The Black and Brown Business Summit was created by national stakeholders to elevate ethnic minorities and bring BIPOC businesses together to assist with connection building, programming, promotion, training, and to provide resources to help businesses grow and prosper.
The first annual Black and Brown Business Summit will bring everyone from entrepreneurs to seasoned companies together in a hybrid setting at Athene in West Des Moines, Iowa. The Summit includes a pitch competition, breakout sessions led by top experts, Mel Essex Award, inspirational keynote speakers and more. Our goal is to help advance the minority business community across the country and position Iowa as the best place in the nation to start and lead a minority business.
The Summit is proud to partner with agencies, corporations, and communities around the nation to provide value for founders, entrepreneurs, and business professionals. Watch for exciting announcements and updates of Summit speakers, panelists and experts. We hope you can join us in assisting BIPOC organizations with their business acceleration!
Join us during Diversity Week April 12 – 18, 2021 where we will highlight Black & Brown business vendors, their products, services, and unique offerings as another way to support this vital community and help their businesses flourish.
Onsite event participation is limited. We are following all COVID-19 safety guidance and protocols throughout the Summit. Masks and social distancing are required. Thank you for understanding our effort to keep everyone safe.
The Black and Brown Business Summit is presented by
How Iowa Ranks
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In number of women-owned businesses
The worst state for minority businesses, with only one minority owned business for every 43 minority residents.
National average of minority self-employed people25.6%
Iowa average5.1%
How the Nation Ranks
According to the most recent Census Bureau data available, Black people comprise approximately 14.2% of the U.S. population, however, Black businesses comprise only 2.2% of the nation’s 5.7 million employer businesses (firms with more than one employee). Click here to learn more from the Brookings Institution.
Learn more about COVID-19’s effect on minority-owned small businesses in the United States according to McKinsey & Company, and additional ways you can help.
3:00 p.m. – Minority Business Celebration Featuring: Mel Essex Award Winners, Pitch Competition Recognition and Minority Non-Profit of the Year Award
Thank you to Summit sponsors and key partners that help make this important event possible:
Presenting Sponsor
Partner Sponsor
Advocate Sponsor
Spotlight Sponsors
Supporting Sponsors
Champion Sponsors
Government Sponsor
Nonprofit Sponsors
Event Partners
How do I get involved?
Do you want to learn more about the Black & Brown Business Summit and how you can be involved? Let us know by filling out the below form. We look forward to talking to you soon!Â
Questions? Reach out to Katherine Harrington, WDM Chamber President and CEO, or the Summit planning committee:
