I’ve helped spark a new generation of Black entrepreneurs who look like me.
Proxie: Empowering A New Generation Of Entrepreneurs
Autumn is the owner and founder of Proxie, an entrepreneurship consulting organization based in Detroit. Her organization provides technical assistance and coaching to Black women entrepreneurs across the country.
Sweet history.
Sweet history.
Before engaging with other entrepreneurs through Proxie, Autumn started out sweet. The first step of her journey was co-founding Detroit Dough, a safe-to-eat cookie dough company based in the historically African American neighborhood of Northwest Goldberg. Small business support has been crucial to Autumn’s pursuit of building impactful ventures throughout the city of Detroit.
Supporting the community.
Supporting the community.
Proxie embodies Autumn's passion for full-service consulting in the Black women entrepreneurship community. According to Forbes1, Black women make up 42 percent of new women-owned businesses — yet they are often underfunded and insufficiently supported. Proxie's one-stop shop model addresses this disparity providing coaching that has helped over 175 diverse businesses, 15 technical assistance clients, and more than 1,900 community members.
More than a member.
More than a member.
Autumn sees Lake Trust as more than a business banking partner. Before becoming a member and founding Proxie, she actually presented her thoughts on the entrepreneurial ecosystem nearly four years ago at a Build Institute1 event powered by Lake Trust.
It was at this event that Autumn first connected with Lake Trust and formed the relationship that would lead to future opportunities. She was most recently invited to speak at our Business Power Series in 2021. As a now-seasoned public speaker and thought leader in the Detroit area, she states, “Lake Trust gave me one of my first platforms to speak on my expertise.”
It was at this event that Autumn first connected with Lake Trust and formed the relationship that would lead to future opportunities. She was most recently invited to speak at our Business Power Series in 2021. As a now-seasoned public speaker and thought leader in the Detroit area, she states, “Lake Trust gave me one of my first platforms to speak on my expertise.”
A spirited future.
A spirited future.
With Autumn at the helm, Proxie continues to build its community and unleash the power of diverse micro-businesses and Black women entrepreneurs. She can be found at speaking engagements and workshops throughout the area — always working to inspire ambitious small business owners to realize their goals. That’s the power of the entrepreneurial spirit.
