Women Founders; the in between.

It was during the dotcom boom that I realized tech was a passion. I did not come from a tech background but I decided to build a tech company while in university. I did not second guess or question the risk. I was obsessed after seeing so many companies being started by college students, drop-outs, people with talent, desire, dedication and but no money. Being talented, passionate, driven, tried and tested, I believed I would do it. Bring to life an idea that was for all intents and purposes a SAAS targeting the hip hop entertainer, entrepreneurs, artist and community. We thought if we offer a service that provided in all in one platform for marketing, community, product sales, events and entertainment sponsorship, it would fill a need at the time. That need was to give Hip Hop the opportunity to get out of regions and grow our business in a Billion+ market. Hip Hop was growing and I saw that it would grow 100x plus in 10 years. However, it was considered a trend and regulated to certain ethnic groups. Main stream white America didn't see their children becoming a part of Hip Hop culture. I saw them listening to the music, memorizing lyrics, showing up at clubs to hear rappers. It was a matter of time before they would wearing the clothes, street dancing and yes even becoming rappers. I'm not a psychic, I just new a little history and new it would be copied, adopted then go mainstream. My startup didn't make it long enough to participate in that adoption. You see, I was an anomaly. I am a POC, female, no coding skills and not a part of the establishment (silicon valley). I was young, naive and unaware that women would not be considered seriously. Forgive me for thinking that I had worked since I was 13, served in the military, was responsible for the lives of over 200 men and women and had entrepreneurial experience. I was not aware that those were not the characteristics investors looked for in a startup founder. I found myself learning something new about being female and that was I wasn't invisible. We have never been invisible. We have given life to entire countries. Led, maintained, nursed, supported, been the life-line for most endeavors and all things created by man. It's actually fear on both sides, created by some who fear our capacity a belief and that our divine design is inferior. We really have nothing to prove. We have already done it over and over again. What we must understand is that is we are capable of anything. Our femininity or masculinity is not defined in terms of appearance, jobs, motherhood, the clothes we wear or lack of. We were divinely designed to create, and experience. To live the fullest life we possibly can. To not allow anyone to define, set boundaries or limits on our potential. The women who came before us have already created the path. So if you find yourself facing obstacles, know that it is an illusion and a reality check to teach you something about yourself. Learn the lesson and the obstacle illusion will fade.