Comcast NBCUniversal Celebrates Women Entrepreneurs on International Women's Day

According to a study by the National Association of Women Business Owners, 42 percent of businesses in the U.S. are owned by women, with more than 1,800 new businesses being started every day. However, according to the same study, women-owned businesses are growing at only half the rate of those run by men, namely because women struggle to access capital and other resources to help them succeed.

At Comcast NBCUniversal, we are committed to supporting women business owners through a variety of initiatives. In late 2020, we launched Comcast RISE, which stands for “Representation, Investment, Strength and Empowerment,” to provide underrepresented small business owners with access to the digital tools and funding they need not just to survive, but to thrive. The program also invests in ongoing mentorship and resources to help businesses succeed over the long-term. Earlier this year, we expanded eligibility to all women-owned businesses and the program is on track to support 13,000 businesses by the end of 2022.

Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day provide the perfect moment to shine a spotlight on women entrepreneurs who inspire us as they pursue their passions and bring their vision to life. We’re thrilled to share three stories of incredible women entrepreneurs who were recently selected as recipients of the Comcast RISE program:

Joanis Duran, Founder of Kalani + Wolf

As a Queer, Afro-Latina customer, and sustainable fashion entrepreneur in Miami, Joanis recognized that her communities lacked representation, accessible retail, and creative safe spaces. The result was Kalani + Wolf, a sustainable fashion brand that is locally handcrafted from vegan fabric. Through Comcast RISE, Joanis received complimentary creative production for a TV commercial.

Jennifer Ha, Founding Partner of JLJ Law Group

Jennifer is a nationally and internationally recognized attorney in the field of bankruptcy and immigration law whose clients range from families and small businesses to CEOs of multinational corporations. The daughter of Vietnamese immigrants, Jennifer is passionate about supporting and uplifting the immigrant community through her practice that is based in Salt Lake City. As a Comcast RISE recipient, Jennifer received complimentary creative production for a TV commercial.

Toni Greathouse, Founder of Custom Community Creations LLC

In early 2012 in Joliet, Illinois, Toni founded Custom Community Creations, LLC to create caricature art and adult coloring books, long before it became a national trend. Her first of three books, Coloring Along America’s Highway, featuring classic cars on Route 66, was bought by Walmart and is sold coast to coast in 226 stores. Through Comcast RISE, Toni received a TV media spot over a 90-day period from Effectv, the advertising sales division of Comcast Cable.

We’re proud to play a small part in the journey of these and other women entrepreneurs as they follow their dreams and passions. Visit www.comcastrise.com to learn more about Comcast RISE.

Comcast RISE is part of Project UP, the company’s comprehensive initiative to advance digital equity and help build a future of unlimited possibilities.