You are welcomed! breaking the mold – A blog series that dives into the unique business challenges and opportunities of underrepresented business owners and entrepreneurs. Learn how they grew or scaled their businesses, explored entrepreneurial ventures within their companies, or created side hustles, and how their stories can inspire and inform your own success.
It can feel isolating if you’re the only one in the room who looks like you.
Meeting peers and mentors with their lived experience and unique understanding of business constraints can help you connect the dots you need to grow your business and community. However, finding space for such connections can be challenging for Black Americans.
In this post, discover in-person and virtual events across the country where Black entrepreneurs can strengthen relationships and build expertise.
How to Prepare to Attend a Conference
United States Census Bureau reported nearly 1.4 million self-employed Black people in September 2022, an increase of 11.9% from August 2022.
Attending conferences, trade shows, workshops and webinars puts you in the room with consumers and entrepreneurs who have advice, real-life examples and funds that can change the trajectory of your business or non-profit organization.
To prepare to attend a conference:
- Review the programming, decide which sessions to attend, and write down any questions you want to ask during the Q&A or one-on-one meetings.
- Pack your business cards, a notepad and pens.
- Choose outfits and shoes that make you feel comfortable and confident.
- Ease any nervousness by leaning into the excitement of improving your business.
There are opportunities to strengthen ties, share expertise, and create partnerships that create a greater pool of resources and open or create doors for black business growth.
programs for black entrepreneurs
Florida
1. black travel summit
Dates: October 20 – 22, 2023
Place: Miami, FL and Virtual
In celebration of black culture and business in travel, the Black Travel Summit brings together industry professionals, influencers and travelers for a weekend of panels, workshops, vendor shopping and networking opportunities.
Georgia
2. Black Pod Festival
Dates: September 30 – October 1, 2023
Place: Atlanta, GA
For aspiring, new and experienced podcasters, black pod collective Organizes an annual celebration for audio creatives to exchange knowledge, learn new skills, develop collaborations and reach out to potential brand partnerships. The BLK Pod Festival will have four tracks built for each level of podcasting: Launching a Podcast, Showcasing Growth, Monetizing and Team Expansion.
Tennessee
3. Mughalcon
Dates: November 1 – 4, 2023
Place: Nashville, TN
MogulCon provides resources for Black women in business to accelerate their growth and create sustainable strategies for long-lasting success. The three-day conference is a chance to learn from Fortune 100/500 decision makers, meet successful entrepreneurs, and meet suppliers and corporate buyers to create new business. Masterclasses will focus on leadership, marketing, e-commerce, supply chain and financial sustainability.
Indiana
4. Summer Celebration – Indiana Black Expo Business Conference
Dates: July 8 – July 18, 2023
Place: Indianapolis, IN
With a mission to level the business playing field, the Indiana Black Expo Business Conference allows entrepreneurs to learn from executives and experts. Sessions and workshops will touch on strategic thinking, leadership advice, and how to secure state and federal business contracts worth millions.
Iowa
5. Athene Black & Brown Business Summit
Dates: April 20 – 21, 2023
Place: West Des Moines, IA
Athene Black & Brown Business Summit aims to uplift and uplift entrepreneurs. Programming includes a pitch competition, breakout sessions, keynote speakers, training and opportunities to build connections.
multi city
6. The Black Women’s Expo
Dates: multiple dates
Place: Atlanta, GA (Summer 2023), Chicago (August 4 – 6, 2023), Washington DC (Fall 2023)
Originally an annual expo for small businesses and corporations, Black Women’s Expo, or BWE NEXT, has grown into a multi-city lifestyle expo. In addition to seminars and sessions led by industry experts tackling social issues and topics related to wellness, finance, and generational wealth creation, the expo also provides vendor opportunities and resources on business ownership.
7. Black Enterprise Entrepreneurs Summit
Dates: 2023 (TBA)
Place: TBA (changes annually)
The Black Enterprise Entrepreneurs Summit is one of the largest conferences for Black business owners, founders and investors in the United States. With a mission to close the racial wealth gap, the summit discusses building a meaningful brand, economic equality, equity, and marketing.
