Richelieu Dennis, a social entrepreneur, investor, and inventor, has a passion for entrepreneurship and innovation from his family in Africa. He is to aid disadvantaged areas by furthering the idea of economic inclusion as a human right. His dedication has contributed to the development of Sundial Brands, a 27-year-old family-owned manufacturing firm that manufactures top hair, natural, bar and bath soaps, and body markers. After graduating from the elite Babson College Business School in 1991, richelieu dennis partnered up with his college roommate to solve particular skin and hair care concerns that skincare firms had previously disregarded.
Richelieu co-founded Sundial Brands after incorporating four generations of family recipes and expertise into natural bath and body care products. Richelieu pioneered the beauty and personal hygiene industries by focusing on the unmet requirements of diverse consumers. From selling its goods on the streets of New York City to co-selling and creating a broad portfolio of product offerings with the major stores in the United States, the personal care producer has expanded its direct sales to nations worldwide. Richelieu mediated the best natural personal care sale ever in the US, and the best consumer products agreement by a majority Black-owned healthcare firm, with Unilever’s landmark acquisition of Sundial Brands. Most notably, richelieu dennis and Unilever established the $100 million New Voices Fund to invest in and develop female entrepreneurs of color.
Richelieu launched Essence Ventures in 2017, an independent, black-owned consumer technology firm dedicated to bringing together information, community, and commerce to build an ecosystem that satisfies the cultural and lifestyle demands of people of color. The firm stated in January 2018 that it bought Essence Communications Inc. from Time Inc. Richelieu announced the purchase of Madam C.J. Walker’s Historic Estate, Villa Lewaro, through the New Voices Foundation in December 2018. Once the restoration work is over, Villa Lewaro will be used as a learning institution or think tank were women of color entrepreneurs. It will get curriculum-based in-person and other virtual learning tools to help them create, grow, and extend their enterprises.
Richelieu was to OWN’s “SuperSoul 100” list, which honors 100 trailblazers who utilize their strength, vision, and life’s work to raise consciousness and drive the world forward. Fast Company named him one of the “Most Creative People in Business” as well. President Ellen Johnson on Sirleaf of Liberia, one of the country’s highest awards, Knight Commander, inducted him into the Most Venerable Order of Pioneer Chivalry in 2017.
