Meet Autumn Kyles | Founder, Proxie

We had the good fortune of connecting with Autumn Kyles and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Autumn, is your business focused on helping the community? If so, how?
Proxie’s main goal is to bridge the gap between business resources and Black women entrepreneurs. Knowing that Black women are the largest demographic to start businesses, yet we’re the least funded, I wanted to create services and a space to make us grow and thrive. More specifically, keep all of my consultations affordable and donate all revenue to local Detroit non-profits.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Proxie is a community that bridges the gap between business resources and Black women entrepreneurs. According to Forbes, Black women are the largest demographic to start small businesses yet, they are the least funded. Proxie is the only business resource community that targets black women who are in the ideation phase or pre-revenue phase of business to help them grow strategically and effectively to gain more revenue and funding in the future. Since April 2020, Proxie has grown to a 1700+ social media community of Black women business owners from across the country and have partnered with national brands like HoneyBook. Flodesk, and Honigman Law.

It was not easy starting Proxie. I started this business in a space that’s highly saturated with other business communities and organizations in the national entrepreneurship ecosystem. However, I felt like my experience and story deserves a place at this table, so I decided to create something unique and authentic to entrepreneurs like me.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If I had my best friend visit Detroit for the weekend, I’d make sure to show them the best the city has to offer. The first day, we’d do a downtown tour visiting my favorite places like the Z lot, the Detroit Institute of Arts, and Belle Isle. I’d then take her to to a fancy dinner at Prime + Proper. The next day, we’ll do a bike tour to show her around the historic houses and neighborhoods of the city. We’ll of course visit the Eastern Market, one of the oldest open markets in the country. I’m a homebody so we’d probably get takeout from Bucharest Grill and do a game night in the evening! Lastly, we’d do brunch on her last day in Ferndale and visit some of the state parks in the suburbs.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I am shouting out my mom, Zena Kyles, for consistently supporting me and standing in the gap. I love you and I am so inspired by your love and sacrifice for me.

Website: www.proxiedetroit.com

Instagram: proxiedetroit

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/autumnkyles/

Twitter: proxiedetroit

Facebook: www.facebook.com/proxiedetroit