This story is part of a Portland Inno series on entrepreneurs under the age of 25.
Jospin Mugisha
Age: 20
Education: Portland State University, Marketing
Japhety Ngabireyimana
Age: 22
Education: Portland State University, Marketing with a certificate in Athletic and Outdoor Industry
Company: Bproud
Titles: Co-founders
What does your startup do: Bproud is a clothing brand from Portland, Oregon with a mission to create a difference in the world. We want every individual to be proud of themself and of what makes them unique! We specialize in creating apparel that encourages individuals to be confident of their identities.
Founded: 2020/21
Have you participated in any accelerators or incubators? PSU Center for Entrepreneurship — The Cube, student incubator program
How did your company come about?
Mugisha: It started as a passion project for my cousin and me. We are both business majors and we wanted to start a business. At first, we didn’t know that we wanted to start a clothing brand but after several deep conversations we realized that it was the best fit for us. I have always wanted to start a clothing brand and I was already creating my own clothing with a heat press but I never had the right support in the past. My cousin’s marketing experience and my design skills were the perfect combination for Bproud.
Ngabireyimana: We were born and raised in a refugee camp in Tanzania. At the age of 5 and 7, we moved to Portland. Moving to America was a huge culture shock for us. We couldn’t speak or understand any English so the first few years of school were incredibly difficult. We were bullied because of our accent, our food, and our clothes. It got to the point where we resented being African. So we got rid of our accents, threw away our clothes, and started to do whatever we needed to fit in with our peers. It wasn’t until the pandemic when we finally got time to spend with our families that we fell in love with our culture again. This new found love for our culture gave us so much confidence that it inspired us to start Bproud. For us, we needed to take pride in our culture, but we believe that every single person has at least one quality about themselves they should be proud of and Bproud’s goal is to remind everyone to Bdifferent, Byou and Bproud.
What is your ultimate vision for the startup?
Mugisha: I want Bproud to be a household name. I want people to be able to shop at our store and find something that calls to them. I don’t want to be just another streetwear brand, I want our clothing to last and grow with our customers.
Ngabireyimana: We have seen the amazing impact that Bproud has had on the people in our community. We’ve collaborated with multiple schools and organizations including Portland State University, the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, and Portland’s professional hockey team the Winterhawks. We have had the privilege to speak to multiple schools since we started and the DM’s we’ve gotten from kids telling us how Bproud inspired them is all the proof we need to know that Bproud is needed. We ultimately want this brand to be represented in every school district because we believe we can have the most impact there and that is also where our struggles began. Additionally, we want this to be a lifestyle brand that the typical person can wear and not only feel great, but also look great.
Have you always wanted to be an entrepreneur?
Mugisha: Growing up my dad always told me “Don’t go to school to work for someone else, go to school to work for yourself,” so I’ve always had the mindset to start my own business. Throughout high school, I tried every form of business from shoe reselling, affiliate marketing, drop shipping, and I even started a small art business. I watched my parents sacrifice their goals and dreams, working 7 days a week to provide a life for us in the United States. We never had any money and faced eviction several times. I never want my family or myself to ever worry about money, which is why I am so determined to become a successful entrepreneur.
Ngabireyimana: My desire to make a difference combined with my quest for knowledge has inspired me to pursue the entrepreneur lifestyle. My first taste of entrepreneurship came when I assisted my parents in informing Happiness Family Farm LLC. When the company originally started, I was juggling education, employment, and family responsibilities. As a result, I had little time to assist my parents in running the farm. (Recently) I was able to get more involved in running the farm, including our social media platform. Because I saw the positive effects our business had on our neighborhood and family, this accomplishment reaffirmed my desire to be an entrepreneur.
Do you ever feel like you are missing out on anything because you are following this path at such a young age?
Mugisha: I’ve always understood that I would have to make sacrifices to be successful, but I honestly don’t feel like I am missing out. I understand that I have to work hard in the moment to afford the life I want, but at the same time if I ever feel like going out and having fun then I do it. I also have found a way to have fun with the process.
Ngabireyimana: In the case of not going to parties everyday and doing what a typical college student is doing, then yes. Even though I am not living this lifestyle I am happy with the path I decided to take because it has made me a better person and leader. Even though being an entrepreneur isn’t easy, I believe that I have been able to challenge myself, learn numerous life lessons, and grow as a person.
Where do you go for advice and support?
Mugisha: My family are my number one support system. Whenever I have a question I can always count on them to make sure that I make the right decision. If they are not able to provide the information that I need, then I always reach out to my peers or mentors to assist me. The PSU Cube has been one of those places that I can go to for business support.
Ngabireyimana: The place I go for advice and support is the Cube. Abigail Van Gelder and Juan Barraza have been great mentors in helping grow the brand and get advice about things I don’t know. I also resort to books and podcasts when I am faced with a problem I don’t know how to solve.
