5 bits of inspiration to get you started as you launch your business

There are 33.2 million small businesses across the United States, but only 2.3 percent are Black owned. In honor of Black History Month, we’re highlighting our community of small business owners and content creators in order to share their stories, and showcase the creativity, determination, perseverance, and hard work it takes to launch a brand or business.

Now, we’re passing the mic to our Adobe Express community to see – and hear – how they got started, and what drives them to continue every day.

Hunni | @itshunnib | Illustrator/Content Creator

Hunni is a digital illustrator creating art that provides representation of Black beauty and all it encompasses. Just after graduating and before the pandemic hit, Hunni was let go from her job, and faced a pivotal decision – find another role she didn’t necessarily want, or choose herself. Hunni built a social media brand around ideals she believes in and continues to connect with her audience of over 37K followers in Instagram through making art.

Favorite part about being a small business owner?

Starting work whenever I choose and having the freedom to choose my creative collaborations.

Kaya Marriott | @comfygirlcurls | Lifestyle/Beauty Content Creator

Within the representation that she creates and showcases, Kaya Marriott wants her audience to feel inspired and courageous. Between her brands Comfy Girl Curls and Creating with Kaya, where she gives her audience blogging influencing and content creation tips, Marriott has garnered more than 55K followers, and shares the tips, tricks, best practices – and also hard truths to becoming a content creator and branding yourself successfully.

Favorite part about being a small business owner?

It’s the ability and freedom to show up how I want, make the impact I want and define my brand how I want

All Black Creatives | @allblackcreatives | Non-profit organization

2021 Shorty Award Winner All Black Creatives is on a mission to celebrate, accelerate and support Black Creatives. Co-founder and Head of Community for All Black Creatives Danielle Elise gets to design impactful gatherings and campaigns, including helping aspiring designers begin their UX journey. In addition to events, Elise and her team also offer free Masterclasses for freelancers and small business owners.

Favorite piece of creative advice?

“Let purpose be your bouncer” -Priya Parker

KESA| @kesa_design | Marketing Agency

KESA Principal Toren Reaves creates content for those looking to tell stories authentically. Reaves also has an apparel brand that has evolved into a playground for experimentation with video, graphic design, product design and photography.

“I was teaching a class on storytelling through apparel design and at the end of the class, one of the kids said, “Mr Reaves, how can I keep working on this stuff after this course ends?” He said he didn’t have a Macbook Pro and I told him, he could use Adobe Express on any computer to enable his work. That’s why I do this and who I do this for.

What drives me:

I love taking an idea or a feeling and turning it into something tangible.

Trevor Taylor | @justliketrevor | Wellness Advocate

Yoga instructor and wellness influencer Trevor Taylor “isn’t a yoga teacher, I just happen to teach yoga.” He found his passion after coaching high school sports at his high school alma mater and realizing the element of play and movement lit him up, and he built his business and digital brand intentionally and authentically – and yes, he struggled with imposter syndrome too.

Now teaching online, in-person and corporate yoga, Taylor wants to create space to support the pursuit for self-ca – honoring your energy, being receptive, and less doing – more being.

What drives me:

“Holding space for those who may not have known there was space for us to be held, and doing my part to encourage everyone to take care of themselves through movement, mindfulness and meditation.”

Providing the resources, support and tools for small businesses

Adobe Express, our free web and mobile-based app offers thousands of unique templates, design assets, royalty-free Stock images, and more to help launch your business and keep it soaring — no design background or fancy equipment required.

We’ve partnered with Meta to provide even more resources for diverse communities and support small businesses with the essential tools and resources they need. Together, we take the guesswork out of what it takes to create a business in today's digital world, and share top tips and content along the way to see what’s possible.