Name: Michael DeVore
Profession: CEO of the Live Chair Barbershop App
Age: 22
One Word That Describes You: Visionary
Inspired by tech giants, Steve Jobs and Marc Zuckerberg, Michael DeVore wants to become a leader in the tech industry. “As a kid, I was impressed with how they created their own technology businesses,” DeVore tells BE Modern man. However, finding young African American role models who achieved the same level of success as Jobs and Zuckerberg, proved to be challenging.
“I have never seen a young, black college student create a multi-million dollar business that has impacted the world like Facebook and Apple. I want to be the person to achieve this goal.” With limited resources, DeVore used the tools he had to make his vision come to life. He enlisted a team of people to help him lay the ground work. “Once I recruited a team of individuals with different talents, I was able to execute my vision and progress farther.”
Unafraid to fail, DeVore believes that each time you try something, you either win or learn. His willingness to try more has enabled him to lose less. “I can fail repeatedly at something, but get better at it over time.” He has gotten better, but he has also worked smarter. “I swallowed my pride and admitted to myself that I would need help in order for this app to be as successful as I know it can be,” says DeVore. “Collaboration can produce better results. Once you reach your final goal, you will be glad that you did.
Most recently DeVore won the 2015 International Ozy Genius Award for his upcoming Live Chair Barbershop App. DeVore was chosen as the winner out of a group of 10 people with innovative ideas from around the globe. Not only did he win, but Steve Jobs’ wife was one of the judges
that chose his idea. “What makes this award so special is that I am the only person who won from a HBCU,” says DeVore. “Many people have preconceived notions about what a barbershop app is or does, but I have a vision to re-invent the barbershop app. I plan to make a positive impact on the lives of millions of African American families. His new technology will enhance the urban barbershop experience for barbers and their clients.Read more on the chances DeVore took which lead him to early success…
Bold and innovative, DeVore took a chance on himself. Taking risks has allowed him to grow, challenge himself, and find success. Whether you are in college or have taken a non-traditional route, Devore believes that education is extremely important. Faced with the challenge of balancing academics and entrepreneurship, DeVore had to find a way to successfully build his app and make the grade. “I
would spend so much time working on improving my ideas, which I enjoyed, and not pay much attention to my schoolwork. I liked to learn information about entrepreneurship that I could apply to my app business, but I knew that the next day I would have to catch back up with all of my school work. This year I graduated from Claflin University with a 3.9 GPA and my start-up business steadily growing.”At 22 years of age, and CEO of his mobile app business, DeVore believes that he is helping to change the narrative of young black men. “I constantly push myself to go after difficult opportunities in order to prove to black youth that a black man can do it. There have been so many instances where the odds of me succeeding were slim, but I overcame them through hard work and dedication. People often say that I am an exception among black men my age, but I believe that black men like me are the norm. I hope to pave the way and continue to break these stereotypes.”
“BE Modern Man signifies that I am on the right track to being a successful black entrepreneur. It is a great platform for me to share my story and connect with other black professionals. There are so many people who have invested in my success. Thank you to the United Athletes Foundation, Microsoft, Claflin University, the Institute for Responsible Citizenship, BE Modern Man, and Ozy. I am truly grateful.”
The BlackEnterprise.com team congratulates Michael DeVore on his 2015 international Ozy Genius Award, and the success of his Live Chair Barbershop App. We are grateful for young men like you who embody the idea that anything is possible.
It’s our normal to be extraordinary. Follow and join the BE Modern Man conversation at #BEModernMan and @blackenterprise