We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Donovan Bridgeforth a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Donovan, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Risking taking is a huge part of most people’s story but too often society overlooks those risks and only focuses on where you are today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – it could be a big risk or a small one – but walk us through the backstory.

Starting The Official Black App was a big risk at the time. In 2016, racial tensions were at an all time high and the cancel culture was just beginning. Starting a platform for black owned businesses received much criticism in its first year, but it was that risk that paid off just two years later when Jay-Z and Diddy wanted to come out with a platform similar and in turn gave us all the buzz we needed to become successful and relevant.

Donovan, 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?

The Black App LLC was officially formed in 2016, but the inspiration for its creation would begin two years prior in 2014, on the campus of Hardin-Simmons University. Donovan Bridgeforth, the creator of The Black App, was attending his third higher education institution in three years and was looking to make an impact outside of athletics, where he was most known at the time. Mr. Bridgeforth decided to forgo playing the remainder of his eligibility to start a student organization named the Black Student Association. The first group of its kind ever formed on this particular campus. After a trying year and a half of being President and Founder of the BSA at Hardin-Simmons, Donovan was involved in a racial profiling incident in his final semester that left such a bad taste in his mouth, he decided to leave school and embark on his journey as an entrepreneur. Donovan began his first business, a publishing and media broadcasting company, by the name of The Great Change. He authored two books in the company’s first year. Still feeling the call to bring his community closer, Donovan set out on his next business venture which would become The Black App LLC. The Black App essentially functions as a Facebook, YellowPages, Eventbrite and much more seamlessly integrated on to a singular platform reflecting the unlimited potential of the black community, with the mission to unite, energize and organize this potential. With that said, he set out to learn as much as he could about his community’s current dynamics and how best to solve issues that seemed to be the most pressing. To do this, he enrolled in Paul Quinn College, a historically black college and university, that serves as work- college, located in sunny South Dallas, Texas. Here, Donovan was exposed to high profile members of the black community and was able to receive feedback that would ultimately generate thought processes and media buzz that his start up so desperately needed. Donovan was privileged to compete at the HBCU Battle of the Brains at SxSW in Austin, Texas. Where he had the chance to meet and greet with Forbes lister, financial guru and black tech influencer, Angel Rich, who was there supporting Hampton University, her alma mater. The two spoke regarding the importance of black tech in today’s world and that they wanted to see support from their community in hopes to receive more notoriety for their tech ventures. This meeting would ultimately be a foreshadowing of the next meeting between Donovan Bridgeforth and Angel Rich on an even bigger stage. The next time Donovan and Angel crossed paths was in TriBeCa, New York City, in the lobby of the Breakfast Club. Angel was being interviewed by Charlemagne The God, DJ Envy and Angela Yee about Financial Literacy, Black Tech and the history of the Black Dollar and Donovan and his team were brought to New York City amongst the viral moments of the Internet movement that trended the #GetToDiddy hashtag that was inspired by The Black App Team. For those who are unaware, P. Diddy and Jay-Z were inspired to create an app that helps connect the public with black-owned businesses, which is exactly what The Black App does. In light of this news The Black App Team took a leap of faith to New York City in search of P. Diddy and Jay-Z to collaborate with them on this project. The conclusion of the #GetToDiddy movement was completed by Angel Rich who shouted out The Black App and Donovan Bridgeforth on Breakfast Club. She went on to defend its right to exist and stated that Diddy and his team should invest into existing black tech instead of attempting to reinvent the wheel. Currently, The Black App Team is continuing to take their mission coast to coast and partner with influencers in the community that want to help them on their mission to Elevate Black Businesses and Redefine Our Community.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

Rich Dad Poor Dad, Art of War, The Four Agreements.

How do you keep in touch with clients and foster brand loyalty?

One of the biggest benefits to having a mobile application platform is the utility of notifications. We are able to foster brand loyalty and keep in touch with our community through that innovative avenue.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/the-blk-app/id1131406894?mt=8
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialblkapp
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theofficialblackapp
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donovan-bridgeforth-8408a136
• Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/officialblkapp
• Other: Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bf.appff2649

Image Credits
The Great Change Publishing