The Book Industry Charitable Foundation has announced the 10 entrepreneurs who will make up the second cohort for BincTank. Launched in 2023, BincTank is a business incubator pilot program designed to increase equity in bookstore ownership by supporting BIPOC entrepreneurs.
The 10 entrepreneurs are:
- Aurora Anaya, who will launch a mobile bookstore and California native plant shop this spring.
- John McGregor, a publishing veteran who plans to open a bookstore in Harlem in New York City.
- Darnella McGuire-Nelson, a resident of Alexandria, Va., who advocates for minority-owned businesses and enriching the lives of the marginalized and disadvantaged.
- Priscilla Martinez, founder and owner of West Side Stories, a bookstore, bakeshop, and coffeehouse in Loudoun County, Virginia.
- Tamara Olmedo, co-founder of the Cuentos y Café BIPOC Bookstore, in Asheville, N.C.
- Tracy Ramey, an author, educator, and entrepreneur based in Columbus, Ohio, who plans to open a mobile bookstore.
- Rasheedah Rashada, a well-being and mental health advocate and social entrepreneur in San Diego, Calif.,
- Aminata Solammon, an Atlanta, Ga., native by way of Oakland, Calif., with a passion for youth development, children's literature, and fostering human connection.
- Selena Teems, founder of Successful YOU!, who provides self-published authors with coaching, training, and access to niche networks.
- Erica Wisely, owner and founder of Reid Wisely Books & Brew, a children's bookstore in Rockland County, N.Y.
"We are proud to support this group of entrepreneurs dedicated to opening bookstores in their community," said Binc executive director Pam French. "They bring a diversity of experience, skills and background to BincTank from community activism and bookselling to working in the publishing industry and writing books, and they share our commitment to and passion for closing the diversity gap in bookstore ownership. We look forward to visiting their stores."
The entrepreneurs were chosen anonymously from a pool of 25 applicants. They will begin Professional Bookselling School in March.