Melanie Akwule is Founder and CEO of MINWO, a DE&I tech company that connects companies with organizations that have a specific mission to support Black-owned businesses on their path to scaling.
Originally from Virginia, Melanie was an NCAA track athlete who did her undergrad at Georgia Tech.She worked and excelled in the corporate world with GE. But it was at the Haas School, Cal Berkeley where she built her startup muscle. She used her time in school to conceptualize and develop MINWOA. Melanie is off to a great start in 2021 completing the Techstars program and gearing up for the launch of MINWO's flagship product Rialto.
Melanie has a great story, you’ll want to listen in.
In this episode Melanie and Dan discussed:
- life as an NCAA student-athlete
- competing in the Olympic trials
- developing a passion for using tech to help businesses succeed
- how one rejection led to her pursuit of an MBA
- the highs and lows of early stage entrepreneurship
- the serendipity of the stumble
OUR SPONSORS FOR THIS EPISODE:
Trajectory: Startup - Ideation to Product/Market Fit
A brand new book by entrepreneur and investor Dave Parker.
This hot-off-the-presses publication is THE playbook for those at the earliest stages of the startup journey. Or even if you are just contemplating the jump to entrepreneurship. To get this great resource, go to dkparker.com or find anywhere you buy books.
MORE on MELANIE and MINWO
Melanie:
MINWO:
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