Help A Sista Out (HASO) | Ad Astra Sankofa, LLC
We incubate Black & Brown women’s creative businesses—and provide the support they need to survive while building.
Project Description
We don’t lack talent. We lack support.
Over the last six months, I didn’t lose my skills.
I lost my support system.
My job.
My stability.
My insurance.
And with that—everything that made it possible to keep showing up as the woman I had spent years becoming.
I’m a U.S. Navy Veteran, a mother, and a builder with over 15+ years of experience developing people, systems, and strategy.
And still—like so many Black and Brown women—I found myself disrupted and close to losing everything.
Not because I failed. Because I was unsupported.
THE PROBLEM
Black and Brown women are constantly told to:
- “Be resilient”
- “Bounce back”
- “Pivot”
But no one asks:
What happens when survival gets in the way of rebuilding?
What happens when:
- You can’t afford transportation to interviews?
- You don’t have childcare?
- You’ve lost stability—and with it, your confidence?
What happens is this:
Brilliant women lose momentum—and are expected to rebuild from zero.
THE SOLUTION
Introducing HASO (Help A Sista Out)
HASO is a wraparound support system designed to help Black and Brown women stabilize their lives while rebuilding their careers, businesses, and creative work.
We provide:
- Transportation support
- Meals + care coordination
- Childcare assistance
- Community care circles
This is not charity. This is infrastructure.
BIGGER VISION
HASO is part of Ad Astra Sankofa, LLC—a venture studio incubating businesses led by Black and Brown women.
Because here’s the truth:
You cannot build or maintain a business if your life is falling apart.
We are solving that.
Not just for one woman—but for many.
Our Goal: $25,000
This funding will allow us to:
- Launch our first pilot cohort
- Build our systems (HubSpot, intake, coordination)
- Activate HASO’s care network
- Provide real, immediate support (rides, meals, childcare)
This is the difference between:
An idea, and a Functioning System that starts changing lives now
What Success Looks Like
With your support, we will:
- Serve our first 10–25 women
- Provide direct stabilization support
- Help participants re-enter work or build income
- Document and refine a scalable model
I am:
- A Mother
- A Black Woman
- A Navy Veteran
- A Matriarch
- A builder with over two decades of lived and professional experience
And I refuse to accept that women like me should have to start over—alone—every time systems fail us.
If you’ve ever:
- Needed help but didn’t have it
- Watched a woman struggle in silence
- Wanted to support something real
This is your opportunity.
Help us build the systems we should have always had.
Where your money goes:
- $7,500 → Transportation support fund
- $4,500 → Meals + care coordination
- $5,500 → Systems + tools (HubSpot, communication, technology)
- $7,500 → Pilot program operations
We have launched our pilot and need $25,000 in the next 45 days.
This campaign is powered by community—not institutions.
Updates
The Campaign FAQs
What is Ad Astra Sankofa?
Ad Astra Sankofa, LLC is a venture studio that incubates and supports businesses led by Black and Brown women. We focus on helping women build sustainable ventures—especially during times of personal or financial disruption.
What is HASO (Help A Sista Out)?
HASO is our wraparound support system designed to ensure women can actually function while building. It provides coordinated support like transportation, meals, childcare, and care circles so participants don’t lose momentum during difficult seasons.
Is this a nonprofit or a business?
Ad Astra Sankofa, LLC is a business with a social impact model. We are building sustainable systems that support founders while also creating long-term economic opportunities through the businesses we incubate.
How will my contribution be used?
Funds raised will go directly toward launching our pilot program, including:
Setting up operational systems (CRM, intake, coordination tools)
Supporting our first cohort of women founders
Activating HASO support services (transportation, care coordination, etc.)
Covering essential startup and execution costs
Who will benefit from this campaign?
Black and Brown women who are experienced, skilled, and motivated—but currently facing barriers like job loss, financial instability, or lack of support systems.
How is this different from other business programs?
Most programs focus only on business development.
We focus on the whole woman.
We recognize that without stability—transportation, childcare, basic support—no woman or business can succeed. HASO ensures participants are supported in real life, not just on paper.
How will you measure success?
Success looks like:
Women actively building and launching businesses
Participants maintaining consistency despite life challenges
Tangible outputs (business plans, services, products, revenue pathways)
Reduced “start over” cycles for participants
Is this model scalable?
Yes. Ad Astra Sankofa is designed as a repeatable model that can:
Support multiple cohorts
Expand into different regions
Attract future funding through grants, partnerships, and earned revenue
Can I get involved beyond donating?
Yes! We welcome:
Community supporters
Mentors and advisors
Service providers
Potential partners
If you’d like to support beyond funding, please reach out—we are building a community around this work.
Why is this work urgent right now?
Too many women are being pushed out of stability and expected to rebuild without support.
This moment is creating unnecessary loss—of talent, confidence, opportunity, and in some cases—LIVES.
We are building a system that ensures women don’t disappear during hard seasons—but instead continue building through them.
What happens after this campaign?
Our Co-Founders will:
Launch/Maintain our pilot cohort
Begin active incubation of participant businesses
Operate and refine the HASO support system
Document outcomes to expand into larger funding opportunities
This campaign is the starting point—not the finish line.
How can I stay updated?
Follow along through campaign updates and future communications. We’ll be sharing progress, stories, and milestones as we build.
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