BlackHouse

What BlackHouse does

BlackHouse is a New York City-based event production agency that designs, plans, and executes live, hybrid, and virtual events for corporate, consumer, and non-profit clients. Founded in 2016 by co-founders Bunmi Giwa-Bello and Casandra Mead under the legal entity BLACK HOUSE GROUP, INC., the firm operates as a boutique, black and women-owned agency headquartered at 3100 47th Avenue in Long Island City, NY, with 1-10 employees. Its service portfolio spans three core delivery modes (Live, Hybrid, and Virtual Events) supported by integrated Event Production Services (technical direction, showcalling, stage management, 3D renders, video and lighting design, scenic fabrication, video mapping, virtual reality production) and Event Planning Services (logistics, venue scouting, creative direction, vendor management, hospitality).

BlackHouse monetizes through project-based professional services fees generated via a sales-led, consultative GTM motion built on direct client consultations, venue partner referrals (notably the American Museum of Natural History), and industry network introductions (including Event Shair/Leslie Shair and Celadon Creative). Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed, with proposals tailored to client objectives and budgets. Its customer base spans enterprise media and entertainment (Prime Video, Sony Pictures Television, NBC, Univision, Marvel/Disney), non-profit and conservation (NFWF, Oceanx), and cultural institutions (AMNH), with marquee engagements such as the Ex Awards 'Best Entertainment Event of 2022' RICHES Art Basel activation for Prime Video. The agency has no disclosed funding, operates privately with no parent company, and has no disclosed patents, certifications, or proprietary technology beyond standard event production tooling.

Name

BlackHouse

Legal name

BLACK HOUSE GROUP, INC.

Website

https://blackhousenyc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

BlackHouse is a New York City-based, black and women-owned boutique event production agency designing and executing live, hybrid, and virtual events for enterprise, consumer, and non-profit clients since 2016.

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, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Event Production Services: Full-service event production including technical direction, stage management, creative design, and execution for corporate, consumer, and non-profit events. Revenue is generated through project-based fees for bespoke event production services.
2. Event Planning Services: Planning and logistics, venue scouting, concept development, creative direction, vendor management, staging, and hospitality management services.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

BlackHouse is a boutique event production agency that designs and executes live, hybrid, and virtual events for corporate, consumer, and non-profit clients. Its offerings span full-service event production (technical direction, showcalling, stage management, scenic fabrication, lighting/video/3D design) and event planning (logistics, venue scouting, creative direction, vendor management). Each engagement is bespoke, with pricing provided via customized proposals following consultation.

Product overview

BlackHouse is an event production agency offering three core service lines: Live Events (in-person production), Hybrid Events (blending physical and virtual), and Virtual Events (streaming and digital experiences). These are supported by Event Production Services (technical direction, stage management, 3D renders, video/lighting design, scenic fabrication, VR production) and Event Planning Services (logistics, venue scouting, creative direction, vendor management). The company specializes in Corporate, Consumer, and Non-Profit Events including award galas, product launches, and experiential activations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Live Events In-person event production services including technical direction, stage management, brand activations, and full-scale event execution at physical venues. Designed for corporate, consumer, and non-profit clients hosting conferences, premieres, galas, product launches, and award ceremonies.
• Hybrid Events Events that blend live in-person environments with virtual digital experiences to foster two-way conversations and interactions between on-site and remote guests, including hybrid VIP lounges, hybrid photo booths, hybrid programming, and hybrid keynote speeches. Designed for clients seeking to expand audience reach beyond physical venue capacity.
• Virtual Events Live streaming and virtual experience production including virtual networking lounges, green rooms, welcome rooms, and help desks, with options for tangible experience boxes and home-delivered catering. Designed for clients seeking digital-first or remote audience engagement.
• Event Production Services Comprehensive technical production capabilities including technical direction, showcalling, stage management, brand activations, content management, entertainment booking, 3D renders, video design, lighting design, stage design, production management, scenic fabrication, video mapping, projection, software integration, and virtual reality production. Designed for clients needing integrated technical execution across live, hybrid, and virtual event formats.
• Event Planning Services Planning and logistics support including venue scouting, concept development, creative direction, vendor management, staffing, staging and space management, hospitality management, and social media integration. Designed for clients needing front-end event design and coordination.

