Five to Nine serves as a SaaS (Software as a service) platform that facilitates a company’s ability to run internal events under a single programme. Its event management software helps companies manage and measure company events.

The Chicago-based company’s software allows organisations to plan programmes for their employee resource groups (ERGs). ERGs are employee-led groups that foster diversity and inclusivity, and build community through shared experiences. It also gives firms attendance and feedback data for ERG events to measure the effectiveness of their employee engagement initiatives.

A women-led and minority-owned firm, it was founded by Jasmine Shells and Denise Umubyeyi in 2018, and works with enterprises including Verizon Media, MasterClass, and DoorDash. Its product integrates with messaging app Slack, and user authentication firm Okta among others. Shells, who also serves as CEO, told TechCrunch that “Over 90 percent of the Fortune 100 companies have ERGs, but less than 10 percent of companies have any data on how their ERGs are working. What we’re doing is super needed in the market.”Shells and Umubyeyi met at Notre Dame University, and were inspired by the entrepreneurial spirits and examples of their parents to launch their business. 

Shells, who is African American, followed in the footsteps of her father, who left his corporate job to start a company, while Umubyeyi grew up watching her parents use entrepreneurship to support their family and community. 

Hoping to build on her family’s legacy, Umubyeyi, who is the company’s COO, and of Rwandese origin, said: “I saw entrepreneurship as one way to not only create a legacy for yourself and your family, but also a way to help the community and bring other people up with you.”

According to TechCrunch, the feat which took six months to close, will see Shells and Umubyeyi join a group of around 250 Black women who have raised over $1 million in venture capital.