While attending Norfolk State University, Ashley Jones was disappointed with the collegiate apparel available on campus. None of it, she felt, reflected her individual style or represented the ethos of the HBCU. So she created Tones of Melanin, a line of collegiate athleisurewear. Jones soon struck licensing deals with HBCUs across the country, as well as with historically Black fraternities and sororities and now sells Tones of Melanin at a variety of big-name retailers in addition to on HBCU campuses.

Avid travelers James Baker and Ashley Sharma know firsthand the hassle of traveling with several bags: either carry one, which weighs you down, or constantly struggle to keep a small bag atop a larger case. Recognizing that most bungee cords don’t do a great job at keeping items tethered to a roller case, they invented Cincha Travel Belts, which cleverly slide over a case’s extended handle and secures totes, backpacks and other personal carry-on items. The thick elastic belts are adjustable to fit various sized bags and feature a durable quick-release buckle. Additional items in the line include Belt Buddies, small pouches that slip on the Travel Belts for easy access to ear buds, ID, keys and other small items.

Margaret Nyamumbo grew up as a third-generation coffee farmer in Kenya. That’s where she learned that land-owning men receive nearly all compensation for coffee, yet women, who perform most of the labor, are often not compensated at all. To help women earn their due, the Harvard MBA launched launched Kahawa 1893, and works directly with women farmers in Kenya, Rwanda and Congo. In addition to providing fair and sustainable earnings, Kahawa 1893 enables consumers to tip the women by scanning a QR code on each bag, and matches every tip the women receive.