What a weekend! If you missed the WIPS team in New Orleans for Essence Festival of Culture, let us tell you: the energy was absolutely electrifying.

Being surrounded by so many brilliant, inspirational Black and Brown founders was a powerful reminder of why we do what we do. Walking the floor, exchanging stories, and feeling the collective drive in the room made one thing incredibly clear. Success in entrepreneurship comes down to three non-negotiables:

1. Courage: The willingness to step out, take risks, and put your vision on the map.
2. Confidence: The unshakable belief that you belong in every single room you walk into.
3. Commitment: The daily dedication to showing up and giving your absolute best, even when the journey gets tough.

This year was a massive milestone for us because it marked the very first time WIPS hosted an official booth at Essence Fest! We were booked, busy, and so incredibly blessed to meet so many of you in person.

Want a taste of what the weekend looked like? Check out our quick weekend recap video below!

The Grand Finale of the WIPS Road Show 🚌✨

Essence Festival wasn’t just a standalone event for us—it was the epic conclusion to an intense, multi-city summer road show.

The WIPS team has been on the absolute move, building momentum and taking up space across the country. Our journey took us all the way from the UNFI East Holiday Show to SFA’s Summer Fancy Food Show, over to the CaribBiz Pitch Competition, and finally, right into the heart of New Orleans to wrap it all up at Essence Festival.

Looking back at that entire trajectory, we are incredibly proud of how far we’ve come this season. Landing at Essence marked the very first time WIPS hosted an official booth at the festival, and we were booked, busy, and so blessed to meet so many of you in person.

Gratitude & Community: A Few Special Shout-Outs

An activation this big doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It truly takes a village, and we have a few major thank-yous to share:

To the New Voices Foundation: A massive shout-out to this incredible organization. Randy recently completed the PACE Bootcamp, and the growth, community, and preparation from that experience were instrumental in taking our presence at Essence to the next level. Thank you for empowering founders like us!

To Creative Girl Connect: Our booth wouldn't have been the same without the incredible energy on the floor. Huge shout-out for connecting us with the most amazing, high-vibe brand ambassadors who helped us hold down the fort and welcome everyone to the WIPS family.

To Every Single Founder Who Showed Up: To everyone who stopped by our booth to chat, network, or share their story—you are the heartbeat of this community. Seeing your drive and passion fueled our team for the entire weekend.

Dropping Knowledge on Stage: Reclaiming the Aisle & Building Your Brand

While the team was busy at the WIPS booth, Randy took to the stage to drop some serious gems across two incredible panels.

On Friday, Randy spoke on "Reclaiming the Aisle: Taste, Power, and the Business of Culture," diving deep into how minority founders are redefining consumer trends and shifting the landscape of retail.

Then on Saturday, Randy took the mic for "Building Your Brand: PR & Marketing Strategies Every Founder Should Know." This session was packed with actionable blueprints, scaling advice, and marketing secrets designed to help early and growth-stage startups amplify their message.

If you weren't able to catch it live in NOLA, don't worry—we brought the stage to you. You can watch the full session right here:

What’s Next for WIPS?

We are leaving Essence Festival of Culture with full hearts and a fueled-up tank. The festival might be over, but the work continues. Let’s keep this momentum going!