Black Owned Media Equity & Sustainability Institute

What Black Owned Media Equity & Sustainability Institute does

The Black Owned Media Equity & Sustainability Institute (BOMESI) is a private non-profit founded in 2020 and headquartered at 26 Broadway, New York, with a stated mission to unite and advance Black-owned media businesses. Co-founded by Rhonesha Byng (Founder & CEO of Her Agenda) and DéVon Christopher Johnson (Founder & CEO of BleuLife Media Group), the organization operates three core programs: (1) the BOMESI Database, a publicly searchable directory of Black-owned media companies across digital, film/TV, podcast, and print verticals; (2) the BOMESI Accelerator, a 3-month cohort program covering infrastructure, ecosystem building, and audience development that has graduated 14 publishers to date; and (3) the BOMESI Collective, an integrated advertising network that centralizes ad sales and sponsorships from major brands. No proprietary technology platform underpins these offerings; the model is built on curated human relationships, events (including the annual BOMESI Summit and Black Owned Media Weekend), and direct advertiser matchmaking. The organization also co-produces content initiatives such as the Multicultural Content Amplifier Hub with Kargo and Danone, and runs accelerator cohort upfronts in New York City that connect graduates to media buyers.

BOMESI's revenue model is multi-stream and characteristic of a non-profit: foundation grants (notably a $750,000 Press Forward award in July 2025), corporate partnerships and event sponsorships from a roster that includes General Motors, Procter & Gamble, HP Inc., Danone, Dentsu, Kargo, and Raptive, plus non-dilutive grants awarded to member publishers (over $400K distributed). Distribution to advertisers is executed through the database platform, direct enterprise engagement, and a strategic channel partnership with Raptive that gives BOMESI clients access to 400+ accredited diverse creator sites reaching 40 million monthly consumers. Customer segments are bipartite: Black-owned media publishers and owners (the supply side, served through the database, accelerator, and collective selling) and major national advertisers (the demand side, served through verified inventory and DEI spend commitments). The organization has facilitated $1.5M+ in media dollars through its network and reports 25M+ combined follower reach across member outlets.

Strategic positioning is centered on addressing systemic underinvestment from major advertisers in Black-owned media by aggregating supply that no individual publisher could present at scale. The accelerator acts as a quality-certification layer that prepares publishers to transact with Fortune 100 buyers, while flagship partnerships with GM, P&G, HP, and Danone (some routed through a Color of Change coalition) provide the demand-side anchor. Operational footprint remains small (11-50 employees) and revenue is not publicly disclosed, but grant inflows, recurring cohort cadence, and expansion of flagship events beyond New York (Detroit in 2024-2025) indicate an organization in active growth mode with concentrated sponsor dependency.

Name

Black Owned Media Equity & Sustainability Institute

Legal name

Black Owned Media Equity & Sustainability Institute

Website

https://blackownedmedia.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

BOMESI is a New York-based non-profit that runs a curated database, 3-month accelerator program, and centralized ad network to help Black-owned media companies secure advertising revenue from major national brands. It serves both Black-owned publishers seeking advertiser access and Fortune 100 advertisers pursuing verified diverse-owned media inventory.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Grant Funding: BOMESI generates revenue through foundation and initiative grants. The organization received a $750,000 Press Forward grant in July 2025 to strengthen Black-owned and diverse-owned media by expanding an ad network and providing training/tools to outlets.
2. Corporate Partnerships and Sponsorships: Major corporations including General Motors, Danone, Procter & Gamble, HP, and others contribute as industry partners and sponsors for events, accelerator programs, and the overall ecosystem building mission.
3. Accelerator Program Fees: BOMESI operates a 3-month accelerator program for diverse and Black-owned media companies, with alumni graduating 14 publishers from the program. The program is supported by partners like Dentsu and focuses on increasing the number of Black-owned media companies that can do business sustainably with top advertisers.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

BOMESI operates a non-profit accelerator, a curated public database, and an integrated advertising network that centralizes ad sales for Black-owned media companies. The organization unites and advances Black-owned media businesses by providing training, mentorship, grant funding, and connections to major national advertisers through cohort programs, industry events, and corporate partnerships.

