. Sometimes, taking a risk means betting on your ability to create something unforgettable—even when the odds aren’t in your favor. That day, we didn’t just sell beauty products; we created connections, and that’s what AMP Beauty is all about.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://ampbeautyla.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ampbeautyla/