Delmar Johnson and Shayna Atkins are the founders of ExpandHR, the first black woman-owned, user-friendly human resources platform. The duo says their startup targets mainly the over two million black business owners in America.
“We want our product to serve all small business owners universally, but as African-American women launching a new application in human relations and technology, serving small business owners who look like us and understanding the unique struggles we face is an added bonus,” says Johnson.
The duo was inspired to start the company based on their own experiences as entrepreneurs who were always seeking tools that could help streamline how they operate.
The platform allows entrepreneurs to expedite the integration of new employees and contractors, in addition to providing HR consulting, as well as a budget-friendly payroll management system.
“Many small businesses feel overwhelmed, don’t know where to start, feel stuck on how to hire new people, or aren’t clear on what stage or phase of your business is next. What’s the step?” Johnson quizzes. “ExpandHR allows businesses to be structured to take their business to the next level,” he told Black Business.
Johnson and Atkins decided to create ExpandHR in order to change the way entrepreneurs hire fresh employees while staying compliant in their businesses. They combined their professional experiences as business owners in this regard.
Johnson is a Gen X HR specialist with over 25 years of experience as a consultant to Fortune 50 companies and small businesses. Atkins, on the other hand, is a Millennial Product Manager and Agile Coach, specializing in teaching Agile methodologies to Fortune 500 clients, and runs a consulting firm, Black Business reported.
The journey to starting ExpandHR started when the two women met at a bar in Buckhead and instantly connected, discussing tech and business growth. In less than one year, they joined forces to create the best HR software company for small businesses in the world.
“As a startup, success at ExpandHR™ is so much more than about making money; it’s about consciously wanting to make a long-term difference not only for our own lives, but for our customers and our employees – both who help make it all possible everyday,” the company said on its website.