Product overview

BOMESI (Black Owned Media Equity & Sustainability Institute) is a nonprofit accelerator and advocacy organization that operates a platform of programs and services to unite and advance Black-owned media businesses. The core offerings include the BOMESI Accelerator (a 3-month program with cohorts), the BOMESI Collective (an integrated ad network centralizing ad sales from major brands), and a public database/directory of Black-owned media companies. The organization also produces annual events including the BOMESI Summit and Black Owned Media Weekend, and partners on content initiatives like the Multicultural Content Amplifier Hub with Kargo and Danone. The accelerator focuses on infrastructure building, ecosystem development, and audience growth to help Black-owned media companies secure business from top advertisers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• BOMESI Accelerator A 3-month accelerator program for Black-owned and diverse media companies that builds business infrastructure, fosters ecosystem connections, and develops audience growth to help graduates secure advertising commitments from top national advertisers. Has graduated 14 publishers through its cohorts, including Cohort 4 launched in 2025.
• BOMESI Database A searchable public directory of verified Black-owned media companies across Digital, Film/TV Production, Podcast, and Print categories. Publishers can submit their companies through a Google Forms process, and advertisers use the database to discover and engage with Black-owned media inventory.
• BOMESI Collective An integrated advertising network that centralizes ad sales and sponsorships from major brands across multiple Black-owned media publishers, providing training and tools for outlets to adopt centralized advertising solutions. The consortium model solves the scale problem individual Black-owned media companies face when pitching to major advertisers.
• BOMESI Summit An annual summit bringing together diverse-owned media producers, publishers, promoters, broadcasters, streamers, advertisers, and investors for networking, deal-making, fireside chats, keynote speakers, and awards ceremonies.
• Black Owned Media Weekend An annual event that brings together creators, innovators, and industry leaders to amplify voices of Black-owned media outlets through keynotes, panels, and networking sessions.
• Multicultural Content Amplifier (MCA) Hub A content hub developed by Kargo in partnership with BOMESI and supported by Danone that helps diverse publishers grow, scale, and monetize through media, content, and technology investments, featuring stories from partner publishers around health and food storytelling.

Quantifiable outcome

• $1.5M+ in media dollars facilitated through the network
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and supporting.

• RaptivecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 April 2024Strategic partnership to connect advertisers to verified diverse creators at scale. Raptive provides access to 400+ diverse websites and 40 million monthly consumers. The partnership enables BOMESI clients to access curated media accredited by BOMESI, with a portion of advertiser investment allocated to creating new programs and business models for collaboration between brands and diverse creators.
• General MotorsflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor industry partner sponsoring Black Owned Media Weekend 2024 and providing support for media owner certification to do business with all advertisers. GM announced support for media owners being certified to do business with advertisers during the Detroit event.
• Procter & GambleflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerIndustry partner contributing to the ecosystem supporting Black publishers, creatives, and storytellers through the multi-million dollar commitment secured with Color of Change partnership.
• HP Inc.flagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerIndustry partner in the multi-million dollar commitment from major corporations to support Black-owned media ecosystem, publishers, and creatives.
• DanonecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerIndustry partner supporting diverse voices and publishers through the Multicultural Content Amplifier (MCA) program in partnership with Kargo and BOMESI. Danone supports content creation around health and food storytelling, with the Content Hub showcasing stories from diverse publishers.
• DentsucoreGTM or Marketing PartnerProgram partner supporting the BOMESI Accelerator. Dentsu hosted the Cohort 2 Kickoff at their office and provides programmatic advertising expertise and support for the accelerator program.
• KargocoreGTM or Marketing PartnerProgram partner that developed the Multicultural Content Amplifier (MCA) in partnership with BOMESI. The MCA program helps diverse publishers grow, scale, and monetize through media, content, and technology investments. Kargo sponsored the BOMESI Accelerator Upfront at CES 2024.
• Concert by Vox MediasupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerProgram partner supporting BOMESI's ecosystem building initiatives and advertiser-media ecosystem development.
• ColabsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerProgram partner contributing to BOMESI's collaborative ecosystem building efforts.
• Cinematica LabssupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerProgram partner supporting BOMESI's initiatives for diverse-owned media companies.
• Ben & Jerry'ssupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerIndustry partner contributing to the ecosystem supporting Black-owned media and equitable advertising spending.
• BBDOsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerIndustry partner supporting BOMESI's mission to advance Black-owned media businesses through advertising industry contributions.
• CUNYsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerIndustry partner contributing to BOMESI's educational and ecosystem building initiatives.
• NativosupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Black Owned Media Weekend 2024, providing thought leadership on demanding transparency from advertisers and supporting diverse media representation.
• MediavinesupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Black Owned Media Weekend 2024, supporting amplification of Black-owned media voices.
• My CodesupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Black Owned Media Weekend 2024, contributing to diverse media ecosystem development.
• BurstsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Black Owned Media Weekend 2024.
• She MediasupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Black Owned Media Weekend 2024, supporting diverse media representation.
• DiscovercoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor supporting diverse publishers through initiatives like the Danone Content Hub, contributing to multicultural content amplification and diverse media growth.
• Color of ChangeflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership that secured multi-million dollar commitment from major corporations including P&G and HP to support Black publishers, creatives, and storytellers. BOMESI and Color of Change work together to advocate for equitable advertising spending.
• Black Music Action Coalition (BMAC)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with BOMESI during Grammy Week for the Black Media Summit, celebrating Black music and media professionals.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Blavity: Blavity is a Black-owned digital media company operating a portfolio of culture and lifestyle publications (Blavity News, Shadow & Act, 21Ninety, Travel Noire) plus an advertising platform serving diverse audiences. It directly mirrors BOMESI's mission of consolidating Black-owned media inventory for advertiser access and runs a similar ad-network model.
• My Code: My Code is a multicultural advertising network that connects brands with diverse-owned publishers across Hispanic, Black, AAPI, and LGBTQ+ audiences. It is a BOMESI sponsor and operates the same intermediary business model between advertisers and diverse-owned media.
• iOne Digital (Interactive One): iOne Digital is the digital division of Urban One, the largest Black-owned media conglomerate, operating TheGrio, Bossip, and HelloBeautiful. It competes directly with BOMESI's database for advertiser attention on Black-owned digital inventory at meaningful scale.
• The Grio: The Grio is one of the largest Black-focused digital news and culture platforms, originally launched by NBC News and now part of Allen Media Group. It overlaps with BOMESI's database listings of large Black-owned media properties competing for the same advertiser budgets.

Broad incumbents

• Essence Communications: Essence Communications operates Essence magazine and the Essence Festival, serving Black women audiences with a multi-decade incumbent position. It is materially larger and broader in scope than BOMESI member outlets, but operates in the same Black-owned media advertising ecosystem BOMESI aggregates.

Others

• Color of Change: Color of Change is a racial-justice advocacy organization that partnered with BOMESI to secure multi-million dollar corporate commitments from P&G and HP for Black-owned media. It is a strategic advocacy partner, not a direct competitor, but operates in adjacent DEI-media ecosystem influence.
• Kargo: Kargo is a mobile-first adtech company that co-developed the Multicultural Content Amplifier with BOMESI and Danone. It is a technology and program partner in BOMESI's content-monetization layer, providing the ad-tech infrastructure BOMESI itself does not build.
• Raptive: Raptive is a creator-economy ad management company that represents 6,000+ independent publishers. Its strategic partnership with BOMESI unlocks 400+ diverse creators and 40M monthly consumers to advertisers via BOMESI accreditation, making it an enabling partner rather than competitor.
• Press Forward: Press Forward is a national initiative backed by 22+ funders that awarded BOMESI a $750K grant in July 2025 to strengthen diverse-owned local news. It is a financial/ecosystem partner funding the broader infrastructure BOMESI operates within.
• GLAAD Media Institute: GLAAD Media Institute operates a similar mission-advocacy-plus-media-equity model for LGBTQ+ owned media and inclusive advertising. While serving a different demographic, its structure as an advocacy nonprofit building media-equity infrastructure for an underserved audience is functionally analogous to BOMESI's model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/blkowned_media
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bomesi

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Black Owned Media Equity & Sustainability Institute