Award-winning entrepreneur, pioneering technologist, influential global connector, and visionary real estate developer Dawn Dickson has masterfully expanded her impact from technology, commerce, and culture into transformative real estate developments and curated cultural experiences in Africa. Known for groundbreaking contributions to tech as the CEO and Founder of PopCom- a pioneer in automated retail technology, introducing facial detection and AI to vending machines in 2017—Dawn also now stands at the forefront of sustainable real estate investment in Africa.

Dawn’s entrepreneurial spirit was ignited early, shaped by a family culture rooted in innovation and independence. Dawn’s journey in technology began in 2001 when she co-founded TheUrbanStarr.com, one of the nation’s pioneering entertainment websites launched during the early days of consumer internet, prior to the smartphone era. Targeting Central Ohio, she and her partner successfully grew the platform to over 100,000 users and were innovators in local digital marketing, establishing the city’s first email marketing list. Building on that momentum, in 2005 Dawn co-founded D1 Consulting, a firm initially focused on online marketing and events, which has evolved over two decades into a robust consulting practice now providing specialized real estate consulting services. 

She pursued higher education in Journalism and Information Technology, and continually expanded her entrepreneurial acumen through prestigious accelerator programs, including Techstars in Los Angeles, Canopy Boulder in Colorado, Brinks in Hong Kong, and the Nasdaq Milestone Makers program in San Francisco. 

Dawn is deeply committed to empowering others and believes strongly in lifting as she climbs. She actively advocates for equity and increased access to capital among underrepresented founders, utilizing her expertise as a business coach to guide entrepreneurs in raising over $50 million. Her passion for nurturing entrepreneurial talent has extended to her roles as an Entrepreneur-in-Residence at OneDay and as a mentor with the Bola Ray Entrepreneur Institute in Ghana, demonstrating her dedication to fostering success and opportunity within diverse communities.

In 2011, Dawn founded Flat Out of Heels, revolutionizing women’s footwear with stylish, rollable ballet flats that generated millions in sales and were featured prominently by top celebrities and influencers. Recognizing the critical importance of consumer data, Dawn founded PopCom in 2017, pioneering facial recognition technology for vending machines, and secured a significant patent in 2020 for the design of PopShop—a robotic storefront dubbed ‘the iPhone of vending machines.’ She made history as the first female founder globally to raise over $1 million from equity crowdfunding and is among the first 25 women in the U.S. to raise over $1 million from venture capital, ultimately securing over $7 million for her companies.

Driven by a lifelong goal to live on the continent, Dawn relocated to Rwanda in October 2022 and expanded her presence to Ghana in December 2022, actively living between both nations and maintaining bi-continental ties with the U.S. Her ventures now include visionary eco-luxury real estate projects leveraging sustainable building techniques like rammed earth, partnering with South African developer, Rammteck to introduce stabilized rammed earth technology to Ghana. Since 2024, Dawn has facilitated the sale of over $10 million in real estate across Ghana and Rwanda, notably including the Oasis Beach Resort in Cape Coast, sold to a group of U.S.-based Black investors—an acquisition deeply meaningful due to its proximity to the historically significant Cape Coast Slave Castle.

Dawn’s projects currently span key locations including Asebu, Accra, Senya Beraku, Ada, Winneba, and the Volta Region, setting new benchmarks for affordable, sustainable luxury homes and eco-resort communities. Additionally, she curates exclusive VIP real estate, investment and cultural tours, connecting diaspora communities and global investors to extraordinary, sustainable, and culturally rich opportunities across Africa under her company D1 Consulting.

Celebrated for her visionary leadership, Dawn has garnered numerous awards, including Snapchat Entrepreneur of the Year, Black Women Talk Tech ‘Tech Trailblazer Award”, recognition on Forbes’ “Next 1000” list, Inc. Magazine’s “Top 100 Female Founders,” and Black Enterprise’s cover story spotlight. Her insights have been featured across global media platforms, including Entrepreneur, Fortune, Fast Company, MSNBC, CNBC, The Breakfast Club Morning Show and major speaking engagements sharing the stage with the nation’s top business leaders.

Above all, Dawn identifies as a “lightworker,” passionately dedicated to uplifting humanity through every endeavor. “Whether through technology, real estate, or cultural experiences, my goal remains steadfast: to inspire, empower, and create lasting generational transformation globally.”

Recent Awards & Honors

• OBWS Entrepreneur of the Year Award presented by SnapChat (2020)
• Rising PayTech Star Award Finalist (2020)
• Columbus’ Smart 50 CEO’s, Smart Business Magazine (2021, 2022)
• INC 100 Female Founders (2018, 2021)
• Forbes Next 1000  (2021)
• “Technology Pioneer Award”, WEDO (2022)
• Lead Woman in Digital & Tech award,  Black Women in Media  (2020)
• 2021 Tech Trailblazer Award, Black women Talk Tech (2021)
• Culture Shifting Award, 2020