Pharrell Williams’ Black Ambition, a non-profit initiative that works to close the opportunity and wealth gap through entrepreneurship, recently awarded over $2.7 million to 30 trailblazing Black and Hispanic founders. The $1 million grand prize went to RedDrop, co-founded by Dr. Monica Williams, Dana Roberts, and Jarrod Shaw. The trio helms a brand of period kits for tweens that aims to empower and support girls so that they can grow into powerful women.
Monica and Dana shared that their journey began 16 years ago, and they officially founded RedDrop in 2019. Let’s hear from two-thirds of the dynamic trio about their incredible journey and the wisdom fueling RedDrop’s success.
BHM: Could you give us an overview of RedDrop and its mission? We’d love to hear about what your company does and how your passion for this venture began.
Monica: RedDrop exists to own the period care space for elementary, middle, and high school-aged girls. That means the best products and education.
We really believe in providing access to all those forms for young girls. Education is important because, in America, only half of U.S. states require health education, and that’s a valuable resource for families.
Dana: I am a lifelong educator, and about 16 years ago, in my fifth-grade girls’ class, girls were starting their periods with me. I started correlating, like, “Oh my gosh, I don’t want my daughter to be unprepared.” Outside of that, I realized I was a teacher and felt it was my ethical and moral responsibility to care for them. My godsister Monica had a business, and I said, “Hey, I’ve got an idea.”
Fast forward, RedDrop is here, and everything we do in our business is intentional about providing tweens and teenagers, elementary, middle, and high schoolers, with the best possible period experience, from their first to their next period.
BHM: How has RedDrop been received in the market so far?
Dana: We have over 100,000 orders, and we are impacting girls in schools. We’re pretty much in most states in the U.S. We impact over half a million girls in schools every single day.
We get feedback all the time through our social media platforms, saying, “I didn’t know how to have this conversation with my daughter; this just makes it easier. ” I feel like we have become validated in a sense.
Monica: Regarding market validation, we are a mid-seven-figure business that’s bootstrapped. It’s not because we forced it by paying for marketing; we do have a product that people want.
BHM: Congratulations on winning the Black Ambition Prize! What was your initial reaction when you found out you won?
Dana: It was surreal! I honestly get this question probably once or twice a week now from friends, family, and media. It’s surreal. It’s still a surreal experience. I thought I was going to pass out. I thought Monica was going to pass out. Winning this prize not only makes us feel seen and validated but also is a vote of confidence with dollars, mentorship, and resources to help us continue impacting girls worldwide.
BHM: What does winning this prize mean to you personally, and how does it align with RedDrop’s mission and strategic goals?
Dana: It makes you feel seen and validated. For RedDrop, it helps us be very proactive in our planning. It’s hard to plan when you don’t necessarily have funding to follow through on those plans. It allows you to plan with intention and gives you this runway to be a little more creative and innovative.
Monica: We have specific milestones and markers that will allow us to be more impactful and allow our business to grow exponentially. The actual cash prize allows us to do those things, but it also really provides an opportunity for us to prove that we can be the next “Always” or just insert any big brand here.
The reality is that 6000 girls a day experience their first period; no brand in this country really services girls in elementary, middle, and high school. As a brand, it’s our responsibility to do that and do it in an excellent way.
I think you show that as a business through profitability and growth, and that’s the goal.
BHM: What support, besides funding, have you received as Black Ambition Prize winners? Any mentorship or networking opportunities?
Monica: We just won 3 weeks ago. I expect many more opportunities to come. Black Ambition provides networking with past winners, offering a preview of what’s coming. Once you’re in the semifinals, you’re put into pods; our pod had five people and a mentor. That network makes the process less lonely. Dana mentioned how lonely and challenging it is, but Black Ambition connects you with others in similar situations.
As a winner, I had a call with Felicia Hatcher, CEO of Black Ambition. Her network is amazing! I expect the opportunities we can access are exponentially bigger.
I’m a third-time startup founder with some network, Dana is a lifelong educator, and Jarrod, our CFO, has corporate experience.
Our networks are deep in our field, but now we have access to a whole new realm of people. It’s super exciting. Listening to others, I think it’s going to be amazing.
BHM: What plans do you have for RedDrop? Are there any upcoming initiatives or projects you’re excited about?
Monica: I think we have an opportunity to help girls both domestically and internationally, especially through education and the right products. I’m excited about helping in Africa and various places throughout and here, not just in shelters but on college campuses and in homes where people are struggling.
I’m excited about those things, and we want to own the period care space for elementary, middle, and high school-aged girls. That’s a big statement. I think we can be impactful with active girls and plan to do that.
We can also be impactful in providing more innovative care and protection, and I’m excited about that.
As our conversation ended, RedDrop’s founders shared some valuable insights for aspiring entrepreneurs hoping to reach similar success. Dana stressed the importance of addressing meaningful issues, emphasizing, “Look at your business and the problem you’re trying to solve. Does it have a life-changing or positive impact on humanity?” She also highlighted the necessity of trusting someone with financial expertise.
Reflecting on her background, Dana noted how her experience in education adds a unique perspective: “As an educator, wanting to impact the world is one of the pillars of why RedDrop exists.”
Monica praised Dana’s problem-solving abilities, saying, “Dana often sees solutions that the rest of us miss.” Monica brings a lot of analytical depth to the team, while Jarrod’s financial planning is essential. “For us to grow to the level that we’ve grown is impossible without the level of detail to cash that we have through Jarrod,” said Monica.
RedDrop’s journey is a testament to the power of collaboration and shared vision, proving that impactful change is possible with the right team and mindset.
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