Creating the Future of
Global Black Business Growth
Welcome to the U.S. – Africa Business Resource Center Collaborative
The Business Resource Centers are regional-focused, demand-driven ecosystems organized as Growth Hubs to foster collaboration between U.S. and African Black businesses. These Growth Hubs are intentionally designed to provide them unique access to the resources to overcome traditional barriers to scaling their businesses in the U.S. and throughout Africa. As our ecosystems grow to become truly pan-African, we will add these Growth Hubs across the continent. Stay tuned it’s going to happen faster than usual…
“It always seems IMPOSSIBLE until it is DONE.”
-Nelson Mandela
Growth Hubs
Call to Action
Starting in South Africa, our goal is to strategically place 4 Growth Hubs across Africa over the next 5 years. Our Call to Action is to advocate for the inclusion of US and African black-owned businesses into the global economy. We commit to fostering collaboration among small businesses, Fortune500 companies, industry associations, government agencies, accelerators, innovation hubs, and many others that share our vision and understand the value of shared prosperity. We understand that Africa’s challenges and opportunities are unique, and solutions will not be ‘copy and paste’. We need your help to institute real solutions, align with local priorities, and ignore opinions of impossibility.
What We Do
Responsive to the Demands and the Needs of the region, we are sector agnostic, developing our ecosystems to stabilize entrepreneurs.
#BlackisBlack
We are closing the proximity of access to the information, relationships, and opportunities for growth that often elude many U.S. and African Black businesses.
#BlackBusinessEcosystem
We are creating unique business environments made up of the most commerce and mission-driven regional corporations, industry associations, investors, public sectors, Universities, and think tanks with a revived commitment to scaling Black business.
#BlackBizImpact
These are not platforms designed for actionless discussion, they are drivers of real BB2BB interaction.
Why We Do It
We want to prove Black business growth and global economy growth is interconnected, mutually inclusive, and benefits us ALL. We want to redefine how black businesses see each other and work together to redefine the future of work for Black businesses.
We can’t ignore…
Over the last 5 years, 42% of all African VC deals came from N. America.
In 2020, 8 of the top 10 African-based startups that received the highest amount of VC capital were led by foreigners.
It’s not better in the US, with only 1% of venture-backed founders being black.
Things will change…
25% of the world’s population will live in Africa by 2050.
37% of African-American households have a net worth of $0.00USD.
In 2020, the unemployment rate for Black Americans reached almost 17% and 30.8% (43.1% including discouraged work-seekers) in South Africa.
This we know…
95% of potential customers live outside the US and 2/3’s of the world’s purchasing power is in foreign countries. If you aren’t exporting you are only hitting 5% of the world’s potential customers.
Companies that export are 8.5% less likely to go out of business. U.S. companies that export grow faster than non-exporting companies and spurs innovation in product design and applications.
Our Impact
To build on the idea of interconnectivity between the growth of Black businesses and wealth generation for ALL, our impact will be guided by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
We’ve identified the following 6 SDGs to ensure our impact and the impact of Black businesses crosses nations, cultures, generations, genders, and oceans.
From the Hubs
We’re not doing this because we believe Africa needs another accelerator or incubator. Many already exist and we want to work alongside those that are really good at it. Our model builds on the idea that Black businesses need each other to play in the global economy. We are ‘connecting the dots’ by bringing the right people that can unlock access to game changing relationships, information, corporate contracts, and capital.
The ecosystem supporting each Black Business Growth Hub may provide many of the following and more..
• Startup – Startup collaboration & partnerships
• Corporation-Startup/Startup collaboration & solution development
• Meaningful information share on policy and program alignment
• Joint ventures, business agreements
• Access to capital
• Corporate pilot and proof of concept opportunities
• Pitch competitions
• Commerce driven networking
• Mentor/protegee programs
• Skills development
• Access to legal and accounting services
• Workshops, webinars, and seminars
In Our Vision...
COLLABORATION becomes the 1st option for black business growth and Africa’s Diaspora is recognized as a vital resource for U.S. – Africa relations. Because so far it hasn’t been done. We want to see frequent headlines with these 5 words.
Black. Business. Billion-Dollar. Exit.
Anchor Organizers
Come with us as we change the narrative.
The expansion of our Ecosystem is just getting started, but so far….
Inaugural SA - US Black Business Summit
JOIN THE NEW NARRATIVE
Questions? Suggestions? Ecosystem Value-add? Interested in a New Normal?
