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 · AI & Sales
VIEW PROFILE →Cherilynn Castleman
AI sales thought leader, executive sales coach, author and speaker. She teaches revenue leaders and sellers how to combine relationship intelligence, modern tools and disciplined sales execution.
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 →01Investing Education
Kevin L. Matthews II
Bestselling author, former financial adviser and founder of BuildingBread. He helps first-time investors understand the stock market and build confidence through straightforward, practical investing education.
02Real Estate & Investing
Rashauna Scott
Chicago real-estate broker, investor and founder of Flippin’ In Heels. She creates practical education about property, stock investing and wealth-building.
03Investing & Leadership
Mellody Hobson
Co-CEO and president of Ariel Investments, board leader and financial-literacy advocate. She explains investing, leadership, governance and the business importance of building broader economic participation.
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
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA · CONFIRMEDVIEW EVENT →AFROTECH Conference 2026
HOUSTON, TEXAS · CONFIRMEDVIEW EVENT →WHY BLACK BIZ DAILY EXISTS
Business coverage through our lens.
Black Biz Daily exists to document, explain and celebrate the companies, founders, executives, investors, authors and thinkers shaping our economic future.
We cover the business stories that matter to our community with seriousness, curiosity and consistency every day.
OUR VISION & PUBLISHER →