Justin Evans Creates Space for Young ‘Entrepioneers’ Across the Globe

By Ameera Steward | The Birmingham Times

During his time as a club promoter, Justin Evans met a business owner who told him that he “could always make money and be successful by [elevating] small business owners.”

With that in mind, 34-year-old Evans decided to start his business Young Entrepioneers where he and his team of 25, based in Birmingham as well as overseas, help promote and highlight small businesses.

Some of their clients are The Kloset, Hot Spot Wings, Terrific Treatz, The Denmarks, and more.

“Our goal is to provide startup business owners and seasoned business owners with the tools and resources that they need to sustain in business,” Evans said. “We provide…marketing, media and consulting.”

Surrounded by Entrepreneurs

Born in Smithfield Manor, located in North Birmingham, Evans was surrounded by entrepreneurship. His great-grandmother, Jewel Thomas, was the mayor of Brighton, making her one of the first female mayors in Alabama.

“My entrepreneur background comes from campaigning with her and putting out…signs, and she would pay me money for it,” Evans recalled. “I used to clean the kitchen…clean the patio…wash cars…So even when I was little, people around me used to pay me for small things.

Doing jobs for people gave him the freedom to buy his own toys, sparking a taste for being his own boss.

In addition, his uncle, Cerci ‘Surge’ Baskin, owns Cotu Azul, a barbershop and natural product vendor located at 321 Eighth Avenue North.

“He was the first person I knew to not have a [traditional] job,” Evans said. “So being around people like him, people just showing me the ropes, it inspired me to take on a different journey.”

Evans graduated from Midfield High School in 2010 and went on to study communications at Birmingham Southern College for one year. In 2011, he transferred to Miles College, where he graduated with his bachelor’s degree in communications in 2016.

During his college years, Evans worked as a club promoter, which provided him with different marketing and promotional skills. One night while working, he met the owner of PH Ultra Lounge [located at 930 5th Ave. N.], Thebious Roland, who helped him see his potential outside of club promotion.

“He told me that I could always make money and be successful by helping elevate small business owners and people who look like me,” Evans explained. “That was something that stuck with me, and it was during a time when I was ready to change my life as far as being a club promoter.”

Evans was not only impressed with the club itself, but also the fact that someone like him was operating a successful business in the center of downtown Birmingham.

After graduating, Evans was unable to find a job within communications, so he started working on his brand immediately. He graduated in May 2016 and launched his brand Young Entrepioneers in August 2016.

“I took my club promotion skills and just started doing business promotion — promoting people…who worked hard, owned a business and needed exposure or recognition.”

Trust The Process

Evans describes Young Entrepioneers as a business that’s “a little bit different” from traditional public relations and marketing firms.

“We have several ways that we highlight and recognize our clients’ businesses,” said Evans. “They can always count on me or someone on our team to at least share it digitally…where we have consumers and other owners who understand the hard work and sacrifice that goes behind [owning a business].”

Evans continued, “we have an email blast that goes out to approximately 20,000 people right here in Alabama…where if your business or brand needs a boost…they pay or contact us and ask us to sponsor marketing for them, and we’ll include it in our group email blast that goes out about two to four times per month.”

In addition to ensuring his clients receive the exposure they need, his team hosts events in the city of Birmingham.

In 2016, Young Entrepioneers started hosting pop-up shops at the same clubs and venues he used to promote, ensuring that Evan’s business circulated the dollar within the Birmingham community.

Some of his clients went from setting up a tent or table at pop-up shops to owning buildings.

Evans added that he just wants to “cultivate decent business environments for small business owners to thrive in.”

In addition to email blasts, social media posts, and pop-up shops, Young Entrepioneers hosts an award show called Success in the City, where they present approximately 52 awards to small business owners each year.

Those who don’t receive an award are a part of the “300 businesses listed on our voting site [labeled] as the best of the best…in the city,” said Evans. “We’re not funded by the city…we’re not attached to any boards…So what we’re doing is literally off the strength of love, and it’s something we power ourselves.”

Their next award show will be held in April 2027.

Although Young Entrepioneers is a Birmingham-based business, their clients and team members come from all over the world, including Sri Lanka, India, and Nigeria.

“Our goal is to provide start-up…and seasoned business owners with the tools and resources that they need to sustain in business,” Evans expressed. “We know most businesses don’t last within the first…three years. We understand that struggle, and we want to figure out how we can [simplify the process].”

Evans added that people within the Black community are being overlooked by the customer, and “that inspires me to show that we don’t have to leave our neighborhoods or our city…we don’t have to overlook what we have within our ecosystem.”

“I really believe in Birmingham. I love my city,” he said. “I’m willing to risk, sacrifice, put my name on the line, invest my money…do whatever I need to do to help.”

Evans said his business motto is “We trust the process.”

“So, we’re going to encourage you to trust the process…and allow us to provide you with the resources that you need,” he said.

For more information, visit their website www.youngentrepioneers.com or follow on Instagram and Facebook @youngentrepioneers.