Kyrie Irving Launches Consulting Firm Which Will Focus On Providing Support To Black and Women Owned Businesses

Kyrie Irving has announced the launch of his consulting firm which aims to help underrepresented entrepreneurs across various industries, with a focus on Black and women-owned businesses. 

The firm, which is called KAI 11 Consulting looks to provide programs and mentoring opportunities which will give business owners access to growth groups, development coaches, area managers, etc. All of these will offer roadmaps to scaling and cultivating efficiencies. 

The consulting firm will also ensure to provide resources to businesses that will aid in closing the financial gap across different communities.

KAI founder, and Brooklyn Nets star, Kyrie Irving, in a statement, said,

"We must give our people the proper resources and stewardship for them to win beyond traditional investment vehicles. This is not only essential to closing the wealth gap, but it also fosters a more unified, empowered, and liberated society.”

The company has so far raised over $25 million to invest in 20 different businesses, with the first $250,000 investment going to Fleeting. Fleeting is a black-owned commercial trucking company that prioritizes hiring women and formerly incarcerated individuals.

Fleeting is set to use this new funding to obtain additional resources in its bid to increase operations and consequently increase its social impact.

More and more companies are being launched with the goal to support black businesses. Earlier in the year, Lockstep Ventures launched, with the sole objective to “work, inspire, and empower systematic change by targeting companies that address racial disparities in health, wealth, education, and justice/anti-recidivism,” according to press reports.

Lockstep is partnering with KAI on the project to support Fleeting. Co-founder and Managing Partner, Marcus Glover, released a statement that reads,

“At Lockstep, we are committed and passionate about finding solutions to reimagine equity for Black and women-led companies. This collaboration with Kyrie Irving and the KAI 11 team allows us to not only help Fleeting further scale its business but also help countless others who are often overlooked and undervalued to achieve their goals of entrepreneurship and financial independence.”

Kyrie Irving didn't only develop an interest in social justice. The basketball star has been vocal about numerous injustices in the United States, using his platform to support and amplify social justice issues.

He donated $1.5 million to the Women's National Basketball Association players who opted out of their season last year as a result of the pandemic and Black Lives Matter protests which rocked the country.

He also provided financial support in the form of education funding for nine seniors from Historically Black College and University earlier in the year.