Today we’d like to introduce you to Elbi Elm.
“I got my start by giving myself a start” – Madame C.J. Walker
Elbi Elm is the Founder + CEO of The Culturist Union. Born in Pontiac, Michigan, raised in the Army, and groomed by the USAF in Intelligence Technology, Elbi has spent the majority of her life traveling and learning unique and interesting things about herself and the world around her. Elbi is a SCAD and Howard University alumna with a degree in Theatre Arts Administration and Management, she has developed a keen eye for equitable community organizing and development, and a deep passion for the arts. With over 15 years of leadership experience, Elbi has held several board seats, positions, and titles in the theatre arts non-profit industry, and has led the charge to shape the culture, growth, profitability, and sustainability of The Culturist Union. Lover of warm weather, Oak trees covered in Spanish moss, cobblestones, and vintage cafes, Elbi is rooted in Savannah, Ga with her son Langston and their snake Remy.
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?
Absolutely not!
After I honorably departed from the United States Air Force it took me a while to get my footing and find the stability and community I needed to even begin to turn my vision to a reality. For anyone, developing a business from conception is no easy feat, couple that with being a black single mother and it’s even harder.
One of my struggles is finding and connecting to investors to propel my company forward. Although black woman leads the charge in entrepreneurship, collectively, we still raise less than 4% of equity-backed funding.
Please tell us about The Culturist Union.
The Culturist Union (TCU) is a private-membership community space and digital hub centered around the social, professional and economic empowerment of professionals, entrepreneurs, and creators.
We break our company down into three segments: TCU is…
– A workspace offering you all the amenities to be a boss.
– A retail/vendor marketplace where members can sell their product or service to the local community.
– A cultural hub that sees and celebrates who you are, everyday.
Currently, until our brick and mortar location is open, we curate conferences, workshops, and events in order to connect to our people and build community we want to see in the world.
Recently, TCU celebrated a successful crowdfunding campaign and raised a friends/family seed round of $10K via iFundwomen, a women-centric crowdfunding platform.
The Culturist Union is named after Madame C.J. Walker’s annual convention and community-building spirit, created to cultivate the community that we want to see in the world.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Authenticity and consistency will be paramount for the growth and success of The Culturist Union. I believe that people fall in love with people and not the brand, so I encourage my team and myself to show up and out in truest form.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.Theculturistunion.com
- Phone: 3347332127
- Email: hello@theculturistunion.com
- Instagram: @theculturistunion
- Facebook: @theculturistunion
- Twitter: @culturist_the
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