Quantifiable outcome

• NFWF gala raised over $3 million, the largest amount ever raised in the history of the NFWF gala
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 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

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Event Shair (Leslie Shair)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2016Longtime colleague partnership with Leslie Shair of Event Shair, an in-demand producer of elite television and film premieres. Partnered on Sony Pictures Television's 'The Art of More' season premiere at Museum of Art and Design. BlackHouse served as an extension of Event Shair's team, providing technical design and production support.
• L'Atelier RougeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFloral partner providing opulent florals for events including the 'Art of More' premiere. Contributed to luxury car installation and overall aesthetic design.
• Celadon CreativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEvent design partner with whom BlackHouse has collaborated on multiple events including the Oceanx Splash brand launch. Partnership enables seamless and efficient work on complex event designs.
• OceanxcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMedia company dedicated to documenting oceanic exploration (formerly Alucia Productions). BlackHouse assisted in creating a new marine exhibit at AMNH, producing Oceanx's new brand launch premiere. Mark and Ray Dalio of Oceanx were honorees at the NFWF gala produced by BlackHouse.
• Preservation Hall BandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTraditional jazz ensemble brought in for NFWF gala surprise finale performance. Coordinated with 36-hour turnaround, flying the band in from tour to perform at the event.
• Amazon MusicminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with Amazon Music for the RICHES Art Basel activation, providing entertainment lineup including 11 unique performances by Black entertainers with spoken word, live music, and notable DJs.
• TWENTY Black, Women, and Minority-Owned BusinessescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreative direction and production powered by twenty black, women, and minority-owned businesses. It was imperative to BlackHouse and Prime Video to create authentic experiences with professionals in the community being celebrated. This included Chef Malcolm Prude's culinary offerings and seven Black-owned wine, beers, and liquors.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• MKG: NYC-based experiential marketing and brand activation agency serving enterprise clients with live, hybrid, and creative event production. Comparable in size, geography, and focus on brand experiences and consumer-facing events.
• The Citizen Group: NYC creative agency producing experiential events, premieres, and brand activations for media and entertainment clients. Comparable in scale and in serving film/TV and corporate clients with full-service event production.
• MAS Event Design: NYC event design and production firm serving corporate, nonprofit, and brand clients with full-service production and design. Highly comparable boutique peer operating in the same NYC market and event-vertical mix.
• Event Shair: Boutique NYC event producer led by Leslie Shair, specializing in film and television premieres, red carpets, and VIP after-parties. Already a documented partner of BlackHouse on the Sony Pictures Television 'Art of More' premiere, making it the closest direct peer by size, geography, and service mix.
• Celadon Creative: NYC event design and production partner of BlackHouse, collaborating on projects like the Oceanx brand launch. Comparable boutique peer in size and market, focused on creative event design and production for nonprofit and consumer brands.

Broad incumbents

• Jack Morton Worldwide: Global brand experience agency with deep enterprise relationships across experiential, hybrid, and virtual events. Competes with BlackHouse on the same RFPs for marquee brand and corporate clients, but at far greater scale and with broader geographic footprint.
• George P. Johnson Experience Marketing: Large global experiential marketing agency focused on corporate events, brand experiences, and trade shows. Overlaps with BlackHouse's experiential activation work but serves a wider portfolio of enterprise clients worldwide.
• Sparks: Global experiential and brand engagement agency delivering trade shows, brand activations, and corporate events for Fortune 500 clients. Comparable offering at substantially larger scale, competing for the same enterprise event budgets.
• Freeman: Largest live-event brand experience company in North America, providing event production, exposition services, and hybrid/digital experiences. Competes with BlackHouse on large enterprise events but operates at incomparably greater scale.

Emerging players

• Pivot Event Productions: NYC-based boutique event production company serving corporate and nonprofit clients with live and hybrid event production. Comparable scale and service mix to BlackHouse but with a smaller portfolio of marquee brand wins.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 BlackHouse