New York
8. culture con
Dates: multiple dates
Place: New York City (October 7 – 8), Los Angeles (June 17)
Hosted by CultureCon Creative Collective NYC, brings together creative entrepreneurs and change-makers who want to make a cultural impact with their businesses and art. Attendees can access activations, fireside chats, and a panel of tastemakers, celebrities, and industry experts. Black-owned companies can also set up shop in CultureCon’s Small Business Market.
ohio
9. black tech week
Dates: July 18 – 20, 2023
Place: Cincinnati, OH
Along with the annual Cincinnati Music Festival, Black Tech Week is a convention for tech professionals and fundraisers. Founders, executives and experts speak on topics such as fundraising, customer outreach, the power of community, supply chain logistics, content marketing and shaping the future of technology and business.
Texas
10. afrotech conference
Dates: November 1 – 4, 2023
Place: Austin, TX
For Black professionals, innovators, engineers and venture capitalists interested in all things technology and Web3, the AFROTECH Conference features three days of fireside chats, interactive exhibits, panels, mixers, pitch competitions and live musical performances. Topics include viral products, the maker economy, strategic business development, how to raise money, cryptocurrency, and more.
11. sxsw
Dates: March 10 – 19, 2023
Place: Austin, TX
SXSW is known for its forward-thinking keynotes, panels and workshops on technology, business, film, music and culture. Among its 350+ announced sessions, events at SXSW 2023 will include fitness shouldn’t mean whitening, black woman breaking boardroom barrierAnd Transforming Tech with the Black Tech Ecosystem,
12. Marketing for Culture Summit
Dates: 2023 (TBA)
Place: Houston, TX (changes each year)
Hosted by the African American Marketing Association, entrepreneurs, marketers, and creatives gather at the Marketing for Culture Summit to learn best practices and hone their skills. Its theme varies from year to year, but at its core, attendees make collaborative connections and gain insight from panels and presentations on content creation, monetization, workflow, and more.
13. Texas Black Expo
Date: May 18 – 21, 2023
Location: Houston, TX
Celebrating 20 years, the annual Texas Black Expo is an opportunity for small businesses, non-profits and multi-million dollar organizations to gather under one roof to reach consumers and generate more economic growth.
Virginia
14. Virginia Black Business Expo
Dates: August 11 – 13, 2023
Place: Fredericksburg, VA
During National Black Business Month, the 4th Annual Virginia Black Business Expo features live demonstrations, business education from local industry experts, networking opportunities and shopping. Registration for vendor booths is exclusively for Virginia Black Business Directory Member. This non-profit organization increases the visibility of black-owned businesses from Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia.
virtual only
15. black entrepreneur day
Dates: 2023 (TBA)
Place: Stream Live From The Apollo Theater
Daymond John, a Shark Tank investor and founder and CEO of FUBU, hosts the annual celebration of entrepreneurs. The live-streamed event includes one-on-one conversations between Daymond and Black celebrity business leaders, roundtable discussions, multiple pitch competitions for grant money, and musical performances.
16. Kidpreneur Business Initiative
Dates: May 6 – June 10, 2023
Place: Virtual
For children with an entrepreneurial spirit, Jawadi Cultural Collective And black in the valley Working together to provide mentorship with a virtual six-week program. During the Kidpreneur Business Initiative, keynote mentors and guest speakers will guide young participants (ages 10 – 16) on how to build a business from scratch. By the end of the program, Kidpreneurs will have the opportunity to launch their business on the Juneteenth Marketplace.
Washington DC
17. by black conference
Dates: 2023 (TBA)
Place: Washington DC
in partnership between US Black Chambers Inc. And this National Association of Black Owned BroadcastersThe ByBlack Conference is an annual three-day event for Black-owned businesses to encourage collaboration and foster collective economic power. The conference brings together entrepreneurs, media owners, creatives and corporate executives to learn how they can scale and gain greater visibility for their companies.
It’s time to break down barriers together.
Check out the events above and consider attending a program that best suits your current goals as a growing entrepreneur. Reminder: You can write this off as a business expense.
