Dr. AJ Austin

Dr. Andrieka J. Austin (Dr. AJ) is the Founder and CEO of Black Women In Grants, LLC, where she helps Black women-owned, for-profit small businesses find, apply for and win grants and grant-funded opportunities. Through mentorship, workshops and digital courses, she equips entrepreneurs with the tools, strategies and confidence needed to access debt-free non-traditional funding to start, sustain and scale sustainable businesses. Black Women In Grants, LLC exists to increase funding access and economic opportunity for Black women entrepreneurs in the United States. The company’s work supports several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, including Gender Equality (SDG 5), Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8) and Reduced Inequalities (SDG 10). Dr. AJ is Self-Made’s ‘Entrepreneur of The Year’, a recognized grant educator, entrepreneur and speaker whose community has helped over 700 Black women entrepreneurs secure more than $500,000 in grants and grant-funded opportunities. She is a graduate and fellow of several nationally recognized leadership and entrepreneurship programs, including Vital Voices GROW (VV GROW), Goldman Sachs ‘Black in Business’, the Google Data Center Community AI Fellowship and the Intuit IDEAS Program. Driven by a mission to help Black women build wealth, create impact, access opportunities and leave a legacy without taking on debt, Dr. AJ is committed to making funding education more accessible and actionable. Dr. Austin holds a Bachelor of Applied Science degree from Mercer University, is a Certified Life Coach and Master Life Coach Certification Trainer, an ordained Minister and the recipient of an Honorary Doctorate in Christian Psychology.