Following an interview with a local Atlanta TV show, “Atlanta & Company”, at the Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs (RICE), Evana and Zoe Oli — the founders of Beautiful Curly Me — received a $10,000 grant from Verizon.

Presented by recently retired NBA star Lou Williams, the cheque from Verizon’s Small Business Digital Ready program and partner LISC will support 11-year-old Zoe and her mom in growing the business.

“I’m going to use every cent to expand my company, my social impact and expand the line of dolls this Christmas,” she told The Atlanta Voice.

Her path to entrepreneurship began four years ago when her mother bought her a Black doll. While she loved it, she said it didn’t have the curly hair texture she wanted.

So, she decided to make her doll with the appropriate hairstyle after repeated fruitless attempts to find one in stores, not just for herself but also for other girls who had the same desire.

Now she has a six-figure business — all before the sixth grade, according to RICE. The two have expanded their collection, adding books, hair care accessories, clothing, face masks and sleeping caps.

Moreover, for every doll purchased, one is given to a young girl in need because the company believes that every girl deserves a doll in which she can see herself and feel beautiful inside and out.

Last Christmas, she gave away 1,000 dolls for Christmas to girls in need.

Since the Digital Ready program two years ago, Beautiful Curly Me has been one of tens of thousands of Black-owned businesses receiving support from the Digital Ready program.

“We saw that small businesses needed influence marketing, tax support, how to get a website, etc.,” Verizon communications officer Burnadette Brijlall told The Atlanta Voice. “All these resources are important to small businesses who need help getting into the digital economy. How do you take your business from being just brick and mortar to having an online presence?

“It’s not just about the grants that the program offers, but learning how to make your business better. There is coaching, mentorships, meet-ups, and guidance on the platform, and we will be holding sessions across the country this year,” she added.