Name: Obinna (Obi) Onungwa
Profession: Founder, Cue
Age: 28
I have contributed to my industry by: creating Cue, an app designed to help people find, book, rate and pay top barbers throughout the world. iOS users should search for “Cue Barber” in the App Store and prepare for the grooming experience of a lifetime!
Barber shops are more than a place to get your haircut. They have become a place of social interaction, public discourse and in many instances public forums. On a Saturday morning you will hear open debates, people voicing public concerns, and engaging citizens in discussions about today’s issues. Beyond the rhetoric, trips to the barber shop as a young kid are also influential in helping shape male identity.
Relocating to a unfamiliar city can be an overwhelming experience. Whether you moved for a fresh start in your career, a new job, or school a haircut is one thing you will always need no matter what city you land in. Obinna (Obi) Onungwa created the Cue app so that people can easily find a barbershop close by. Have you ever found yourself in need of a haircut yet clueless on where to begin your search? Cue is a curated community of premier barbers in major cities throughout the world. Through the app Barbers can reach new clients, receive payments and solicit client feedback. On the flip side clients can find and favorite barbers, join their queues, pay for haircuts electronically and leave feedback.
The market for mobile apps is big, and it is just going to keep on getting bigger.
As technology expands to meet the needs of consumers Onungwa has a developed a way for both the barber and the person in need of a haircut to benefit. “It is important that BE Modern Men like me are represented in App Development because it is vital that we utilize technology to solve problems, create wealth and spearhead new industry,” says Onungwa.Read more on page 2…
Tech disruptors are changing the way we connect, do business, and gather information, but many of our significant contributions go unheard in silicon valley. “Our entrepreneurial stories need to be magnified so that our positive impact can be experienced all throughout the world,” Onungwa tells BE Modern Man.
The Cue mobile app will undoubtedly bring barbers and clients together locally. But on a more global
scale, Onungwa hopes to be a positive example for black and brown communities throughout the world and specifically NYC. “With the assistance of my colleagues, I hope to create channels for effective mentorship by young professionals and entrepreneurs to high school students in some of the more challenged schools in NYC.”For far to long young men of color have been exposed to the dominating narrative that music and athletics are the only path to success. While there is nothing wrong with pursuing these avenues it is also important for young men of color to explore various paths to success. “It is critical that we highlight diverse examples of successful men to inspire the next generation to reach further,” Onungwa tells BE Modern Man. “It is vital that positive black male images are perpetuated in American (and Global) media to properly frame the genius that exists in us all.”
Changing the way people search for barber shops is a simple but effective platform that has many benefits. You may have just moved to a new area, or you could just simply be vacationing and need a fresh cut. Whatever your situation cue up Onungwa’s Cue app and find top rated barbers near by that fit your needs. “To me a BE Modern Man represents autonomy, creativity and expression for entrepreneurs of color.”
The BlackEnterprise.com team congratulates Obi Onungwa for his innovative thinking, and willingness to create effective channels of mentorship for young men of color.
It’s our normal to be extraordinary. Follow and join the BE Modern Man conversation at #BEModernMan and @blackenterprise