To celebrate Black Business Month, Capital B Atlanta is profiling innovative entrepreneurs during the month of August.
Anthony Gee knows Black women are good for business.
The CEO and founder of Koncept House, a co-working space in Castleberry Hill, launched his company because he saw an unmet need to serve small businesses in Atlanta.
And now, his location in a former warehouse hosts 30 young entrepreneurs, the majority of which are Black female creators.
With the help of his daughter Kai Christie Gee, Koncept House’s community manager and head of marketing, Gee is redefining the co-working experience in Atlanta.
The commercial real estate developer said he saw an opportunity in 2018 to create something unique by acquiring and renovating underutilized properties in developing neighborhoods.
“Koncept House features beautifully designed spaces tailored for these businesses,” Gee told Capital B Atlanta. “We focus on maker, creative, and e-commerce entrepreneurs — those who require space for equipment, manufacturing, sales, or providing services.”
And the investment has paid off. Koncept House currently features a roster of savvy creators offering services like non-alcoholic cocktails, luxury bath and beauty products, spa services, Pilates, painting, and more. Rates for the in-demand suites range from $700 to $4,000.
“Our focus is on talented Black women entrepreneurs who can create significant wealth for themselves and their families.”
Anthony Gee, Koncept House
“These spaces are designed to help talented entrepreneurs, particularly Black women entrepreneurs, grow and scale their businesses,” Gee said. “In doing so, we also aim to provide unique and sought-after experiences and amenities for the neighborhoods and cities where we develop.”
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The married father of three says he gets his drive partly from his mother.
“Despite only having a high school education, my mother established a thriving business, acquired real estate, and invested in the stock market,” Gee said. “She owned one of the largest and most successful hair salons in Springfield, Massachusetts. She was one of the hardest working and most intellectually curious individuals I’ve ever known.”
Another role model for the visionary founder, who plans to expand Koncept House around the country and ultimately create a global brand, is a Motown legend.
“Barry Gordy truly understood the power of Black culture and built Motown into a ‘hit factory,’ consistently developing artists into stars through their unique system. At Koncept House, we aim to achieve a similar impact by identifying and nurturing entrepreneurial stars.”
After previously running a venture capital fund and working on Wall Street, Gee said he believes the key to the creation of Black wealth is found in entrepreneurship.
“Our focus is on talented Black women entrepreneurs who can create significant wealth for themselves and their families, rather than just building billion-dollar tech companies.”
Business owners at Koncept House not only have access to thoughtfully designed spaces, but they also have the added benefit of working in an ecosystem of like-minded individuals to bounce ideas off of and to cheer one another on. Gee himself is also available to offer expert insight on scaling their businesses.
Here, Gee shares his thoughts on why Atlanta is a great place to launch a business and his plans for the future. This interview has been edited for clarity and length.
Capital B Atlanta: What made you want to launch Koncept House Holdings?
Anthony Gee: We launched this company because we believe the commercial real estate business is not adequately serving 95% of small businesses. Currently, small businesses needing more than a desk and chair, which are typically found in co-working spaces, have very limited options.
Our mission is to address this gap by providing beautifully designed spaces tailored for these businesses. We focus on “maker, creative, and e-commerce entrepreneurs” – those who require space for equipment, manufacturing, sales, or providing services.
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Where did you get the funding to launch your business?
My family initially started buying residential real estate in Massachusetts on a part-time basis. We used the proceeds from those sales to move into larger, commercial acquisitions. From there, we developed the current Koncept House business model. We started small and grew, reinvesting most of the capital back into the business.
What do you consider one of your major business achievements?
Our goal at the beginning of the year was to help a significant number of our entrepreneurs grow from solo entrepreneurs to businesses with employees. A number of them have been able to scale to teams of three to five. In the process we have also developed strategic relationships with Georgia State and Vower to assist with workforce development.
“Atlanta boasts strong Black business [and] political and entrepreneurial communities. This environment fosters a belief that anything is possible, generating a palpable energy and excitement.”
Anthony Gee, Koncept House
What has been one of your biggest challenges?
Our biggest challenge has been raising capital. Our business model makes it a bit more challenging to raise institutional debt. We have had to work hard to prove out the model and show strong financials.
What’s your advice to other Black entrepreneurs?
The most important thing is to get started. Begin small with the resources you have, continuously improve your business, and always listen to the market.
Secondly, mastering social media is crucial. It’s challenging to launch and maintain a business without a customer pipeline, which, in today’s world, largely comes from social media. If you can generate that pipeline without incurring costs, you are well on your way to success.
What are some of the goals you have for the future of Koncept House Holdings?
We are in the process of opening our second Koncept House location in Atlanta, in the Capitol View neighborhood. It is a historically Black neighborhood 2 miles south of Downtown, and our location is 0.1 miles from the Atlanta Beltline. Our goal is to introduce our first Koncept District that will have a commercial hub surrounded by residential development. This will allow our entrepreneurs to not only build their business but also purchase homes/condos in attractive neighborhoods that they are helping to redevelop.
Why is Atlanta a great place for entrepreneurs to launch a business?
Atlanta boasts strong Black business [and] political and entrepreneurial communities. This environment fosters a belief that anything is possible, generating a palpable energy and excitement. There’s also a strong desire within these communities to support one another, solidifying Atlanta’s reputation as the “Black capital.”
Click here to read more about Atlanta’s game-changing entrepreneurs and learn their secrets to success.
