Madison Black Chamber of Commerce

What Madison Black Chamber of Commerce does

The Madison Black Chamber of Commerce is a nonprofit organization founded in 2013 and headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin, that supports Black-owned businesses, entrepreneurs, and community leaders throughout South Central Wisconsin. Its functional scope spans advocacy, networking, business development support, and economic empowerment, delivered through a six-tier membership program (Advantage Entrepreneur, Elite Business Builder, Landmark Placemaker, Community Pillar, Strategic Investor, Anana Legacy Champion) and signature programming including the annual Madison Black Restaurant Week (now in its 11th year and the first of its kind in the country when launched in 2015), the Business Leadership Series (cohort-based leadership development launching Fall 2026), and the annual Black Business Awards Era's Ball. Supporting services include an online Business Directory, a Black Business Legal Clinic offered in partnership with Stafford, volunteer and sponsorship programs, and an e-commerce merchandise store.

The Chamber's technology footprint is light and assembled from standard SaaS rather than proprietary platforms: a Squarespace-hosted website with a member directory at directory.madisonblackchamber.com, Stripe for donation processing, Bitrix24 powering the MBRW merchandise catalog and ticketing, JotForm for vendor and volunteer registrations, and Eventbrite and RSVPify for event ticketing. No AI/ML capabilities are evident. The business model combines recurring membership dues, transactional event revenue (e.g., $5 Food Taste Jamboree tickets in bundles of 5/10/15/20), tax-deductible donations, and merchandise sales; corporate sponsorships (Park Bank, UW Health, Visit Madison, Middleton Jewelers, U.S. Bank) and an extensive institutional partner network (Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, City of Madison, Dane County, U.S. Black Chambers, SBA, Madison College, UW School of Business, Kiva, WWBIC, SCORE Madison) provide additional programmatic support. Distribution is hybrid, combining a physical office at The Black Business HUB (2352 S. Park Street, Ste 214, Madison) with self-serve online channels and event-based member engagement.

Name

Madison Black Chamber of Commerce

Legal name

Madison Black Chamber of Commerce

Website

https://madisonblackchamber.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Madison Black Chamber of Commerce is a nonprofit founded in 2013 in Madison, Wisconsin that supports Black-owned businesses, entrepreneurs, and community leaders across South Central Wisconsin through tiered memberships, the annual Restaurant Week, Business Leadership Series, and Black Business Awards.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Chamber of Commerce and Business Advocacy Services

NAICS

Professional Organizations (813920)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Specialty Membership Clubs (Category-Focused) (CRAEADAI)

Keywords

• Chamber of commerce
• Black business advocacy
• Entrepreneurship support
• Business networking
• Community economic empowerment

Headquarters

HQ city

Madison

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. Membership Dues: Tiered membership program with multiple levels (Advantage Entrepreneur, Elite Business Builder, Landmark Placemaker, Community Pillar, Strategic Investor, Anana Legacy Champion) providing varying benefits including visibility, networking opportunities, marketing tools, and exclusive access to resources.
2. Event Revenue: Revenue generated from event ticket sales including the $5 Food Taste Jamboree ($5 per ticket, sold in packages of 5/10/15/20) and the Era's Ball gala. Event proceeds support Chamber programming and Black-owned business resources.
3. Donations: Tax-deductible donations supporting the Chamber's mission to empower Black entrepreneurs, strengthen local businesses, and create economic growth opportunities in the community.
4. Merchandise Sales: Sale of Madison Black Restaurant Week merchandise including vintage t-shirts ($15) featuring past designs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Madison Black Chamber of Commerce is a nonprofit chamber that supports Black-owned businesses, entrepreneurs, and community leaders in South Central Wisconsin through advocacy, networking, leadership development, and signature events. Its core offerings include tiered membership programs, the annual Madison Black Restaurant Week, the Business Leadership Series, the Black Business Awards (Era's Ball), and an online business directory that connects members to visibility, resources, and peer support.

Product overview

The Madison Black Chamber of Commerce operates as a community organization offering a portfolio of programs and services for Black-owned businesses, entrepreneurs, and community leaders. Core offerings include the annual Madison Black Restaurant Week (celebrating its 11th year in 2026), the Business Leadership Series (quarterly cohort-based development), and the Black Business Awards Era's Ball (signature fundraiser). Supporting services include a Business Directory platform, membership programs with six tiers, the Black Business Legal Clinic, and an e-commerce merchandise store. The Chamber also facilitates volunteer opportunities, sponsorship programs, and donation mechanisms powered by Stripe integration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Madison Black Restaurant Week (MBRW): Annual week-long celebration of Black-owned restaurants, food carts, caterers, sweet treat makers, and culinary entrepreneurs across South Central Wisconsin, established in 2015.
• The Black Business HUB
• Business Leadership Series
• Black Business Awards (The Era's Ball)
• Black Wall Street Exhibit

