What Obi Omile Jr. describes as a personal need to connect with hairdressers grew into the motivation behind his company, which is committed to modernizing the hairdressing experience.

To help people who are experiencing the same struggle to find a good barber, Omile teamed up with his best friend, Kush Patel, to launch theCut, a minority-owned software company that provides tech solutions for barbershops. The 4-year-old company primarily operates a mobile marketplace that connects barbers with customers across the country. However, the biggest struggle has been gaining access to venture capital and raising funds in general.

“When some of our peers were only able to invest with an idea, it was harder for us because the investors we were talking to didn’t have context, making it harder for them to see the vision,” Omile told Lifewire via email. “Investors also expect more traction from our company than others in our similar stage because they don’t have the confidence that comes from ‘warm’ introductions.”

Omile was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, but his family moved to Northern Virginia when he was in high school. After living in Alexandria, Virginia for a few years, his family moved again to the Woodbridge area, where he eventually graduated from C.D. Hylton High School.