In today’s economy, your digital assets are just as important as physical property—and for some entrepreneurs, even more so.
During our From Heritage to Hustle webinar series, over 80 percent of participants agreed: owning your website, digital tools, and customer data is the modern version of owning land. That insight is reshaping how we think about freedom, equity, and infrastructure—especially for Black- and Brown-owned businesses.
This isn’t just tech talk. It’s legacy talk.
The Problem: Digital Ownership Gaps Are Holding Us Back
Right now, most public policy and small business programs still focus on traditional assets—like real estate, storefronts, or inventory. But we’ve entered a knowledge economy, and that old playbook leaves many behind.
Far too many small business owners:
- Don’t own their websites or domains
- Don’t collect or control customer data
- Don’t have systems in place to protect their intellectual property
- Don’t know how AI can work for them instead of against them
And that lack of digital infrastructure is keeping our communities from scaling and competing—especially in government procurement, funding, and corporate contracts.
What Ownership Looks Like in 2025
At Table SALT Group, we define true business ownership as more than filing your LLC. It’s about having infrastructure—systems, protection, and digital clarity.
Here’s what digital independence looks like:
- You own your web domain and email platform
- You store and protect your customer data
- You have basic cybersecurity practices in place
- You’ve documented your brand, content, and business model
- You’re leveraging tools like our Legacy Logic™ to tell your story and respond to opportunities
“Legacy doesn’t just live in a deed or a title. It lives in your digital footprint.”
— Black to the Future Roundtable Discussion
CASE STUDIES: From Digital Chaos to Digital Control
1. Carmen, the Artist-Turned-CEO
A Houston-based muralist sold prints on Instagram for two years—but didn’t own a website. After working with CoachQuad GPT™, she registered her domain, commissioned a professional web developer to create a website that appealed to her core customers, and launched an email list. Within 6 months, she landed a commission through a city arts proposal—and her mailing list became a pipeline for passive income.
2. Luxe & Local Boutique
This Black-owned fashion boutique transitioned from a pop-up-only business to a full online operation. With help from a city-funded digital equity grant, they digitized inventory, trained staff on e-commerce, and built their business credit profile—doubling revenue in less than a year.
3. Dr. B, the Health Consultant
Dr. B ran in-person wellness workshops but hadn’t protected her IP. After a digital audit, she registered her content, trademarked her coaching framework, and uploaded her course to a secure LMS platform. She now licenses her training to health agencies across three states.
These aren’t just success stories—they’re blueprints for the future.
Digital Policy Recommendations That Support Our Entrepreneurs
Based on our research and community feedback, here are four practical actions that funders, community leaders, and advocates should take:
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