🚀 Day 25 of #ScaleBlack for #BlackHistoryMonth, and today we’re celebrating activist and entrepreneur, Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins, the CEO & Co-Founder of Promise Pay. Alongside her CoFounder, Diana Frappier, she’s using technology to break down financial barriers and make bill payments fair, flexible, and accessible—because no one should have to choose between keeping the lights on and putting food on the table. 💡 Let’s talk about the reality for millions of Americans. As of March 2023, nearly 20 million households were behind on their utility bills—a jump from 17.6 million the year before. For too many people, paying for essentials like water, electricity, or court fees isn’t just another bill—it’s a financial trap. Outdated systems pile on late fees, penalties, and service shut-offs, pushing struggling families even further into debt. That’s where Promise Pay comes in. 🧾 A Better Way to Pay Phaedra and Diana built Promise Pay to give people real options—not punish them for falling behind. By working with government agencies and utilities, Promise Pay offers: ✔️ Flexible payment plans that actually work for people’s budgets ✔️ Automated reminders to help avoid late fees ✔️ Multiple payment options to make it easier to stay on track The result? People can keep their essential services without getting buried under fees, and agencies get paid without resorting to harsh penalties. It’s a win-win. 🏦 Rebuilding Financial Systems That Work for People 🔹 $50M+ in funding, backed by First Round Capital, Kapor Capital, Y Combinator, and Howard Schultz—fueling Promise Pay’s growth to a $520M+ valuation. 🔹 Modernizing outdated government and utility systems with smarter, more compassionate payment options. 🔹 Bridging fintech & policy, with a world-class team featuring experts from Google, Stripe, Palantir, and top government agencies. Phaedra is proving that financial stability and economic justice shouldn’t be a privilege—it should be a right. 🔥 #ScaleBlack is all about celebrating Black-led innovation that makes a real difference. Today, we honor Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins and Promise Pay for using technology to create a fairer, more inclusive financial system—one where people aren’t punished just for struggling. 🔗 Learn more the work, mission, and impact at www.promise-pay.com