BLACK BIZDAILYSEARCH
THE BBD LISTS

People and companies
worth knowing.

Editorially selected builders and businesses earning attention through ownership, execution, innovation and impact. This is a living watchlist, not a popularity ranking.

01PEOPLE · FOUNDER

Pinky Cole Hayes

Founder, Slutty Vegan

A category-making restaurateur whose rise and rebuild offer lessons in brand, capital and control.

READ THE COVERAGE →
02PEOPLE · FOUNDER

Tabitha Brown

Cofounder, Donna’s Recipe

A creator and entrepreneur turning audience trust into products, partnerships and enterprise value.

READ THE COVERAGE →
03PEOPLE · FOUNDER

Tope Awotona

Founder and CEO, Calendly

A software founder who built a global company by removing one persistent point of friction.

READ THE COVERAGE →
04PEOPLE · LEADER

David Steward

Founder and Chairman, WWT

A technology leader who built World Wide Technology through decades of capability and customer trust.

READ THE COVERAGE →
05PEOPLE · FOUNDER

Fawn Weaver

Founder and CEO, Uncle Nearest

An entrepreneur connecting historical stewardship, product excellence and independent ownership.

READ THE COVERAGE →
COMPANIES TO WATCH

Enterprises building
lasting value.

01COMPANY · FOOD

Slutty Vegan

Plant-based restaurants

A culturally fluent consumer brand now testing whether disciplined rebuilding can sustain its original energy.

SEE WHY IT MATTERS →
02COMPANY · BEAUTY

Donna’s Recipe

Beauty and hair care

A creator-led business built around product alignment, retail distribution and audience trust.

SEE WHY IT MATTERS →
03COMPANY · TECHNOLOGY

Calendly

Scheduling software

A product-led technology company that turned a simple scheduling link into global distribution.

SEE WHY IT MATTERS →
04COMPANY · TECHNOLOGY

World Wide Technology

Technology solutions

A global enterprise showing how technical capability and dependable execution compound over decades.

SEE WHY IT MATTERS →
05COMPANY · CONSUMER

Uncle Nearest

Premium spirits

An independently owned whiskey company pairing historical stewardship with ambitious brand building.

SEE WHY IT MATTERS →