Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Leah Freeman-Haskin. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Leah, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?
I started BLK Oceans in 2020. From the death of George Floyd to the effects of the pandemic on Black-owned small businesses, I was heartbroken and exhausted by the headlines coming out of the Black community. I launched BLK Oceans to change that narrative. To showcase the beauty, creativity, and innovation in our community. It started as a passion project, that has turned into a venture-backed business with ambitious goals of growth and impact.
My hope is to see Black-owned businesses flourish, to see Black founders living and thriving in their purpose, and to see Black creators achieving financial freedom in pursuit of their dreams.
Leah, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I studied English and studio art at Boston College and went on to pursue a career in marketing after graduating. I’ve always had a passion for writing and design, but wasn’t sure how I wanted to use those skills in my careers. In 2020, I realized that there wasn’t a centralized place for people to discover and support Black-owned brands online, so I launched BLK Oceans as a way to provide a curated platform for discovery. I wanted to celebrate Black founders, their stories, and their brands through stunning visuals and engaging content.
How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?
I started with a round of friends and family fundraising through GoFundMe. This provided me with enough initial capital to launch the business, including establishing my LLC and trademark, purchasing software, and affording various other startup costs. I applied for many grants, loans, and sweepstakes, but didn’t have any luck with those ventures. Then, I found Visible Hands, a VC that supports underrepresented founders in the earliest stages of launching their businesses. They invested in BLK Oceans and remain my sole investor, currently. Their funding allowed me to hire a part-time, freelance writer and launch BLKO, an online live sales platform for Black-owned brands.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
One lesson I had to unlearn was that there is only one “type” of founder. I felt that since I didn’t have a degree in business or didn’t attend business school, or because I wasn’t a technical founder, or because I didn’t have an economics background, that I couldn’t succeed as a solo founder. Visible Hands helped me to see through this falsehood and recognize myself as a founder. Founders come from all types of backgrounds, and my unique talents for writing, design, and marketing were huge assets in launching my business.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.blkoceans.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blkoceans/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/black-oceans/
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/blk_oceans/
Image Credits
(Headshot of Leah) Craig Bailey/Perspective Photo