Small Business Revolution, Season 6: Lenovo Empowers Black-Owned Small Businesses in Minneapolis & St. Paul, Minnesota

In Season 6 of the Small Business Revolution, Deluxe brought its original series home to Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota. In seasons 6, Deluxe is shining a spotlight on the unique stories of Black-owned businesses across the Twin Cities, helping six deserving small business owners overcome their biggest financial, marketing and technology obstacles. 

We at Lenovo teamed up with Deluxe to sponsor this 6th season of the show — celebrating the impact of Black-owned businesses in Minnesota. Lenovo is proud to have provided custom tech makeovers for the show, taking businesses to the next level with tech solutions. Meet the Lenovo Technology Experts that played a role in this impactful and important partnership below!

Get a taste of season 6 in the trailer below then browse the available episodes!

The COVID-19 pandemic created unprecedented challenges. As we’ve navigated the past few years months, businesses have fought to keep their doors open, their staff employed and their customers’ needs fulfilled. While each business owner has been tested with challenges unique to their industry, services and clientele, we at Lenovo believe we can play a role in helping these businesses go forward.

It has always been our charge to innovate with purpose and support small and medium-sized businesses, and last year we launched a multi-faceted program, Evolve Small, in partnership with Deluxe, Local Initiatives Support Corporation, Toronto Region Board of Trade, Intel, Microsoft and the Carolina Panthers to provide more than $1 million in grants, mentorship opportunities, and smarter technology for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color -owned small businesses across North America. Today, we celebrate entrepreneurs and the positive impact they have in their local communities with the premiere of Deluxe’s Small Business Revolution (SBR), Season Six.

The newest season of SBR will feature six diverse Black-owned businesses – including local eateries, a barber shop, a multi-generational family-owned furniture store and more – in Deluxe’s hometown of Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota. Lenovo is honored to have joined SBR as the leading technology solution provider to curate a custom tech makeover complete with hardware, software, and service solutions for each business owner to help take their business to the next level.

Lenovo is proud to recognize three of its very own experts – Kelly Darden, ThinkCentre Product Manager, Diarra Jerome, Regional Sales Director and Maurice McGregor, Global Sales Manager – who served as the technology experts, working closely with each business to breakdown their unique challenges, determine where they would like to focus their digital transformation and offer guidance and tools for lasting success.

Lenovo is also grateful for the SBR co-hosts – Chief Brand Officer at Deluxe, Amanda Brinkman, and former NBA All-Star and entrepreneur, Baron Davis – for addressing the need for social justice in the Minneapolis-St. Paul community. The content of the show sheds light on the ongoing, prevalent racial injustice that Black-owned small businesses have faced, in addition to challenges from Covid-19.

Lenovo celebrated its work with Deluxe and its mission to help Black-owned businesses succeed in Minnesota and beyond by hosting a Main Street Festival at our Morrisville, North Carolina headquarters. Attendees included Lenovo employees and local woman and minority-owned businesses in the Raleigh-Durham area. The event included a viewing party for attendees with technology gifts from the Carolina Panthers and longtime NFL star, Kevin Donnalley. 

Dive into Season 6 of the Small Business Revolution below!

E1: Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder

E2: Gentlemen Cuts

E3: Lip Esteem

For nearly 90 years, the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder (MSR) has been recognized as a trusted voice for the Black communities of Minnesota. Founder and civil rights activist, Cecil Newman, arrived in Minneapolis in 1934, starting not one, but two newspapers... Keep readingTerrell Smith, aka Mr. Red, always knew he wanted to be his own boss. With a flair for styling, he received his barber’s license in 2002, working at various local shops in and around St. Paul, Minnesota. In 2014, he finally... Keep readingTameka Jones knows the pressures put upon women to meet a certain standard of beauty. She also understands that makeup and beauty can help women, like it did her, to re-write their story and feel empowered in their own skin. Enter Lip Esteem, a dream-turned-reality when Tameka left her 20-year career as a... Keep reading

Check it outCheck it outCheck it out

E4: Taste of Rondo

E5: Elsa's House of Sleep

E6: Sammy's Avenue Eatery

During the middle of a pandemic, Charles and Kasara Carter managed to fulfill a lifelong dream – opening their restaurant in the heart of what was once the historic, vibrant Rondo neighborhood in St. Paul, Minnesota. Situated just a stone’s throw away from... Keep readingIn 1966, Elsa Rezene brought her entrepreneurial spirit to Minnesota from Eritrea, Africa. Before founding the longest-running black-owned furniture business in Minneapolis-St. Paul, she honed her sales craft offering beads, incense and jewelry. A generation later... Keeping readingSince 2012, Sammy’s Avenue Eatery has been proudly providing the North Minneapolis community with good conversation and much-needed healthy options for dining out. With his personal savings and inspiration from his grandmother... Keep reading

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Want more of the Small Business Revolution? Explore all 6 seasons right here in the LenovoPRO Community! 

Do you have a favorite episode from this season? Did any of the challenges facing the small business owners featured resonate with you? Leave your thoughts in the comments below! 

Meet the Lenovo Technology Experts from Season 6

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