Since most NFL players are millionaires, they’re often looking for good investments. A small group, headed by former Houston Texans star Arian Foster, has found one in a strange place… a 12-year-old girl’s lemonade business.
Austin resident Mikaila Ulmer started selling her grandmother’s honey-infused lemonade two years ago, and it’s become so popular that it’s now sold at some area grocery stores.
According to the Houston Chronicle, Foster, Glover Quin, Duane Brown, Jonathan Grimes, Omar Bolden, Bobby Wagner, Darius Slay, Sherrick McManis, EJ Manuel, Malik Jackson, Nick Martin and financial advisor Lameck Lukanga have collectively invested $810,000 in the business.
“Of course, anytime you invest in anything you look at if it’s going to be profitable,” Foster said. “We look for companies that match our main focus of developing a good product, but are also good people and do it for the right reasons. It’s more than about money to us. We believe that investing in small black businesses is extremely important.”
For her part, Ulmer is thrilled about the investment:
“It’s awesome that I get to work with and around these two,” Ulmer said while sitting next to Foster and Quin. “They’re very smart. I learned a lot from them in the past couple of hours. I’m very happy that I’m able to work with them and they invested in my company and them helping us and mentoring us and believing in our mission. I think we have a better chance of achieving our goals. That keeps me pumped and excited every day.”
Good for Foster for investing in a small black business, and for helping a young entrepreneur take another big career step.
