When April Johnson had the idea to start Happied, a company that uses technology to build community through food and drink experiences, she knew she had to go for it.

Happied started in 2016 as a simple blog where Johnson shared insights into happy hours in the Washington, D.C. area. That idea quickly grew into a mobile app with a database of more than 450 happy hours that can be found in D.C. But when COVID-19 forced people to stay home, Happied pivoted to hosting virtual community happy hours and social experiences online through a platform that organizations could leverage. Despite the success of the changes this year, Johnson said there are still some stigmas as a minority founder that seem to haunt her.

"There's been an interesting shift in the last few months. In general, minority founders are given less of the benefit of the doubt," Johnson said in an email interview. "We don't have the luxury of failure like our white colleagues. It goes back to the old adage that if you're a black person, you have to 'work twice as hard.'"

In recent months, there has been growing support for Black-owned businesses amid public outrage over racial injustice following the killing of George Floyd. But Johnson says he’s not sure if that will continue or if it’s a response to the circumstances.