Shelly Bell

Bell was born in Durham, North Carolina. When she was 14 years old, her parents bought a Gateway computer, which sparked her passion for technology. After receiving a B.S. in Computer Science from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Bell began her career as a K-12 teacher.[3]

Bell began her entrepreneurial journey by building a tipi in her living room and successfully listing it on Airbnb for supplemental income. Later, Bell founded MsPrint USA, a women-run custom apparel and merchandise print shop with clients like Amazon and Google. She also hosted poetry performances and led a community-based arts organization called Seven City Art Society, which evolved into Made By a Black Woman, a marketplace offering clothing, accessories, and home decor created and curated by women of color.[3]

In 2016, Bell founded Black Girl Vision, which started as a meetup group with 30 women before Bell rebranded the organization as Black Girl Ventures. Bell aimed to connect women founders of color to peers, investors, advisors, and mentors, while garnering support and resources from corporations and local government. She has cited the lack of visibility and opportunities for Black women founders as one of her primary motivations for launching Black Girl Ventures.[4] The organization runs an annual pitch competition.[5] Its funding sources include crowdfunding, the Knight Foundation, the Kauffman Foundation, and Google.[5]

Bell is based in Washington, D.C. She identifies as bisexual.[6] As an advocate for the LGBTQIA community, she is committed to creating inclusive spaces for people of all gender identities and sexual orientations.[7]