The Launch of Blavity.org
Now, we’re doing more
We know we’re in the less than 4% of Black-owned startups that succeed. And after a year of racial reckoning and economic collapse, we’re committed to making sure Black business comes back stronger than ever before.
So now, we’re doing more: With the creation of Blavity.org, our new nonprofit we’re actively seeking to accelerate Black innovation across sectors.
When Blavity Inc., was born, we created an unapologetically Black digital media company inspired by the dawn of Black Lives Matter. Today, the Black Lives Matter movement has grown into a worldwide conversation that can’t be ignored, and we’ve grown in parallel. We now attract over 100 million audience members each month across platforms and have raised over $12M in venture capital funding.
We credit our team and partners for working hard, thinking smart, and building towards progress each day. But we know that, even with our efforts, our survival as a media company and startup can’t be taken for granted. The data on success for Black entrepreneurs speaks for itself:
- Less than 1% of venture capital funding goes to Black entrepreneurs
- While about 15% of white Americans hold some business equity, approximately only five percent of Black Americans do
- Among those with business equity, the average Black American’s business equity is worth about half of the average American’s and a third of the average white American’s
Through our Growth Fellowship program, Blavity.org will give small businesses and startups the tools and resources needed to scale their businesses, navigate the world of funding opportunities, and develop actionable strategies to drive long-term wealth and sustainability. And, we’ll give corporations an opportunity to sponsor and fuel economic empowerment for Black entrepreneurs by directly funding Black innovation.
The Blavity.org Growth Fellowship is a six-month long program that focuses on scaling teams, operations, and systems to a select group of Black entrepreneurs through advising, grants, business tools, and sponsorship from industry leaders. Each fellow will receive a $10,000 non-dilutive grant, free technology, and executive coaching throughout the program.
The fellowship offers coaching for these entrepreneurs on topics like executive leadership, and delivers technical and digital skills such as data analysis, marketing, pricing, and hiring.
These resources are provided with the direct support of corporate partners and sponsors, including our launch partners, Adidas and Logitech.
Our asks of you:
- Go deeper: To hear more, head to Blavity.org or visit the new Instagram page at @blavitydotorg.
- Spread the word: Share this news with your community as we launch.
- Get in touch: If you’d like to sponsor our Fellows, email info@blavity.org.
When we started Blavity, we could only dream of the movement we’d be able to create. That’s thanks to you, our community. We’re thrilled to have you with us on this journey.
Yours in Black Joy,
Morgan DeBaun, Jeff Nelson, and Aaron Samuels