In the world of entrepreneurship, Omi Bell is a force — a visionary who transformed a brunch in her Southeast D.C. home into a global movement empowering women of color to secure funding, scale their businesses, and step into leadership. As founder and CEO of Black Girl Ventures (BGV), she’s impacted over 20,000 people in 64 countries, built partnerships with brands like Nike, Visa, and TikTok, and distributed millions in grants. But her journey didn’t start at the top — it began at rock bottom, with three children, a called-off wedding, and a fierce refusal to let anyone else dictate her future.
In this conversation with Grind Pretty founder Mimi J, Omi shares her insights on funding, DEI, and the power of community.
Mimi J: For readers who may not know you yet, tell us your “why” for starting Black Girl Ventures.
Omi Bell: I launched BGV in 2016 after seeing that Black women were starting businesses at six times the national average but receiving less than 1% of venture capital. I was at a low point in my life, but I knew entrepreneurship could change everything. My first event was a brunch where attendees voted with marbles in coffee mugs, and the money collected at the door went to the winning founder. Since then, we’ve evolved into national pitch competitions, HBCU programs, fellowships for emerging leaders, and innovative community events like Pull Up & Pitch.
Mimi J: You’ve helped countless founders. What’s one unexpected lesson you’ve learned about women of color and pitching?
Omi Bell: Many underestimate the “creative truth.” Sometimes founders downplay their numbers or impact because they’re being “too real.” Shifting your perspective — seeing what you already have in a new way — is crucial for growth.
Mimi J: Many beauty and lifestyle brands feel VC money isn’t for them. What’s your advice?
Omi Bell: Funding is available, but venture capital is about scalable processes, not just beautiful products. Ask yourself: can my process make money repeatedly at scale? Also, explore the right kind of capital — whether that’s angel investment, VC, loans, or grants.
Mimi J: DEI efforts have shifted dramatically. What’s your take?
Omi Bell: The fallout is real, but it’s not all tied to DEI being “over.” Some corporations are simply changing language while keeping efforts alive. We need to keep pushing for diversity at all levels — boards, C-suites, and middle management — and adapt without abandoning the mission.
Mimi J: You’ve built an incredible ecosystem. What’s your advice for creating community-powered businesses?
Omi Bell: Community is everything. Big brands are closing because they failed to build digital and physical community. People crave human experience. Your brand should create spaces — online and in-person — where people connect, support each other, and co-create opportunities.
Mimi J: What’s next for you?
Omi Bell: Alongside BGV, I’m expanding into wellness as a breath work facilitator and launching “Boardrooms & Breathwork” for professionals. I’m also creating scenario-based guided meditations and touring with my Sparks of Sabbatical wellness experiences.
✨ Follow Omi Bell on Instagram @OmiBell and connect with Black Girl Ventures at blackgirlventures.org to support and join their mission.
Who Is Omi Bell? The 2026 Update
Since this interview first ran, Shelly Omilade Bell — known widely as Omi — has continued building Black Girl Ventures into one of the most recognizable funding pipelines for Black and Brown women founders in the country. Here is where things stand in 2026.
- The organization: Bell founded Black Girl Ventures in 2016 in Washington, D.C., and remains its founder and CEO.
- The model: BGV’s signature Pitch Program flips the traditional pitch format. Founders are coached first, then compete in a live crowdfunded pitch competition, then plug into the BGV Connect Network for mentorship and technical assistance.
- The money: BGV provides $5,000 in matching funds to every selected alumni founder, with $30,000+ in total prizes across a cycle, and covers travel and lodging for finalists.
- Who qualifies: businesses that are Black- or Brown-owned, revenue-generating, under $1 million in revenue, and at least 51% owned by underrepresented women founders.
- The reach: BGV has supported hundreds of under-resourced women founders across more than 15 cities, with chapters in over a dozen, and corporate partnerships including Nike, Visa and Experian.
If you are a founder wondering whether your business is “ready,” Omi’s answer in the conversation above still holds: readiness comes from the community you build around the ask, not from waiting until the numbers look perfect.
Keep going with Grind Pretty
Grind Pretty Fest returns to Chicago for its 7th year on Saturday and Sunday, April 24–25, 2027 — two days of beauty, business, capital conversations and the Grind Pretty Awards Brunch. Early bird tickets start at $26.
