Mark Cuban Encourages Black Women Entrepreneurs to Prioritize Financial Literacy and Self-Funding at SXSW
Mark Cuban is well-known for his candid business insights, and his recent remarks at SXSW 2025 have sparked an important conversation within the entrepreneurial community. Speaking alongside entrepreneur and Chief Empowerment Officer Tabitha Brown on a panel hosted by fintech company Clover, Cuban encouraged Black women entrepreneurs to adopt strategies similar to his own approach of bootstrapping.
Cuban emphasized the importance of financial literacy and encouraged Black women entrepreneurs to deeply understand their business finances. In a conversation with Essence, Cuban noted, “Even though only 2% of venture capital funding goes to female-only founding teams, knowing your numbers makes you more likely to secure loans and external support.” Cuban’s stance aligns with his own entrepreneurial journey, suggesting that bootstrapping provides greater long-term stability and independence by allowing entrepreneurs to retain full ownership and control.
The SXSW panel was hosted by fintech company Clover, which recently partnered with Tabitha Brown, who joined the conversation as Clover’s Chief Empowerment Officer. Brown added a complementary perspective, reminding entrepreneurs to persevere despite systemic challenges. “Even if it’s slow, progress is still progress,” she emphasized.
Advertisement
Yet, the reality remains that Black women—who represent the fastest-growing group of entrepreneurs in the United States—still face significant hurdles when accessing traditional funding. The limited venture capital allocated highlights an ongoing disparity that demands attention and action.
Both viewpoints are valid and necessary. Cuban’s bootstrapping advice offers insights into building sustainable businesses through financial discipline, but simultaneously, there must be acknowledgment of the critical need for external resources and education to bridge funding disparities.
Ultimately, for Black women entrepreneurs, combining Cuban’s practical advice on financial literacy and bootstrapping with active efforts to secure external funding and resources could be the most powerful strategy for sustained business success.
Watch the full SXSW 2025 segment here.
