Black Innovation Alliance

TIME magazine defines a Closer as a Black leader dedicated to closing the racial wealth gap. Dr. Kelly Burton, PhD , CEO of BIA, embodies that definition. At last week's TIME Closers Impact Dinner, Kelly took to the stage and emphasized the importance of the Closers list, highlighted BIA's achievements, and outlined the ongoing work ahead. “What an honor. I am so, so, so proud. We are so proud at Black Innovation Alliance? to serve as a Knowledge Partner for the Closer’s list. It's been an honor to walk alongside the TIME team from the inception of this concept and to see it come to fruition in this room. Founded in 2020, Black Innovation Alliance is a national coalition of organizations dedicated to closing the racial wealth gap through entrepreneurship and ownership. We were formed by a small group of ecosystem leaders, and today, BIA is 175 organizations strong. Yes. And they support over a half million entrepreneurs and innovators of color. In just three years, we've covered a lot of ground. We partnered with Congress to launch the Congressional Caucus on Black Innovation. We've partnered with UBS, the eBay Foundation, and others, some of whom are in this room, to launch the Decade of Black Innovation, launched a partnership with the Bahamas to drive entrepreneurship and innovation in climate tech. We've collaborated with the White House to connect communities of color to opportunities coming out of the federal government, and we've conducted the first ever study on digital entrepreneurship.” -? Kelly Burton, PhD Video credit: TIME #BlackInnovationAlliance

Only about 1% of venture capital funding is allocated to Black entrepreneurs annually. There is a clear bias in funding against Black entrepreneurs. Latoya Peterson, Cofounder, CXO, and Director for the Culture at Glow Up Games, shared a stark example of funding bias in the tech world in her "From Chains to Links" podcast interview. She highlighted how Black entrepreneurs often face excessive scrutiny compared to their white counterparts, who are funded based on "good feelings" rather than metrics or proof of concept. Watch the full episode on our YouTube Channel: https://lnkd.in/eFnYVRSg Share your experience and thoughts in the comments below. Visit chainstolinks.com to learn more about the series and join our mailing list. #DecadeofBlackInnovation #BlackInnovationAlliance #BlackInnovators #WomeninSTEM #AI #VR #Gaming #Technology #BlackEntrepreneurs

Imagine if Black businesses received equitable funding. According to a report by the Brookings Institute, 3.12 million Black-owned businesses generate $206 billion in annual revenue and support 3.56 million U.S. jobs. The facts demonstrate that investing in Black innovation helps us build a prosperous economy. Declaration '26 is a bold blueprint for inclusive economic growth, and your voice is not just important; it's crucial to amplifying its impact. Share this post and be part of the movement. Learn more about Declaration '26 at https://declaration26.com/. #BlackInnovation #EconomicGrowth #Declaration26 #SupportBlackBusiness #BlackInnovationAliiance #DecadeofBlackInnovation?

Tayler J. James, Founder of Taylered Insights, stumbled into entrepreneurship unexpectedly after a successful 12-year career in the corporate world. Initially brought on to build the research arm for The Plug, Tayler turned her career pivot into an opportunity when the startup closed its doors. Now, through Taylered Insights, she provides research and data-driven solutions to help businesses thrive. "It's one thing to have data, but it's another to know how to utilize it to make better decisions," Tayler explained, emphasizing the significance of her work. Tayler is passionate about introducing the Black community to new technologies like AI and leveraging data to drive success for her clients. Amplify Tayler's work by reposting and sharing with your network.? #MemberMonday #Entrepreneurship #Analytics #Data #Innovation #BlackEntrepreneurs #TechLeadership #AI #BusinessGrowth #DecadeofBlackInnovation #BlackInnovators #BlackInnovation #Innovators

Black digital businesses defy the odds! While 45% of American startups fail within five years, Black digital entrepreneurs are proving their resilience. According to the BLADE (Black Liberation and the Digital Economy) Blueprint, 56% of the businesses surveyed have been running for five years or more. This shows the strength, sustainability, and determination of Black-owned digital businesses to thrive in the face of challenges. Explore the full insights and see how Black digital entrepreneurship is reshaping the landscape. Download the BLADE report today: https://lnkd.in/e8KmEmMP #DigitalEntrepreneurship #BusinessGrowth #BLADEBlueprint #DigitalEconomy #BlackEntrepreneurs #WealthCreation #Innovation #BLADEResearch #BlackInnovation #BlackCreators #BlackInnovation #BlackInnovationAlliance

While Project 2025 threatens to dismantle our freedoms, Declaration '26 seeks to create new paths for us to soar! Declaration '26 champions Black entrepreneurs, demanding equitable funding and support for urban hubs of innovation, advocating for capital and workforce development in underserved communities, and securing the Right to Innovate for all. To join the movement for a better future, visit https://declaration26.com/ . #Declaration26 #Project2025 #BlackInnovationAlliance #blackentrepreneursmatter #blackinnovation #blackentrepreneurs #economicjustice #innovation #equityandinclusion?

