Black and Brown Business Summit – West Des Moines Chamber of Commerce

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April 16-17, 2025

About the Black & Brown Business Summit

The Black & 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 Summit is owned and operated by the West Des Moines Chamber of Commerce and is supported by several key stakeholders including Athene, Bank of America, Chase, Wells Fargo and more. The West Des Moines Chamber of Commerce created The Summit back in 2021 and Athene became the naming rights sponsor in 2022.

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 Athene Black and Brown Business Summit is presented by

Attendee Hotel Accommodations

The Athene Black & Brown Business Summit attracts speakers and attendees from across the United States of America. For those traveling in from out of town, a special guest room block is made available. Additional information about hotel accommodations will be available soon.

Minority Business Expo

Join us for the Athene Black & Brown Business Summit Welcome Party and Minority Business Expo! Sponsored by Elevate by Principal and Holmes Murphy Group Companies, this event offers opportunities for both attendees and Minority Business Owners alike. Mix, mingle, and make meaningful connections with Minority Business Owners who are paving the way to generational wealth and success.

More info about the Welcome Party & Expo soon…

Learn more about the 2023 Summit Impact Here

View recordings from the 2024 Summit here

2024 Pitch Competition

Brought to you by our Exclusive Pitch Competition Partner

2024 Pitch Competition Finalists

AbgT Shop from Des Moines, Iowa
Dtocs LLC from Portland, Oregon
Femly from Baltimore, Maryland
Flikshop from Washington, D.C.
Four Corners Coalition from Waterloo, Iowa
Fresh Mediterranean Express from Waukee, Iowa
Lightly from North Hollywood, California

View the press release

Our 2024 Speakers

View our impressive lineup of pitch competition mentors and judges, expert panelists, and keynote speakers joining us at this year’s Summit.

View Past Speakers

2024 Summit Schedule

View the entire two-day summit schedule and plan what sessions you plan to attend both in-person and virtually.

How Iowa Ranks

In number of women-owned businesses

0

The worst state for minority businesses, with only one minority owned business for every 43 minority residents.

A 2014 Bloomberg Businessweek study

Download a list of financial resources in West Des Moines and across the state here.

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.

Thank you to Summit sponsors and key partners that help make this important event possible:

Naming Rights Sponsor

Presenting Sponsor

Exclusive Pitch Competition Partner

Partner Sponsor

Advocate Sponsors

Welcome Party Sponsors

Future Innovator Sponsor

Spotlight Sponsors

Supporting Sponsors

Champion Sponsors

Nonprofit Sponsors

Support Partner

Event Partners

Media Partner

Questions? Reach out to Katherine Harrington, WDM Chamber President and CEO, or the Summit planning committee:

Katherine Harrington

WDM Chamber

Angela Jackson

Athene

Terrence Thames

Cocoa Creative Agency

Bobbi Segura

Women Lead Change

Ida Wood

Paychex HR