Meet Daryl “DJ” Riley | Entrepreneur

We had the good fortune of connecting with Daryl “DJ” Riley and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Daryl “DJ”, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
My fashion tech business, Tendaji, initially started as a senior engineering design project while my now co-founders, Stanton Ridley, Jordan Walls, and I were attending Hampton University. Not only did we believe that we could receive an “A” for the course, but we also felt this idea could have a societal impact. In April 2020, we submitted our project to the Forbes-sponsored pitch competition, “The Future Is iCON.” We received word that we had won the “Future of Fashion” section on June 24, 2020, consequently our founding date. Once we won, we told ourselves, “If Forbes is telling us ‘yes,’ why would we tell ourselves ‘no?'” A couple of days later, we were looking for a name with a deep meaning that could represent our brand, and we chose “Tendaji” because it means “make things happen” in Swahili. The rest is history!

My nonprofit, GiveBLK, was founded after my colleagues and I (all of us are a part of Generation Z and the Black Diaspora) saw a change needed to be made. I saw myself joining GiveBLK because its mission had aligned with my mission which is to essentially restore the Black community with social, educational, and professional development. A couple of months after its inception, I was appointed GiveBLK’s President and for our debut project, we were brought on by the Invesco QQQ Legacy Classic (founded by actor, Michael B. Jordan) and created an ambassador program for current HBCU students. We selected 11 HBCU student ambassadors to represent themselves, their HBCUs, and the Legacy Classic itself via social media and the weekend of the event in the NYC metropolitan area. When my GiveBLK team and I saw our logo on the jumbotron in front of tens of thousands of people at the Prudential Center, we knew we had to keep going and show what we are capable of doing when the Black Diaspora effectively works together.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am a 27-year-old entrepreneur from Newburgh, NY. As a first-generation college graduate from two HBCUs, Hampton University and North Carolina A&T State University, I have always been driven to make a significant impact on society.

My entrepreneurial journey began at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic when I founded my fashion technology business, Tendaji, Inc. “Tendaji” means “make things happen” in Swahili, and as the CEO, I live by that motto every day. Tendaji started as my senior design project at Hampton University, along with my partners Jordan Walls and Stanton Ridley. We saw the potential for societal impact and turned it into a business that creates fashionable streetwear with technical benefits. Our hard work has earned us several accolades, including being named a 2023 Prize Winner for Pharrell William’s Black Ambition Prize Competition and receiving mentorship from prominent figures like Super Bowl Champion, David Tyree, and Louis Vuitton Americas CEO, Lanessa Elrod.

I am also the founder of the nonprofit GiveBLK, Inc., established in June 2022. As GiveBLK’s President, I led our first major project in February 2023: an ambassador program for the Invesco QQQ Legacy Classic hosted by Michael B. Jordan. We brought 11 outstanding HBCU students as GiveBLK Legacy Ambassadors to highlight their schools and the Legacy Classic through social media and event participation. The students attended the Legacy Classic Welcome Event at iHeartRadio Headquarters in NYC, where they heard Michael B. Jordan speak about his movie Creed III, and enjoyed the games from the Pizza Hut suite with free gear from Puma. Looking ahead, we plan to apply for grants to expand GiveBLK’s impact across the African Diaspora through social, educational, and professional advancements.

My journey has not been without challenges. Growing up in Newburgh, NY, once labeled the “Murder Capital of NY,” I faced significant adversity, including the death of my grandmother just before my 18th birthday and a near-death experience on my mother’s birthday. While a junior at Hampton, my roommate (now best friend) and I went viral on Twitter for bringing mental health awareness to the forefront of campus issues, one of my proudest moments that further solidified my commitment to advocating for mental health.

I am a member of ForbesBLK, was honored to be named an HBCUBuzz 30 Under 30 recipient, and was featured on the NASDAQ billboard in Times Square. Additionally, I’ve created content for Instagram pages like Watch the Yard and the Invesco QQQ Legacy Classic, appeared in a Fossil ad for their Black History Month watch, and proudly became a Fall 2022 initiate of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

I define myself and refuse to let others define me. Through my work with Tendaji and GiveBLK, I strive to make a lasting impact on society and inspire others to overcome adversity and achieve their dreams.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If my best friend was in the North Carolina area, I would HAVE to take them to North Carolina A&T’s GHOE. The energy is vibrant! The food is great and the people (whether students, alumni, staff/faculty, or guests) are fun to be around! We would go to the Homecoming Concert, the Greek Step Show, the football game, and last but certainly not least, the Tailgate! AGGIE PRIDE!!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
First and foremost, I want to thank God for directing my path. Without Him, I would not be where I am today. To my parents, thank you for raising me the way you did. None of your hard work and sacrifice won’t go unnoticed. It’s an honor to continue the Riley Legacy. To my girlfriend, Charisma, you have loved me during my highest of highs and my lowest of lows. Thank you for always praying for and with me and supporting me even when I felt like I couldn’t help myself. I love you so much! Shoutout to my friends and family for rooting for me throughout all my blessings and lessons. Much love to you all! I want to thank myself for never giving up on myself even when others did. Thank you to Shoutout North Carolina for this article feature! Lastly, a shoutout to my entire village. If you poured into me in any way, shape, or form, I truly want to thank you. Whether it was my hometown, Newburgh, NY, my HBCUs, Hampton and North Carolina A&T, my fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha, my businesses, Tendaji and GiveBLK, or organizations like Black Ambition and Black Girl Ventures, I have the utmost respect and gratitude for you all. Thank you so much everyone, and God Bless!

Instagram: @_dr.jr

Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/daryl-riley-jr/

Other: Tendaji Email: [email protected]
GiveBLK Email: [email protected]

Image Credits
Black Ambition Prize Competition
Instagram: @aa_dawg