Platforms like Eventnoire and Black people drive the culture forward. Period.
Whether it’s music, fashion, or throwing the hottest events that the world has ever seen, you can bet that the idea transpired from one of us. But why is it that we don’t always reap the rewards for providing that creative sauce?
It’s because rather than always asking for a seat at the table, it may be time to begin building our own.
As a serial entrepreneur and co-founder of Eventnoire, Jeff Osuji knows a thing or two about creating his own lane and ensuring that his people come with him along the way.
Eventnoire is the technology startup and event ticketing platform on a mission to support and promote Black enterprises and cultural events.
After realizing the discrimination that comes along with event planning while Black, Osuji, along with his co-founder Femi Masha decided to take matters into their own hands.
“One of the things that we found out while hosting events for two years, especially in the metro, urban area, was that most of us, in terms of Black folks, didn’t own any of the venues downtown,” said Osuji in the latest episode of Black Tech Green Money with host Will Lucas.
He further explained that once the owners of those spaces discovered that someone Black would be hosting the event, they would either say that the dates were no longer available or charge higher rental rates.
“We realized that we were making the venues that we did partner with a lot of money and we didn’t own any of that, and we were making the liquor brands that we help support a lot of money and we didn’t own any of that,” Osuji continued. “And so for us, we just want to create a way for us to own a piece of the event ecosystem because we know the influence that will likely have on arts, culture, and entertainment, especially as it relates to events.”
For more on Eventnoire, fighting back against racist dress codes, lack of Black ownership, and more listen to the full Black Tech Green Money episode below:
