Press Release - Sept. 2, 2015 - Sundial Brands, the natural skin care and hair care manufacturer widely recognized for introducing the New General Market concept to beauty and retail, today announced that it has signed an agreement to enter into a strategic partnership with Bain Capital Private Equity, a leading global investment firm, to accelerate the company's growth.  Sundial founder and CEO Richelieu Dennis will continue to provide vision and leadership for the company, which will remain majority family-owned and operated including board, management and day-to-day operations.  The partnership will drive Sundial's social entrepreneurship model, accelerate its multi-brand portfolio strategy – including investments in community-minded entrepreneurs and brands – and advance its transformative approach to serving New General Market consumers.  It also ensures that Sundial's community of consumers will remain at the forefront of the beauty landscape.  Financial terms of the minority investment were not disclosed.

"Our love of people has always been our motivation and our competitive advantage," said Dennis.  "While we have been presented several opportunities to be acquired by multinational corporations, we are most excited that our collaboration with Bain Capital fulfills our commitment to remain an independent family-owned and operated company with a purpose-driven business model that puts community at our core.  Our consumers have always been partners with us, and now they can continue to walk with us on this journey.  We recognize that African-American women have long been at the forefront of the natural hair and body movement that has created the dynamic cultural shift that we see today.  It is exciting for us to see how Naturalistas have now empowered women from all backgrounds to embrace their natural beauty.  In addition, they have compelled multinational beauty brands and retailers to acknowledge and be more respectful of their needs.  Our family has understood this since 1912 – the value of listening to underserved consumers and delivering on their unmet needs. We are moving forward to build Sundial into a global family-owned-and-operated consumer brand of which they can be even more proud."

"We are also excited to welcome Bain Capital as a valuable partner who shares our commitment to our communities globally and understands how our brand of social entrepreneurism can be enhanced to achieve our vision for growth and impact," Dennis added.  "Sundial is now in the strongest position to continue to lead this beauty revolution, alongside all of our consumers, so that no one gets left behind."  Deval Patrick, a Managing Director at Bain Capital and the former Governor of Massachusetts, played an active role in the partnership discussions  and will join the Board of Directors of Sundial.

In 1992, Dennis founded Sundial with his college roommate, Nyema Tubman, and his mother, Mary Dennis, shortly after graduating from Babson College and being unable to return to his home country of Liberia because of civil war.  With a passion for entrepreneurship and a vision to fill unmet consumer needs, Dennis decided to pursue a bold concept: address skin and hair care issues traditionally ignored by mass market companies.  Drawing from culturally-authentic traditions born out of his family's roots inAfrica and passed down to him from his grandmother, Dennis incorporated four generations of recipes, wisdom and global experiences into efficacious natural bath and body care products.  In two short decades, Sundial has grown from selling products on the streets of New York City to having distribution and co-creation of its flagship brands – SheaMoisture and Nubian Heritage – with major retailers across the United States. Via its purpose-driven Community Commerce business model, the company creates opportunities for sustainable social and economic empowerment throughout its supply chain and communities in the U.S. and Africa, focusing on entrepreneurship, women's empowerment, education and wellness.  

"We are strategically aligned with our new partner around the elevation of the New General Market as a key growth driver and the opportunity to identify and invest in new ways to better serve our consumer community," said Dennis.  "We have defined the New General Market as 'an amalgamation of cultures, ethnicities and demographics aligned against commonalities, need states and lifestyles.'  Most critical are the commonalities and employing multi-need strategies that acknowledge both the differences within populations and the similarities across populations.  We all share similar needs that are often unmet or under-served.  When we focus on those, we can provide solutions that serve everyone in much more meaningful, relevant ways."

Bain Capital Private Equity has a long track record of investing in and partnering with management teams to help grow companies.  Some of its consumer and retail investments have included TOMS, Canada Goose and Bright Horizons Family Solutions.

"Richelieu and his family have built an amazing business and community centered on the idea of the New General Market, an idea that is very well aligned with where we as consumers and as a country are headed. We could not be more excited to partner with Sundial Brands to continue to enhance this differentiated approach to innovation, social entrepreneurship and community engagement," said Ryan Cotton, a Managing Director at Bain Capital.

For a list of Sundial's "10 Reasons We Partnered with Bain Capital," visit www.sundialbrands.com/news.


