Eight Resources To Find and Support Black Entrepreneurs Today
Apps, websites, business directories and more.
After the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer, protests and marches flared up across the country. Joining the fight by peaceful protesting, signing online petitions, donating and contacting your elected officials are all encouraged; however, there is one more way you can contribute to the fight against systematic racial inequality — supporting Black-owned businesses in your area.
While there certainly are lists of local Black-owned eateries and other businesses floating around on social media, there is also a much more organized and seamless way to find a Black-owned business quickly. Here we have the top-ranking websites and apps that will locate and support those businesses for you — restaurants, stores and other establishments, all owned by Black entrepreneurs.
Having over 5,000 companies in 10 different countries, this is one of the largest discovery applications for Black-owned businesses around the world. Black entrepreneurs can create a listing for their company through the app, and prospective patrons can find different kinds of Black-owned businesses in their area. This one gets bonus points for sending user alerts when you are near a Black-owned business, encouraging people to pop in and check out those businesses in person.
Launched by entrepreneur Rameish Budhoo back in 2018, this app gives Black entrepreneurs a digital place to list their companies at no charge and create visibility for people all around the world. Dozens of categories are available, and the app will show the top results for the kind of business you need in a split second.
Think of it as the Amazon of black-owned businesses — but better. As the company writes, “Some say we are the Black Amazon, but their job is to make us dependent, our job is to make us independent.” Use the “What do you need to find” window at the top of their homepage to find products you need or browse items in the following categories: books, clothing & accessories, jewelry, children & toys, art & collectibles, health & beauty, home & living, games, and holidays.
In 2016, Anthony and Janique have founded a mobile application that has now grown to be a Black-owned restaurant directory featuring over 2,500 eateries across the country. The list is searchable by cuisine type and location, and the app allows you to navigate to or select delivery at your business of choice. The users are also allowed to recommend a business to be featured.
This one is a great resource for New Yorkers — founded by husband-and-wife team Tayo Giwa and Cynthia Gordy Giwa in 2018, the site seeks “to lift up and preserve rich stories that are often overlooked in gentrified Brooklyn and encourage you to learn more about — and participate in — the creativity, beauty, and self-determination throughout our community.”
Abbreviated as SBO, this app/website is a dedicated search-engine for Black-owned businesses. Here you can find businesses through state search, category, global search and site search options. You can also rate and review products and services featured on the website and app, creating a stream of feedback for both customers and entrepreneurs.
I Am Black Business is a website/app that seeks to “empower and uplift the Black businesses that already exist.” Here, you can discover new spots in your area or search for any specific service you need. They feature businesses strategically, highlighting those that have a proven track record of success, an online presence and a steady stream of clientele.
Launched in 2016 by business psychologist and tech executive Dr. Dionne Mahaffey, WhereU Came From is a directory that publishes crowd-sourced listings and referrals about Black-owned businesses. Both app and website have a business search functionality, offering an up-to-date leaderboard of Black-owned businesses in various categories, all ranked by peer-to-peer referral counts.
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