After Proposed $1.5M Deal Falls Through, Sharifah Hardie Launches Sharifah.AI Virtual Receptionist

After a $1.5M investment deal falls through, Sharifah Hardie moves forward with Sharifah.AI while pursuing her larger mission to help entrepreneurs.

INGLEWOOD, CA, UNITED STATES, September 8, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Entrepreneur, author, technology founder and former political candidate Sharifah Hardie says a proposed investment of up to $1.5 million intended to help launch a new venture capital and company building enterprise fell through, prompting her to move forward with another part of her larger mission to help entrepreneurs: Sharifah.AI.

The proposed company was being developed around a simple idea: go where traditional capital has not gone and identify entrepreneurs and operating businesses with customers, ambition and room to grow, particularly underserved founders and markets frequently overlooked by conventional capital sources.

The model went beyond simply investing money. The planned venture would partner with entrepreneurs, acquire meaningful ownership positions and bring capital, strategy, technology, operations, marketing and relationships to the table to help companies build and scale.

Hardie says that mission remains alive even though the original investment arrangement does not.

“As discussions progressed, it became clear that there were differences about my independence and the amount of influence an investor should have over my personal and professional decisions,” Hardie said. “I welcome investors. I welcome advice. I welcome accountability. What I will not do is exchange ownership of myself for ownership of a company.”

According to Hardie, the private investment discussions contemplated funding ranging from $250,000 to $1.5 million for the proposed new venture.

“The money was important, but the mission was bigger than the money,” Hardie said. “I still believe there are extraordinary entrepreneurs and businesses that traditional capital overlooks. I still intend to build a company capable of finding them, investing in them and helping them grow.”

Hardie is currently exploring opportunities with other potential investors and intends to pursue the larger venture when the right capital and relationships align.

In the meantime, she is focusing on something tangible that can help businesses today: Sharifah.AI.

Sharifah.AI builds custom AI websites, AI Virtual Receptionists and custom AI business solutions under the motto, “If you can conceive it, we can probably build it.”

At the heart of Sharifah.AI is its AI Virtual Receptionist, designed to help businesses engage prospective customers, answer common questions, communicate information about products and services and capture opportunities when the business owner or employees are unavailable.

For Hardie, the AI Virtual Receptionist represents the same mission on a smaller, immediately actionable scale.

“I wanted to build a company capable of putting capital, technology, relationships and resources behind entrepreneurs,” Hardie said. “I still intend to do that. But I do not have to wait for millions of dollars to start helping people. I have technology that can help a small business today.”

That commitment to creating access for entrepreneurs also drives Hardie’s work as founder and President of The People’s Chamber of Commerce. The 501(c)(6) business organization was not involved in the proposed investment transaction, but its mission reflects Hardie’s broader focus on connecting entrepreneurs with resources, relationships and opportunities.

The failed investment has also reinforced Hardie’s determination to build without surrendering control over who she is.

“I have spent too much of my life becoming the woman I am to allow someone’s bank account to determine who I am permitted to be,” Hardie said. “Capital can accelerate a vision. It should not own the visionary.”

Hardie has survived more than eight corporate layoffs and repeatedly reinvented herself across business, media, technology and politics. She says those experiences taught her not to confuse a closed door with the end of the road.

“My philosophy right now is a little Frank Sinatra,” Hardie said. “I’m going to do it my way.”

Hardie says the search for capital is not over.

“I am still talking to potential investors. I am still going to build the company I envisioned. I am still going to help people access capital, technology and opportunity,” Hardie said. “The difference is that I am not waiting for someone else to give me permission to begin.”

For now, that means continuing to build Sharifah.AI and expanding access to practical AI technology for businesses.

“The $1.5 million didn’t happen. The mission didn’t disappear. So we keep building.”

About Sharifah Hardie

Sharifah Hardie is an entrepreneur, author, business consultant, media personality, technology founder and former political candidate with more than 25 years of experience across business, media, technology, politics and community leadership. She is the founder of Ask Sharifah and Sharifah.AI and founder and President of The People’s Chamber of Commerce.

Through Sharifah.AI, Hardie develops custom AI websites, AI Virtual Receptionists and custom AI business solutions designed to help businesses use artificial intelligence in practical ways.

Sharifah Hardie
Ask Sharifah
+1 562-822-0965
sharifah@asksharifah.com
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