About Sundial Brands

Sundial Brands (www.sundialbrands.com), a leading skin care and hair care manufacturer, is committed to making the highest quality products possible with natural, certified organic and ethically-sourced ingredients.  Widely credited with introducing the concept of the New General Market to the beauty and retail industries, Sundial founder and CEO Richelieu Dennis began the company in 1992 with his college roommate, Nyema Tubman, and his mother, Mary Dennis, shortly after graduating from college and being unable to return to his home country of Liberia because of civil war.  From its humble beginnings selling products on the streets of New York City to distribution and co-creation of its flagship brands – including SheaMoisture and Nubian Heritage – with major retailers across the United States, Sundial is rooted in a commitment to community and a vision to fill unmet and underserved consumer needs.  A certified B Corp company with a Fair for Life social and fair trade certification, Sundial engages in ethical and cruelty-free business practices and manufactures its products at its state-of-the-art facilities in Long Island, NY.  Through its purpose-driven Community Commerce business model, the company creates opportunities for sustainable social and economic empowerment throughout its supply chain and communities in the United States and Africa, focusing on entrepreneurship, women's empowerment, education and wellness. In 2015, Sundial was named to the Inc. 5000 list of the fastest-growing private companies in the United States.

About Bain Capital Private Equity

Bain Capital, LLC (www.baincapital.com) is one of the world's foremost private investment firms, with approximately $75 billion under management across several asset classes including private equity, venture capital, public equity, credit products and absolute return.  Founded in 1984, Bain Capital's more than 400 professionals are collectively the single largest investor in all of its funds and are dedicated to investing in and building its portfolio companies.  Bain Capital Private Equity has a long history of investing in leading consumer and retail companies such as TOMS, Canada Goose, Bright Horizons Family Solutions, Bombardier Recreational Products,, Sealy Corporation, Michaels Stores, Dunkin' Brands, Domino's, Bob's Discount Furniture and Burlington Stores.  Bain Capital has offices in Boston, New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Palo Alto, London, Munich, Dublin, Luxembourg, Tokyo, Shanghai,Hong Kong, Mumbai and Melbourne.

– Dr. Venus Opal Reese will kick off a 6-city business training tour from August 18th to September 29th, traveling to New Jersey/NYC, Maryland/ DC area, Georgia, Dallas, Chicago, and Los Angeles –

– Her free tele-class series will be on August 20th –


Nationwide — From eating out of trash cans to becoming a self-made millionaire, Black Women Millionaires Mentor™ Dr. Venus Opal Reese knows how to “monetize your mess” into a successful business. She’s now offering live training for successful black women who want to harness the power of their own story as the basis for building a seven-figure, service-based business, “The Black Women Millionaires Blueprint Tour,” scheduled to take place in 6 cities throughout the USA, beginning August 18 in Elizabeth, NJ, at the Renaissance Newark Airport Hotel.

“If you’re a purpose-driven, high-achieving, super-successful, brilliant Black Woman entrepreneur who’s hungry to break that seven-figure mark in your biz, on your own terms, I’m talkin’ to you! My clients have generated over 7 million dollars with the exact same Blueprint I’m bringing to YOU on this tour. If you’re ready to learn what’s keeping you from achieving your seven-figure goals, I’d love for you to join me,” says Reese.

The Tour

During the 6-city live training tour, Reese will share the exact same system she used herself to go from homeless on the streets of Baltimore to earning a second master’s degree and Ph.D. from Stanford University, to making over $1.2 million in revenue in 3 short years.

Black women entrepreneurs who watch Reese’s new video and then register for “The Black Women Millionaires Blueprint Tour” learn:

* The COLD hard truth about why they haven’t hit the 7-figure mark.
* Two types of money EVERY 7-figure sister knows about, and why the difference between them matters.
* Three inner secrets EVERY Black Woman can use to fast-track it to the 7-figure mark – on her own terms with grace and ease.
* The #1 game-changing secret to turning the pain of the past – personal and historical – into 7-figure success.
* And more.

Watch a video Reese has created about the tour and learn how to register to join her atwww.BWMBlueprint.com/tour

The Free Tele-Class

During the 7-week no-cost series (one live call per week,) Reese will share the exact same system she used herself to go from homeless on the streets of Baltimore, to earning a 2nd Master’s degree and Ph.D. from Stanford University, to making over 1.2 million in revenue in 3 short years.

Black women entrepreneurs who watch Reese’s new video and then enroll in the “Blueprint Tele-Class Training Series” learn:

* The COLD hard truth about why they haven’t hit the 7-figure mark.
* Two types of money EVERY 7-figure sister knows about, and why the difference between them matters.
* Three inner secrets EVERY Black Woman can use to fast-track it to the 7-figure mark – on her own terms with grace and ease.
* The #1 game-changing secret to turning the pain of the past – personal and historical – into 7-figure success.
* And more.

Learn how to register at www.BWMBlueprint.com

“This is for YOU if you’re serious about seven-figure success. I can’t tell you how many of my students have called my Blueprint the answer to their prayers! Sisters from all over the world have increased their productivity and their profits, while enjoying more PEACE in their lives … all by learning my proven, paint-by-numbers blueprint for going from struggling to successful, FAST,” said Reese.

