When Manuel and Geiszel Godoy received married 14 years in the past and had youngsters, they began paying to consideration to a jarring phenomenon: They couldn’t discover any comedian books for his or her kids with characters who appeared like them.

However Manuel and Geiszel determined to not merely settle for the state of affairs. As an alternative, seven years in the past, they shaped Black Sands Leisure, a Delaware-based firm that produces comedian books and graphic novels for younger readers within the Black neighborhood. They function Black characters, telling tales of historic Africa. “I didn’t wish to consistently see solely Hollywood variations of the traditional cultures of Africa,” says Manuel.

Now, with $3 million in income, the corporate is concentrated on a method to spice up development, primarily by means of gross sales to varsities.

Beginning Up

Manuel and Geiszel each had been stationed within the military within the early 2000’s, largely in Germany, she for three-and-and-a-half years, he for six, however they met after leaving the army. Every pursued varied levels, Guide in economics, Geiszel in trend design and trend administration. (She additionally had a level in administration). Six months after assembly, they received married. Then got here youngsters—and the inspiration for his or her firm.

The primary 12 months of the enterprise was powerful. The couple deliberate to begin with video video games. However they didn’t cut price for the way costly that will be. After spending hundreds of {dollars}, they determined it was time to pivot. In order that they raised $20,000 through a Kickstarter marketing campaign and switched to comics with a ebook referred to as Children 2 Kings. Since that point, they’ve produced near 50 chapters of comedian books—12 sequence, every with a number of chapters. The comics are distributed by means of Publishers Group West.

In 2021, the corporate launched an app for content material creators who lacked their very own platform. “We needed to verify they received lots of publicity,” says Manuel. Black Sands additionally introduced a few of these artists in-house.

Boosting Development

Extra just lately, the corporate closed down the app, a part of a method to deal with quicker development. “We have now to get larger to make an actual distinction within the tradition,” says Manuel.

With that in thoughts, the Godoys are dedicating $500,000 to rent a crew of gross sales reps specializing within the training market, as a part of a method to promote to high school districts and libraries. They just lately signed a cope with the Birmingham, Ala. college district for $37,000. Additionally they simply held two digital skilled growth periods with librarians and educators in New York Metropolis and Washington, D.C. “We’re instructing them find out how to use comedian books and graphic novels within the classroom to get youngsters to learn extra,” says Manuel.

In January 2022, the Godoys appeared on the present Shark Tank. Comic Kevin Hart, a particular visitor, and common Mark Cuban agreed to take a position a complete of $500,000 for a 30% stake. Afterward, the deal ended up breaking down, however the publicity, says Manuel, “was enormous for us.” The corporate additionally plans to lift $2 million by means of Wefunder; they’re kicking off the marketing campaign on Might 7. And it’s additionally again to creating video video games, “now that we’ve the assets to do it,” says Manuel.

“We needed to create content material for the following era, with heroes who mirrored them and their ancestral upbringing,” says Manuel. “Each baby must learn about their heritage and their tradition.”