Defying the Odds: A Trailblazer’s Journey
In 2019, Shani Dowell wrote her name in the annals of Tennessee’s entrepreneurial history by becoming the first Black woman to raise more than $1 million for her startup, Possip.
This remarkable achievement not only shattered glass ceilings but also underscored the power of perseverance and the pursuit of a visionary idea.
The Genesis of Possip: Empowering Communities Through Positive Gossip
Motivated by her own experiences as a parent and her background in education, Shani identified a recurring problem – the lack of a streamlined, fear-free channel for parents to voice their needs, ideas, and praise about their children’s schools.
This realization led to the birth of Possip, a platform designed to facilitate two-way feedback between parents and schools.
“Part of the genesis for Possip came from my own experiences in school. I wanted for future families to feel entitled, empowered, and able to contribute their ideas and perspective – and not feel limited or confined. Possip aims to tap into the power of community to strengthen schools and organizations.” – Shani Dowell
Overcoming Barriers: The Uphill Battle
Despite the innovative nature of her idea, Dowell faced significant challenges in securing investors. As she recounted, “Some investors in the edtech space had a jarring disconnect from what was happening at schools and what parents might actually need.” The lack of representation and understanding of the problem she aimed to solve made the fundraising process an uphill battle.
However, Dowell’s determination and belief in her vision eventually paid off when she found an institutional investor, making history as the first African-American woman in Tennessee to raise more than $1 million for a startup.
Transforming Education Through Positive Gossip
Possip, which stands for “positive gossip,” taps into the innate human tendency to gossip and channels it towards positive outcomes. The platform invites respondents to share concerns, celebrate successes, and acknowledge the hard work of educators and staff.
Data from the 2022-23 school year reveals that Possip served 1,184 schools and heard from over 265,500 unique family voices across 68 different languages.
With an average of 13 outreach efforts throughout the school year, Possip has moved beyond the confines of annual surveys, empowering schools to make informed decisions and enhance both the learning environment and community relations.