Products and services

• Madison Black Restaurant Week (MBRW) Annual week-long celebration and platform supporting Black-owned restaurants, food carts, caterers, sweet treat makers, and culinary entrepreneurs across South Central Wisconsin, featuring the $5 Food Taste Jamboree kickoff event, dining specials, signature events, and networking opportunities for participating businesses and consumers.
• Business Leadership Series Practical leadership development program for business owners, managers, and emerging leaders navigating growth, change, and increasing responsibility. Available as annual, quarterly, and individual session subscriptions with discounted pricing for Chamber members.
• Black Business Awards (Era's Ball) Signature annual fundraising event celebrating Black business excellence and community leadership, featuring the Black Wall Street Marketplace, a curated dining experience, live entertainment, and a recognition program. Proceeds support Chamber business grants and capacity-building resources for Black-owned businesses.
• Business Directory Platform Online directory platform showcasing Chamber member businesses, providing visibility and credibility, with join functionality and event listings for members throughout South Central Wisconsin.
• Chamber Membership Program Multi-tiered membership offering six levels (Advantage Entrepreneur, Elite Business Builder, Landmark Placemaker, Community Pillar, Strategic Investor, and Anana Legacy Champion) that provide Black-owned businesses with increasing benefits including visibility, marketing tools, networking access, peer and expert support, and recognition for ecosystem support.
• Black Business Legal Clinic Exclusive membership benefit providing free legal assistance to Chamber members in good standing, with attorney Mason A. Higgins facilitating sessions through partnership with Stafford to advise members on legal matters.
• MBRW Merchandise Store E-commerce catalog selling official Madison Black Restaurant Week merchandise, including vintage t-shirts at $15 featuring 2023 Starburst and 2024 Cityscape designs, available in sizes S through XXXL.
• $5 Food Taste Jamboree Tickets Ticket packages for the kickoff event of Madison Black Restaurant Week, sold in bundles of 5 ($25), 10 ($50), 15 ($75), or 20 ($100) at $5 per ticket and redeemable for food vendor samples at the outdoor tasting event.

Quantifiable outcome

• Madison Black Restaurant Week was the first of its kind in the country, created in 2015 by Milele Chikasa Anana.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Wisconsin Economic Development CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState economic development partner supporting Wisconsin's business ecosystem. Listed as a partner on the Chamber's partners page.
• City of Madison (CDBG)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity of Madison Community Development Block Grant program partner supporting community and economic development initiatives.
• Dane CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCounty government partner supporting regional economic initiatives and Black business development.
• Madison Community Foundation / Madisons GivescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal foundation partner providing philanthropic support for community initiatives.
• U.S. Black ChamberscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational Black Chamber of Commerce network partner providing resources and advocacy at the national level.
• United MadisoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal partner organization focused on Black community development and economic empowerment.
• U.S. BanksupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerFinancial institution partner supporting Chamber events and initiatives.
• Boardman ClarksupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerLegal/consulting partner supporting Chamber initiatives.
• Neckerman AgencysupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerInsurance partner supporting Chamber initiatives.
• Small Business Administration (SBA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal small business agency partner providing resources and programs for Black entrepreneurs.
• Dane Buy LocalsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal buy-local initiative partner supporting Black-owned businesses.
• Madison CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational institution partner collaborating on the Business Leadership Series program, bringing faculty expertise and workforce development resources.
• SCORE MadisoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMentorship partner providing business counseling and guidance resources for entrepreneurs.
• UW School of BusinesssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partner providing academic resources and business expertise.
• Wisconsin Women's Business Initiative Corporation (WWBIC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide economic development organization supporting women and minority business owners.
• LCC MadisonsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal partner organization supporting Madison's Black business community.
• Fitchburg ChambersupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdjacent chamber partner supporting regional business community.
• Rock County JumpStartsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional partner providing Black business directory and support services.
• Wisconsin Department of AdministrationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency partner collaborating on the Business Leadership Series program.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• National Black Chamber of Commerce: One of the largest national Black business advocacy organizations, founded in 1993. Comparable to the Madison Black Chamber in mission (advocacy, capacity-building for Black-owned businesses) and membership-based structure, but operating at national rather than metro scale.
• U.S. Black Chambers, Inc. National umbrella organization for Black chambers of commerce across the U.S. Directly comparable because the Madison Black Chamber is an affiliate member and operates with a similar advocacy-and-economic-empowerment mission at a regional level, while USBC operates the same model at national scale.

Others

• Wisconsin Women's Business Initiative Corporation (WWBIC): Statewide economic development organization providing capital, training, and technical assistance to women and minority entrepreneurs. Listed as a core partner and a strong peer in mission (equitable economic empowerment, capital access for underserved entrepreneurs), though organized around gender rather than race.
• Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC): Wisconsin's state quasi-governmental economic development agency. Listed as a core strategic partner of the Chamber and operates in an adjacent space (statewide business support, capital access, advocacy), but functions as a public-sector ecosystem enabler rather than a peer chamber.
• SCORE Madison: Local chapter of the national small-business mentoring nonprofit, listed as a core partner of the Madison Black Chamber. Comparable in that both serve small-business owners with capacity-building resources, though SCORE is mentor-driven and non-racial-specific; functions as an enabler/partner rather than a competitor.

Direct peers

• Detroit Black Chamber of Commerce: Metro Black chamber with advocacy, networking, and economic development programming for Detroit-area Black businesses. Same chamber-of-commerce model, same Black-business empowerment focus, with similar member-tier and event-driven revenue model.
• Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce: The general-purpose regional chamber of commerce serving the same Madison, WI geography. Directly comparable as a membership-based business organization offering networking, advocacy, and member services in the identical local market, but focused on the broader business community rather than Black-owned businesses specifically.
• Chicago Black Chamber of Commerce: Metro-level Black chamber serving the Chicago area with advocacy, networking, and business development services. The most directly comparable peer — same racial-empowerment mission, same chamber-of-commerce structure, same SMB target audience, with similar programming (events, directory, member tiers) but operating in a much larger metro.
• Atlanta Black Chamber of Commerce: Metro-level Black chamber of commerce serving Atlanta's Black business community. Directly comparable in business model (membership tiers, events, advocacy, capital access) and target audience (Black entrepreneurs and SMBs) in another major U.S. metro.

Regional players

• Milwaukee Black Chamber of Commerce (BACM): Black chamber serving the Milwaukee metro area, roughly 80 miles from Madison. Comparable mission, structure, and programming, but operating in an adjacent Wisconsin market rather than directly in Madison.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/MBCofC
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/madison-black-chamber-of-commerce

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Madison Black Chamber of Commerce