Atlanta-Based Urban Business Institute Opens its Doors for Black Hustlers

Atlanta, GA — Black people have historically held multiple jobs or side hustles. This culture has allowed for some economic progress but not much. Pew Research Institute has released data in 2014 that shows despite strong or poor economies, blacks have consistently lagged behind with an average 13-17% unemployment and an average net worth of $11,000. Whites have often remained in single digit unemployment rates and held on to a $141,900 net worth.

Urban Business Institute, founded in Atlanta, Georgia, began its work in 2012 with a strict focus on helping blacks go from hustlers to enterprisers. A training and incubation organization founded by Devin Robinson, his motivation to form this business came from when he opened 3 beauty supply stores in 2005 and began opening them for other entrepreneurs that asked for his helped. To date, he has opened 79 stores in America, Canada and the Caribbean under Beauty Supply Institute but he soon expanded with Urban Business Institute due to the lack of what he calls the “enterprising mindset” from the new business owners. His success in owning beauty supply stores, a vending company, publishing, a fitness center, real estate and public speaking career was due to his approach of being the “best” business, not just a black one.

A former adjunct business & economics professor, while he ran his businesses, Robinson started noticing major issues with the types of students that were coming through his classrooms and then showing up as graduates to his businesses for work. He felt colleges were becoming too consumed with creating “happy customers” instead of well-equipped students.
Robinson said, “I wanted to create an easy admission, extremely low tuition training institute for black entrepreneurs that doesn’t discourage them from applying because of any academic or social blemishes they may have, while we maintain a very substantive curriculum that only focuses on business start-up and business ownership using all of my experience. I went from earning $85,000 on a job to generating $100,000 per month in business… and I grew up as an average kid.”

This is great news and shows a positive model for black people everywhere. With the amount of technological improvements we are experiencing the future for young black enterprise remains online. Ecommerce will allow young enterprenuers the opportunities to grow businesses free from traditional restrictions.