Mathematician turned tech founder receives $25k grant to help Black girls overcome math anxiety

Having taught mathematics for a number of years, Brittany Rhodes noticed that Black girls struggled to catch up and so she developed an app to help close the gap. She created Black Girl MATHgic to teach young girls in 3rd grade-8th grade to fall in love with math and also help them overcome math anxiety.

Black Girl MATHgic is a monthly subscription box service designed to increase math confidence in girls. Every month, subscribers get a box containing a math lesson, items to make learning tangible and fan, a profile of a Black female mathematician, and an affirmation to boost self-confidence.

Rhodes officially launched Black Girl MATHgic in 2019. Since then, she has sold over 1,100 boxes to over 30 states in the U.S. and she is now processing orders to Canada. Rhodes recently secured a $5,000 equity-free grant from HBCUvc and PledgeLA, which she plans to invest in a business manager.

Her initiative appears to be attracting the attention of more organizations that are committing more funds to assist her to expand her movement. Rhodes is a recipient of American Express’s “100 for 100” program established to invest in the future of Black women entrepreneurs in the U.S. The initiative is being run in conjunction with fundraising platform IFundWomen of Color.

She received $25,000 from the program to expand the capacity of her Balck Girl MATHgic initiative. Aside from the grant, she will also receive business education, mentorship, marketing, virtual networking, WorkSpaces by Hilton hotel reservation credits and more to help her expand her business. 

“I am so honored and grateful to be chosen as a ‘100 for 100’ program recipient! This opportunity couldn’t have come at a better time as I prepare to grow my team and launch new products to continue to build math confidence in our next generation,” she told Yahoo news. 

According to her, the initiative will not only provide cash for her enterprise, but will help her enhance her website, roll out new marketing initiatives, and publish children’s books.

“American Express is proud to support the highly talented and innovative entrepreneurs selected for our 100 for 100 program, as they kick start their ventures and keep the momentum going so their businesses can continue to evolve,” said Clayton Ruebensaal, EVP Global B2B Marketing, American Express. 

Apart from Rhodes, 99 other Black women entrepreneurs also received the $25,000 grant to expand their businesses. The entrepreneurs selected for the grant cuts across sectors such as fashion and beauty, food and beverage, finance, fitness and wellness, home goods, apparel, technology, social good, according to Yahoo news.