About Dr. Venus Opal Reese

Recently featured in Forbes and Black Enterprise, Venus Opal Reese, “The Black Women Millionaires Mentor™” teaches Black Women entrepreneurs who are dead serious about being part of the elite 2% of all women in business to ever break the million-dollar mark how to monetize their “mess” into a seven-figure business.

Recognized in Ebony Magazine’s 12th Annual Wealth Issue as one of four Black Millionaires who turned her passion into profits, Dr. Venus delivers proven internal and external strategies to authentic, powerful, and proud Black Women entrepreneurs to “pimp your pain” for profit. According to best-selling author, CEO of Frasernet, Inc., and creator of the PowerNetworking Conference George Fraser, “Dr. Venus is a master trainer who actually delivers… Her incredible insight, wisdom, and brilliance make her one of the best and brightest in Black America today.”

Dr. Venus is an acclaimed international speaker, CEO Mindset, Messaging and Marketing Mentor, and entrepreneur coach who founded her business, Defy Impossible, and grossed $1.2 million after just three years. For more information about Dr. Venus Opal Reese and Defy Impossible, visit www.DefyImpossible.com

CONTACT:
Defy Impossible, Inc.
dr.vor@defyimpossible.com
214-551-9233

Press Release
BlackBusinessList.Com

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WASHINGTON, DC - On Tuesday, August 4, the President will host the first-ever White House Demo Day, which will celebrate the important role entrepreneurship plays in America's economy. Unlike a private-sector Demo Day, where entrepreneurs and startups pitch their ideas to funders, these innovators from around the country will "demo" their individual stories. 

The Demo Day event will showcase why we need to give more entrepreneurs from all walks of life a chance to turn their ideas into indispensable products and services, and will include new announcements from The National Venture Capital Association, Kapor Capital, Opportunity Hub and other organizations expressing their commitment to inclusive entrepreneurship.  

 After the President gives his remarks at approximately 3:40 PM ET, Opportunity Hub Cofounder & CEO will expound on its multi-year inclusive entrepreneurship initiative on Periscope. Download the Periscope app and follow us at @OHUBATL.

 "Fifteen years ago, I was probably the only black co-founder of a high growth, scalable, tech startup in Atlanta that had successfully raised 7 figure seed and series A rounds from angels and VC's. Today, I can count them all on one hand. This is tragic and must change," says Rodney Sampson, Founder & CEO, Opportunity Hub. "Today, Opportunity Hub (OHUB) in solidarity with President Obama's first every White House Demo Day is excited to announce a multi-year initiative specifically designed to address the talent, knowledge and early funding gaps impacting underrepresented communities as they strive to navigate their way through the innovation economy."

 Opportunity Hub (OHUB), based in Atlanta, is launching a new inclusive innovation, entrepreneurship, and investment initiative in collaboration with The Iron Yard, CodeU, Troy Carter's AF Square and Morehouse College Entrepreneurship Center. The goal of this multi-year initiative is to increase the number of investable minority, high-growth technology and technology-enabled startups and early-stage companies in the United States, and includes: $1 million in full and partial code-school scholarships, allowing over 100 minority students to attend The Iron Yard; financing for up to 10,000 students via a partnership with CodeU; $1 million in full and partial scholarships to OHUB's Pre-Accelerator, which will provide a pipeline for over 100 diverse entrepreneurs to over 70 accelerators for pre-seed funding; and more angel investors of color via the Angel Investing Certificate Program with Troy Carter's AF Square and Morehouse College Entrepreneurship Center. This builds on OHUB's past track record of housing and pipelining more than 100 inclusive startups that have gone on to raise over $5 million in seed capital. 

 WHEN : Tuesday, August 4, 1:30 PM - 3:40 PM ET

 WHERE: White House East Room 

 WEBCAST: This event will be webcast live at >www.whitehouse.gov/live<. Opportunity Hub will be streaming the event from its OHUB@Giant campus located at 426 Marietta Street, Suite 100A, Atlanta, GA 30313 USA. Follow on social media @Whitehouse @WhitehouseOSTP #WHDemoDay @OHUBATL


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BlackBusinessList.Com's Atlanta Chapter is proud to partner with Chi Ife Productions in presenting the Art of Bloom, an arrangement of performance, art, and concepts from the Black Diaspora.  

The event will be held at Georgia State University on Sunday June 14, 2015.

This event will feature snippets from the original musical theatre production, Songs for Adaeze, an Art Exhibit, and will be hosted by Georgia State University’s Cast of Carnival Medea: A Bacchanal 

This event also serves as a fundraiser for the Georgia State theater group as they have been invited to perform abroad at the Fringe Festival in Scotland.

Here is what we have planned.

• Music
• An art show and two performances from the Georgia State University performance group.
• Drawings / Giveaways
• Business Networking
• A panel discussion on (Re)Branding Black: Shifting perceptions of black culture and identity in media.