* Black Momma Vodka (BMV) Founder and President Vanessa Braxton is the first Black woman to be an owner-operator and manufacturer of a nationally distributed vodka in the U.S.
* In response to the national shortage of hand sanitizer, Vanessa Braxton has shifted gears to actively produce thousands of bottles out of the alcohol she has on hand.
* Braxton is known for becoming the first Black woman to raise $2.1 million for her latest venture Black Momma Tea & Café (BMTC) through an equity crowdfunding platform.
New York, NY — Black Momma Vodka, CEO/ President Vanessa Braxton is lending her manufacturing and distilling expertise to quickly produce urgently needed hand sanitizer for healthcare workers, first responders, patients, and community members fighting the coronavirus. Hand sanitizer has been selling out nationwide due to the pandemic, and continues to be much needed in the fight to flatten the curve.
The pandemic has caught many businesses and their owners by surprise, causing them to react quickly and efficiently to meet consumer needs. Braxton serves as an example of a business woman who knows how to adapt during such a critical time in the world, utilizing this opportunity to help the community-at-large and do her part to combat COVID-19.
“We are changing with the times and we have to be ready to shift how we are serving our community and consumers in the midst of this crisis,” said Braxton. “If I didn’t own a distillery and manufacturing facility I would not have been able to pivot so quickly from producing vodka to making hand sanitizer. We are ready to evolve and reinvent our business to work with government agencies and hospitals, to protect those on the frontlines of fighting this pandemic.”
Braxton is the first black female distiller and master blender in the U.S. She created Black Momma Tea & Café (BMTC) as an extension of Black Momma Vodka after a strong demand from her customers wanting to invest in her business.
By utilizing the 2016 Obama Jump Start Our Business (JOBS) Act, Braxton is the first Black female founder in global history to raise $2.1 million from a crowdfunding platform. This type of fundraising instrument allows companies to secure investment from the general public, both accredited and non-accredited, which is outside of the traditional fundraising route that most start-ups take.
“In challenging times like these it is important as a business owner who makes products to have control over your manufacturing and equipment,” said Braxton. “If I didn’t own and operate a distillery, I would not have been able to take the reins in this time of need so quickly.”
For more information, please visit www.blackmommateas.com
About Black Momma Tea & Café
Spearheaded by entrepreneur, Vanessa Braxton of Black Momma Vodka and Black Momma Brands, Black Momma Tea & Café will include gluten-free loose-leaf tea selections, biodegradable tea bags, CBD hemp tea and organic flavored agave, along with vegan and organic food items. The 4,600 square-foot café will be headquartered in Wheatley Heights, NY and will serve as a training facility for franchisees interested in collaboration. For additional information, please visit BlackMommaTeas.com.
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