Grants, prizes and pitch competitions can help founders access capital, but the rules may include scoring criteria, publicity terms, confidentiality limits, legal waivers or financing structures that deserve close review.
CAPITAL · TODAY
TODAY'S BBD500 SPOTLIGHT · Nonprofit Technology
VIEW PROFILE →Marlin Williams
Founder of Intentional Technology and a strategist helping small and midsize nonprofits make aligned technology decisions. She publishes about digital transformation, people, process and practical AI adoption.
MORE FROM THE BBD500More people
More people
to know.
The BBD500 is Black Biz Daily's curated stage for Black founders, executives, investors, educators, authors, consultants, creators and business authorities whose work deserves to be seen. It is not a popularity ranking; it recognizes useful authority, demonstrated impact and sustained contribution.
EXPLORE THE BBD500 →01Entrepreneurship
Melissa Butler
Founder and CEO of The Lip Bar, investor and speaker. She teaches through the experience of building an inclusive beauty company from a kitchen experiment into an eight-figure national retail brand.
02Entrepreneurship
Nicaila Matthews Okome
Entrepreneur and host of Side Hustle Pro, a podcast centered on Black women entrepreneurs. Her platform shares founder stories, practical lessons and side-hustle education.
03Venture Capital & AI
Brian Brackeen
General partner at Lightship Capital, entrepreneur and investor. He works with underrepresented founders and shares expertise in venture funding, entrepreneurial training, artificial intelligence and emerging ecosystems.
WHAT WE’RE WATCHINGThe questions
The questions
shaping what
comes next.
The Brief tells you what matters now. This desk follows the deeper business shifts our newsroom believes deserve sustained attention.
THE CALENDARFOR FOUNDERS · STARTUPS · ENTREPRENEURS
Where our community meets next.
Discover conferences, summits and gatherings worth knowing. Dates and details are verified against official organizer information before publication.
BLACK ENTERPRISE XCEL Summit for Men 2026
ORLANDO, FLORIDA · CONFIRMEDVIEW EVENT →NMSDC Annual Conference & Exchange 2026
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