Today we’d like to introduce you to Jay Jackson. He and his team share their story with us below.
Please kick things off for us with some background on the story.
RYSE was founded by Jay Jackson in 2011. After experiencing success in the real estate and health & beauty industries, Jackson found himself being called upon as a guest speaker to share his entrepreneurial experiences at various colleges, universities and professional organizations.
During many of his speaking engagements, Jackson began to notice a recurring theme amongst his audience of listeners. While many were entertained by his story of overcoming obstacles, they were also inspired by his achievements at such a young age. Knowing that his success was not exclusive, Jackson saw this as an opportunity to develop a platform that would recognize and celebrate young professionals who were excelling in their careers, be it through corporate achievements or creative, entrepreneurial pursuits.
Jackson knew that studying others success greatly increased an individual’s chance of achieving their own. He wanted to create a vehicle that could serve as an outlet to share those stories; a positive means to show what can be achieved through a continuous commitment towards personal and professional development and persistence towards a worthy goal. Jackson wanted a platform of which people who were featured would be proud to be a part of, and others could refer back to when they needed inspiration.
He also knew this could be a valuable resource for personal development and advancement. In order to determine if his concept would be something that people would find value in, Jackson decided to initially launch as a local publication. He aptly named it “RYSE,” an acronym for “Recognizing the Young Successful & Empowered,” a name which also symbolized what a person committed towards success must continually strive to do despite whatever obstacles they may be faced with.
Without having any knowledge of the magazine business, Jackson quickly became a student of the industry and acclimated himself to the field. He simultaneously began his search to comprise a team of experienced writers, photographers, web developers, and a graphic designer. Within a few weeks, Jackson had amassed his team of committed professionals to begin this arduous journey.
Armed with the vision of what RYSE could become, Jackson, hit the streets going from business to business attempting to sell ads to pay for a publication that no one had yet seen. He received numerous rejections but gained enough support to produce a modest print run for the first issue.
RYSE Cover In just two and a half months after receiving the vision, the premier issue of RYSE was published. To commemorate the momentous occasion, a launch celebration was held at the Amway Center (home of the Orlando Magic), which was attended by over 600 business and community leaders, as well as various elected officials. Several Magic players were also in attendance, thanks to the premiere issue’s cover subject, Lucas Boyce, a young executive with the Orlando Magic.
With the wind at their back, RYSE gained immediate notoriety in the city and support from City of Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer. In less than two years, corporate support increased for RYSE with recognizable National brands such as: Pepsi, State Farm, ESPN, Walt Disney World, AT&T, TD Bank, Universal Studios, the Orlando Magic, Mercedes Benz, BB&T Bank and Wal-Mart, which featured RYSE’s Women on the RYSE issue on the front page of their community website.
That corporate support allowed Jackson and RYSE to make an impact in the community and produce signature events that included; The Women on the RYSE Honors, The RYSE Awards and the RYSING Star 40 under 40, among many other professional social activities that were attended by many of the city’s most successful and influential executives.
Along the way, RYSE quickly became a resource for their corporate supporters by assisting them with their commitment to diversity and inclusion, due to the database of top quality young professionals RYSE had amassed. In 2016, Jackson moved the company to Atlanta after witnessing the tremendous growth and opportunities that existed within the city.
Today, RYSE has evolved into much more than a magazine; it’s a movement and a way of life. It is a platform that committed to showcases the numerous outliers of color that are excelling within their communities, whose talents and contributions are often overlooked.
Individuals whose achievements serve as an example to inspire us to want more, do more and be more. It is a destination for empowering images that reflect the various layers of our culture and redefine stereotypes. From ladder climbing executives to trailblazing entrepreneurs, Jay respects the hustle and celebrates the grind.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has certainly had its challenges. While I loved Orlando, it was a smaller market, so it was tough to companies to spend larger amounts on advertising and sponsorships, causing things to be difficult for a while.
We also launched a tech component to the company and tried to raise investor capital to scale it, but it was tough to raise the capital. Sadly, less than 1% of venture capital goes to minority and women-owned businesses, so the battle was an uphill one. Ultimately, another company beat us to the market, and we had to forgo that potential aspect of the business.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about RYSE – what should we know?
RYSE is media company committed to redefining stereotypes of multicultural audiences. Media plays an extremely important role in how we view ourselves and how we view others. It has the power to reinforce negative stereotypes, perpetuate division among various cultures and harmfully alter one’s self-esteem. Conversely, it has the power to dilute stereotypes, assist in gaining a greater understanding of others and instill a sense of pride in an individual, enabling a person to seek greater aspirations for themselves.
RYSE is founded on a simple idea: Young people deserve a destination that offers quality coverage tailored to them. They are hungry for news that keeps them informed, substantive content that sparks interesting conversations celebrates their successes and helps them make sense of the world around them. An outlet that embraces their uniqueness and empowers them to unlock their own true potential.
When someone is empowered to aspire for more, they strive to seek out knowledge and educate themselves. An educated population means a more enlightened population. An enlightened population means a more productive society. A society where we don’t scorn cultural differences, we embrace them. A society in which we are ALL on the RYSE!
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Being authentic to who we are at our core. Additionally, being passionate and committed to the work we do.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ontheryse.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryseconnected/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ryseconnected/
Getting in touch: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
