When the world watched the horrifying murder of George Floyd in 2020, millions took to the streets in pain, outrage, and solidarity. For many, it was a tragic reminder of how often Black lives are disregarded. For entrepreneur Lamine Loco, it was also the moment that changed the trajectory of his life—and ultimately sparked the creation of Miiriya, one of today’s most impactful platforms for Black-owned businesses and community support.
A Vision Born in the Middle of a Movement
Before Miiriya existed, Lamine felt a growing frustration—protests flared up, emotions ran high, then everything faded. Marches, boycotts, and outrage would dominate social media for a week… then disappear without long-term infrastructure to sustain the momentum.
He realized something profound:
“You can’t boycott without alternatives.”
Black Americans spend more money than almost any other group, yet make up only 2.9% of business ownership in the U.S. Without access to Black-owned alternatives, boycotts lose power before they begin.
So Lamine decided to build the alternative himself.
What Is Miiriya?
Miiriya is a beautifully simple yet deeply impactful app built to strengthen economic power within the Black community. It allows users to:
- Shop Black-owned businesses from a single platform
- Register a business for free with unlimited product listings
- Make purchases directly on the vendor’s own website—giving them full control and immediate payouts
- Support community members in need through a built-in Mutual Aid system
The result is an ecosystem that keeps dollars circulating within the community and provides life-changing support to those facing hardship.
Miiriya’s Mutual Aid Movement: Nearly $200,000 Raised
One of the most powerful parts of Miiriya is its Mutual Aid section—something Lamine calls his proudest accomplishment.
This feature allows users to donate directly to people in crisis. So far, the Miiriya community has helped nearly 200 people avoid eviction, keep their lights on, pay medical bills, secure food, and climb out of impossible situations.
Almost $200,000 has been raised—real money, reaching real people, in real time.
This isn’t charity through a corporation.
This is neighbor helping neighbor—no middleman, no delay, no red tape.
Overcoming Challenges and Rebuilding Stronger
Miiriya’s journey hasn’t been without obstacles. At one point, during the holiday season, PayPal froze the company’s account, holding a devastating amount of funds and nearly destroying the business overnight.
But Lamine rebuilt everything.
He reengineered Miiriya so it never again had to depend on PayPal or any single payment gateway. The platform you see today is stronger, safer, and built with safeguards born from experience.
A Founder Fueled by Purpose
Lamine describes entrepreneurship as hectic but freeing, because he controls his work—and every improvement he makes directly strengthens the community he serves.
His mission is simple but powerful:
“I hope to impact those struggling the most in the community, and make enough of a change that there are less struggling people every moment Miiriya stays a company.”
If he had to choose a single word to live by, it would be this:
“Improve.”
And that’s exactly what he’s doing—improving access, improving outcomes, improving community connection, and improving the economic landscape for Black people everywhere.
How You Can Support Miiriya
You can download Miiriya on any device from any App Store.
Whether you’re a shopper, a business owner, or someone who wants to support families in need, the platform is a powerful way to make an immediate difference.
📲 Download Miiriya
📧 Contact: miiriyaa@gmail.com
