This Didn’t Start as a Festival.
It started with two entrepreneurs trying to build their own stage — and realizing thousands of others needed one too.
What started as a pop-up marketplace has grown into a multi-city ecosystem supporting entrepreneurs at the very beginning of their business journey —where structure, visibility, and consistent sales matter most.
We work with business owners who are building after work, after kids, and after life — and give them real opportunities to make money, get seen, and move forward with confidence.
We support Black-owned businesses through a
mix of events, education, and partnerships
designed for real-world growth.
Our work includes:
Curated festivals and marketplaces
Vendor Success Program
Storytelling and data that highlight the economic impact of microbusinesses
Partnerships with cities, brands, and institutions to support community-level growth
Most Black-owned businesses start as one-person operations.
They’re often labeled “small businesses,” but operate very differently — and are frequently excluded from traditional support systems.
When a microbusiness earns an extra money each month, it stabilizes the household - covering rent, groceries, childcare, and transportation.
That stability is what allows entrepreneurs to eventually reinvest, formalize and grow.
That’s economic mobility in real time.
Since launching, Shop Black Fest has:
Supported 4,000+ businesses
Expanded across 13+ cities
Generated $3M+ in economic impact
We’re building the on-ramp — so more businesses are ready for what comes next.
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