Welcome to Breaking the Blueprint — a blog series that dives into the unique business challenges and opportunities of underrepresented business owners and entrepreneurs. Learn how they’ve grown 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 a unique understanding of your lived experience and business roadblocks can help you connect the dots needed to grow your business and community. However, finding spaces for this kind of connection can be challenging for Black Americans.
In this post, discover in-person and virtual events nationwide where Black entrepreneurs can strengthen relationships and build expertise.
How to Prepare for Attending a Conference
The United States Census Bureau reported 3.5 million Black-owned businesses, per the last survey.
Attending conferences, trade shows, workshops, and webinars puts you in rooms with consumers and entrepreneurs who have advice, real-life examples, and funds that can shift the trajectory of your business or nonprofit organization.
To prepare for attending a conference:
- Review the programming, decide which sessions to attend, and jot down a few questions you want to ask during Q&As 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 nerves by leaning into the excitement of bettering your business.
By strengthening relationships, sharing expertise, and partnering, there are opportunities to create a bigger pool of resources and open or build doors for Black business growth.
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18 Events and Conferences for Black Entrepreneurs in 2024
Florida
1. Black Travel Summit
Dates: October 10 - 13, 2024
Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL
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. The highly-anticipated event features a lineup of entertainment, including a Black heritage and Instagrammable foodie tour and a Black Travel Awards Gala.
2. Black Professionals Summit
Dates: November 22 - 24, 2024
Location: Hollywood, FL
The Black Professionals Network presents the 10th annual Black Professionals Summit for an electrifying opportunity. From keynote speeches and panel discussions to interactive workshops, Black professionals convene and learn from industry leaders, build valuable relationships, and discover new opportunities.
Indiana
3. Summer Celebration - Indiana Black Business Expo
Dates: June 24 - 25, 2024
Location: Indianapolis, IN
With a mission to level the playing field of business, the Indiana Black Expo Business Conference allows entrepreneurs to learn from executives and experts. The 2024 conference offers sessions and workshops on city, federal, and state contracting opportunities. For instance, attendees can hear from funders on how to increase their capacity through access to capital and experts on the advantages of partnerships.
Illinois
4. The Black Women’s Expo
Date: August 2 - 4, 2024
Location: Chicago, IL
Originally an annual expo for small businesses and corporations, the Black Women’s Expo, or BWe Next, has evolved into a multi-city lifestyle exposition. In addition to seminars and sessions led by industry experts tackling societal issues and topics involving wellness, finances, and building generational wealth, this expo also provides vendor opportunities and resources on business ownership.
New York
5. CultureCon
Dates: October 5 - 6, 2024
Location: New York, NY
CultureCon, hosted by The 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 panels with tastemakers, celebrities, and industry experts. Black-owned companies can also set up shop at CultureCon’s small business market.
6. Roadmap to Billions Conference
Dates: May 16 - 18, 2024
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Black Women Talk Tech, a collective of Black women tech entrepreneurs and professionals, are the masterminds behind the Roadmap to Billions Conference. In its 8th year, the conference provides workshops, resources, and tactical strategies for Black women entrepreneurs looking to foster deep connections, create funding opportunities, and gain insights from thought leaders across industries. Past speakers include founders from Official Black Wall Street and Black Ambition Opportunity Fund.
Ohio
7. Black Tech Week
Dates: July 16 - 18, 2024
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Coinciding with the annual Cincinnati Music Festival, Black Tech Week is a conference for tech professionals and funders. Founders, executives, and experts speak on topics ranging from fundraising, customer outreach, the power of community, supply chain logistics, content marketing, and crafting the future of tech and business.
Texas
8. AFROTECH Conference
Dates: November 13 - 16, 2024
Location: Houston, TX
For Black professionals, innovators, engineers, and venture capitalists interested in all things tech and Web3, the AFROTECH Conference is three days of fireside chats, interactive exhibits, panels, mixers, pitch competitions, and live music performances. Topics range from creating viral products, the creator economy, strategic business growth, how to raise funding, cryptocurrency, and more.