At Black Innovation Alliance (BIA), we are incredibly proud to have Nasdaq as a partner. ?? Yesterday, I had the pleasure of attending the 2024 Nasdaq Purpose Forum in NYC! ??? This was a dynamic gathering of visionaries, leaders, and changemakers, all dedicated to redefining the future of business, purpose, and innovation. We had the privilege of hearing from a host of amazing panelists & moderators: ??Frank Holland, Anchor, NBCUniversal ??Anthony Denier, CEO, Webull Financial ??Anna Paglia, EVP, Chief Business Officer, State Street Global Advisors ??Dr. Elizabeth M. Adams CEO, EMA Advisory ??Oyin Adedoyin, Personal Finance Reporter, The Wall Street Journal ??Michael Broughton, Founder/CEO Altro ??Vivian Tu, Founder/ CEO Your Rich BFF Media ??Fawn Weaver, Founder/CEO Uncle Nearest, Inc. ??Jabari Young, Writer & Editor, Forbes …and many more! At BIA we have a shared commitment with Nasdaq to foster innovation, advance equity, and build pathways to success for underserved communities. Through collaborations like these, we are pushing forward a vision for an inclusive economy where innovators and entrepreneurs can thrive. Special thanks goes out to Jailan Griffiths, Angela Burruss, Jill Blackford, Brittany Greene and the entire Nasdaq team for all your support and collaboration! Until we meet again… ??

Data is the new oil!? In America, oil has historically been a cornerstone of economic growth, wealth generation, and global influence. Similarly, data is now critical for innovation, shaping industries like finance, healthcare, and retail. Protecting and harnessing data, particularly for Black communities, is crucial for equity in this new digital age. Declaration '26 proposes three concrete ways to protect our data?with innovative solutions: - Community-Driven Data Governance - Algorithmic Auditing and Bias Detection - Digital Literacy and Data Rights Education Protecting our data is just one part of the plan. Take action and learn more about Declaration '26 at declaration26.com #Declaration26 #Project2025 #BlackInnovationAlliance #blackentrepreneursmatter #blackinnovation #blackentrepreneurs #economicjustice #innovation #equityandinclusion

?? We're proud to reflect on an incredible summer of progress, driven by our partnership with the Nasdaq Foundation and their investment in our Ecosystem Builders as Advocates Initiative. This initiative focuses on empowering Black innovators by providing essential funding for marketing, technical resources, and digital communication tools. It also includes support for training, programming, Hill Days, and Field Hearings—gathering insights directly from local communities to tailor solutions for Black entrepreneurs. Thanks to this partnership, we were able to host two landmark events that aligned with our mission to close the racial wealth gap through public policy and technology: - Future of AI Policy Roundtable at Microsoft’s D.C. Office on June 25, 2024, where federal leaders and Black AI innovators discussed policies shaping the future of AI and its impact on underserved communities. -Black Mayors’ Tech Summit with AAMA on July 25-27, 2024, where we equipped Black mayors with the tools to leverage technology for economic development, particularly in underserved communities. These initiatives would not have been possible without the Nasdaq Foundation’s generous support. We’re grateful for their dedication to creating equitable opportunities for underserved entrepreneurs by promoting diversity and inclusion within the entrepreneurial ecosystem. Together, we’re fostering a more inclusive and innovative future! ???? #Innovation #Equity #Entrepreneurship #AI #TechPolicy #BlackInnovation #NasdaqFoundation #Leadership #Diversityandinclusion Kelly Burton, PhD Tammy Charles Wendi Dillard

Melinda Weekes-Laidlow, JD, MDiv is a social change architect, ordained minister, and social entrepreneur dedicated to reshaping narratives and disrupting systemic racism. As the Founder and CEO of Beautiful Ventures, a creative social enterprise, Melinda leverages the power of Black storytelling to influence popular culture, disrupt anti-Blackness, and elevate perceptions of Black humanity. "Beautiful Ventures was born as a way to leverage all of those things and to recognize that the dominant narrative that plays out and we can just look at our, our Twitter feeds, at news, at the stories of the day, so many instances at our politics that the dominant narrative persists as one of anti-Blackness, one that denies the humanity of Black folks...To shift that narrative, ..., we can both amplify and support black story-driven creatives and get their Black humanity-affirming stories out into popular culture, into ways that make a tipping point to create a new narrative, then we can surely shift this narrative," Melinda explained during an interview with aijcast. Amplify Melinda's work by reposting and sharing with your network. Discover how Melinda builds collective power through Beautiful Ventures and creates a new narrative for Black creatives and their communities at https://lnkd.in/gxVPTbep. #MemberMonday #BlackCreatives #SocialImpact #Storytelling #Entrepreneurship #RacialEquity #CulturalInnovation #DecadeofBlackInnovation #BlackInnovators #BlackInnovationAlliance #WomensSmallBusinessMonth #BlackInnovation