Multilayer Strategy +
Effective Execution =
Unleashed Power.
Black economic empowerment starts with ownership, then integrates all facets of our existing power and resources to build new power in a virtuous cycle.
The goals are:
Individual Wealth. Community Wealth. Collaboration & Reinvestment.
BlackShares achieves these goals via 3 key strategies:
Platform Ownership. Strategic Spending. Connection & Collaboration.
Share the upside."
The Goals
We measure economic empowerment in terms of progress towards 3 goals:
Increased
Individual Wealth
Closing the gap on individual wealth provides us each with the wherewithal to go beyond mere subsistence to investing and building.
Median Black household wealth: $45,000
Median White household wealth: $285,000
Increased
Community Wealth
Community wealth is a key measure of the economic empowerment of the community overall, and is not just the sum of individual wealth.
It includes the wealth of our institutions, businesses, investment firms, etc.
Collaboration &
Reinvestment
Our community has long been blessed with talent, creativity and determination. We only need to connect and work together.
BlackShares helps members find and connect with
collaborators to build new businesses.
The Strategies
We measure economic empowerment in terms of progress towards 3 goals:
Ownership is power
It's critical to not only own our own platforms and businesses,
but to ensure that our entire community benefits from them.
Read on below to learn how about the tactics we're deploying to drive more beneficial Black ownership,
starting right here with the BlackShares platform.
The BlackShares Platform
The BlackShares platform itself is where ownership starts. We must own the platforms
on which we socialize, network and build.
And, it's not just about being Black-owned. It's that we're purposefully sharing revenue with members
and investing in Black-owned businesses.
BlackShares Revshare/Reinvestment
BlackShares is not just our name. It's our ethos. All members have an individual stake in the platform,
via revenue-sharing.
BlackShares also invests a share of its revenue in businesses and causes on the platform. In all, each member
receives the benefits of platform ownership.
A Platform for All Black Digital Life
BlackShares currently features social and professional networking features.
Think of it as Twitter + LinkedIn with an emphasis on entrepreneurship.
But our mission is to become the for all Black digital life, from banking
to travel and beyond. And,
as we grow, we'll share revenue with members and startups on the platform.
Make every dollar count
Black consumers in the U.S. spend over $1.8 trillion annually (and growing).
But, without a plan, this number just measures the wealth drained from our community.
That's why BlackShares is investing that spending directly back into the community in multiple innovative ways.
Read on below to learn how to add your personal spending power to a new economic engine.
Creating More Ways to Spend Black
The BlackShares platform highlights and amplifies Black-owned businesses where we can spend our money.
And, we're helping Black founders connect with the people and resources they need to level-up, scale up, and grow so they can absorb more of our spending.
We're also an engine for building and launching new Black businesses, as well as providing opportunities for more of our community to earn equity.
Turning All Spending Into Power
When it comes to business ownership, we've got some catching up to do. We simply don't yet produce nearly the level of goods and services we consume.
We'll get there, but it'll take some time.
So, as we work to expand Black business ownership, we offer members the chance to shop at popular stores and earn cash back, while contributing to an investment fund for Black-owned businesses.
Claiming Power With Buycotts
Buycotts are the opposite of boycotts and represent a group choosing to buy from a business as an expression of support.
We prefer buycotts because they allow us to proactively drive favorable outcomes versus merely reacting to negative events.*
Imagine what happens when we use our nearly $2 trillion in spending power to reward companies that enact policies
favorable to the equity we seek.
*But we're not above boycotts when necessary to stand on business!
Combining our many talents for explosive growth
The Black community has long been blessed with
immense talent, creativity and determination.
But, until now, we've never fully collaborated at scale to build together and grow. That's been the missing link.
Read on to learn how BlackShares is connecting the Black community in
unprecedented ways to achieve progress never before possible.
Building The Largest Black Network on Earth
Teachers, clergy, journalists, doctors, lawyers, scientists, engineers,
marketers, sales people, consultants, executives—these
are just a few examples of the wide range of extraordinary talent that exists in the Black community.
But, never before—while possessing this much capability—have we been united as one community.
That changes with BlackShares. Whoever you need,
you can find them in the Black community, and
we're bringing the entire community to one searchable platform.
Collaborating to Expand Entrepreneurship
Black founders received less than 0.5% of VC investment in recent years, putting us at a tremendous disadvantage.
And for many businesses, a key need for capital is to hire employees.
Our solution to this is collaboration.
BlackShares is connecting Black founders with the skills, advisors and influencers they need to build
successful businesses, and we encourage founders to share revenue and equity in lieu of scarce cash.
Problem solved and everyone wins.
Shared Upside For All Of Us
Collaboration empowers each member, individually and our community, collectively.
And the best part is, the upside (e.g. revenue) that results from our newfound empowerment is also shared with each participating member and invested in businesses within the community.
By "upside", we mean real money, whether from shopping, referral earnings, shared membership fees or any other revenue generated from platform services—present and future.
BlackShares is about all of us moving forward as one, and benefiting as one.
It's our time to profit.
We're building a new economy for all of us. Join us and share the upside.