9. Marketing For The Culture Summit
Date: June 6, 2024
Location: Houston, TX
Hosted by the African American Marketing Association, entrepreneurs, marketers, and creatives gather at the Marketing for the Culture Summit to learn best practices and improve their skills in content creation, monetization, workflows, and more. This year’s theme, “Plot Twist – The Art of Being a Disruptive Storyteller,” aims to transcend traditional marketing narratives and challenge attendees to redefine their approach to storytelling. Sessions will touch on the psychology of marketing, communication in marketing, and brand archetypes.
10. Summer Celebration Tradeshow & Festival - Texas Black Expo
Dates: May 17 - 18, 2024
Location: Houston, TX
Celebrating 20 years, the annual Texas Black Expo is a chance for small businesses, non-profits, and multi-million dollar organizations to gather under one roof to reach consumers and generate more economic growth. Featuring pro-Football Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe, the 2024 Tradeshow and Festival will focus on education and economics.
11. Black is Tech Conference
Dates: August 19 - 21, 2024
Location: Houston, TX
The Black Is Tech Conference creates a platform for black tech professionals, students, entrepreneurs, and enthusiasts to access professional and business development resources. The 6th annual Black is Tech Conference will introduce Houston Black is Tech Week (August 19 - 24) and many workshops and core activities. The Expo will offer recruiting and networking opportunities with over 50 companies.
Virginia
12. Virginia Black Business Expo & Business Conference
Dates: August 2 - 4, 2024
Location: Arlington, VA
During National Black Business Month, the 5th 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 members. This nonprofit organization increases the visibility of Black-owned businesses from Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia.
Washington, D.C.
13. ByBlack Conference
Date: 2024 (TBA)
Location: Washington, D.C.
In partnership between the U.S. Black Chambers Inc. and the National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters, the ByBlack Conference is an annual three-day event to encourage collaboration and foster collective economic power for Black-owned businesses. The conference brings together entrepreneurs, media owners, creatives, and corporate executives to learn how they can scale and get more visibility for their companies.
New Jersey
14. Juneteenth Black Business Expo
Dates: Multiple dates
Locations: Madison, NJ (May 30, 2024), Hackensack, NJ (June 13, 2024)
The New Jersey-based African American Chamber of Commerce (AACCNJ) presents the 2024 Black Expo, themed "The Journey Continues.” The Expo focuses on entrepreneurship and the economic and cultural empowerment of underperforming communities. Breakout session topics range from talent Acquisition to digital literacy.
Georgia
15. ForbesBLK Summit
Dates: June 23 - 25, 2024
Locations: Atlanta, GA & Virtual
The upcoming three-day summit, spearheaded by Forbes and the ForbesBLK community, brings together leading executives, entrepreneurs, creators, and changemakers for engaging and challenging discussions. The inaugural ForbesBLK summit in 2023 discussed the state of Black capitalism, the future of Black entrepreneurialism, and the power of Black business.
16. Black Enterprise Disruptor Summit
Dates: May 17 - 18, 2024
Location: Atlanta, GA
The Black Enterprise Disruptor Summit is a premier business conference that provides empowering opportunities for Black entrepreneurs, innovators, investors, and creatives. Hosted by Nationwide, the Summit aims to help build million-dollar businesses to the next level through access to expert-led fireside chats, networking mixers, and other creative tools.
Pennsylvania
17. Diversitech
Dates: May 7 - 10, 2024
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Powered by the tech recruitment platform Tribaja, Diversitech is a global gathering of inclusive tech companies, entrepreneurs, investors, and professionals. Hear from visionaries focused on bettering diversity, equity, and inclusion hiring in the technology industry.
To Be Announced
18. Black Entrepreneurs Day
Date: 2024 (TBA)
Location: (TBA)
Daymond John, an investor on Shark Tank and the Founder & CEO of FUBU, curates an annual celebration of entrepreneurs. The live-streamed event features one-on-one conversations between John and Black celebrity business leaders, round table discussions, multiple pitch competitions for grant money, and musical performances.
It’s time to break barriers together.
Check out the above events and consider attending one that appeals to your current goals as a rising entrepreneur. Reminder: you can write it off as a business expense.
