Diverse Representation

What Diverse Representation does

Diverse Representation is a Los Angeles-based membership and directory platform founded in 2018 by Jaia Thomas, Esq. that aggregates Black agents, attorneys, managers, publicists, and financial advisors working in the sports and entertainment industries. The company operates a searchable website directory built on Squarespace CMS that catalogs professionals across major U.S. markets (Los Angeles, New York, Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Washington D.C., Miami, Las Vegas, Dallas) and select international locations (Toronto, Ottawa, UK). Its core product is a membership program offering referrals, listserv access, exclusive and member-only networking events, discounted event admission, and access to diversity data, with membership pricing not publicly disclosed.

The company monetizes through three streams: recurring membership subscriptions, a premium newsletter subscription, and transaction-based event revenue from signature programs including the Sports Agent Bootcamp, Black Ownership In Sports Symposium, Black Entertainment Career Summit, and National Black Women In Sports Day. It also operates a job board and an annual 'Ten To Watch' recognition program. Go-to-market is community-led, leveraging a strong press presence in Andscape, Black Enterprise, Essence, Ebony, and Sports Business Journal, alongside organic social channels (YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram) and event-based distribution.

Diverse Representation has cultivated institutional partnerships with the White House Office of Public Engagement, NASDAQ, the NFL, Wasserman, WME, Tribeca Festival, Amazon MGM Studios, Events DC, Morgan Stanley, and academic institutions including USC Gould School of Law and UCLA School of Law. The company is privately held and founder-controlled, with 14 employees and no disclosed institutional funding.

Name

Diverse Representation

Legal name

Diverse Representation

Website

https://diverserepresentation.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Diverse Representation is a Los Angeles-based directory and membership platform founded in 2018 that aggregates Black agents, attorneys, managers, publicists, and financial advisors in the sports and entertainment industries, supported by signature events, a job board, and a premium newsletter.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

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, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Subscriptions: Annual membership option for agents, attorneys, managers, publicists, business managers, financial advisors, and studio/network executives. Membership provides referrals, listserv access, exclusive networking events, discounted event admission, member-only events, and access to diversity data.
2. Premium Newsletter: Subscription-based premium newsletter providing exclusive content and updates about diversity in sports and entertainment.
3. Event Revenue: Revenue generated from ticketed events including Sports Agent Bootcamp, Black Ownership In Sports Symposium, Black Entertainment Career Summit, and various networking receptions. Events feature paid attendance with sponsorships from partners.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Diverse Representation operates a membership-based platform that aggregates Black sports and entertainment agents, attorneys, managers, publicists, business managers, and financial advisors into a comprehensive searchable directory. The platform provides referrals, member listserv access, exclusive networking events, and diversity data, and complements its directory with signature events including the Sports Agent Bootcamp, Black Ownership In Sports Symposium, Entertainment Career Summit, and National Black Women In Sports Day. Additional offerings include a sports and entertainment Job Board and a subscription Premium Newsletter.

Product overview

Diverse Representation is a directory and membership-based platform that increases visibility and hiring of Black agents, attorneys, managers, publicists, and financial advisors in the sports and entertainment industry. The core offering is a searchable professional directory database supported by a membership program with referral capabilities and exclusive networking access. The platform complements its directory with a portfolio of signature events including the Sports Agent Bootcamp, Black Ownership In Sports Symposium, and Entertainment Career Summit. Additional services include a Job Board and Premium Newsletter, all designed to support diverse professionals and promote representation throughout the sports and entertainment sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• National Black Women In Sports Day: Annual celebration of Black women in the sports industry launched by Diverse Representation on July 7th
• Black Ownership In Sports Symposium
• Sports Agent Bootcamp
• Entertainment Career Summit
• Ten To Watch

Products and services

• Professional Directory Database Comprehensive searchable database of Black agents, attorneys, managers, publicists, and financial advisors working in the sports and entertainment industry throughout the United States and select international markets.
• Membership Program Annual paid membership for agents, attorneys, managers, publicists, business managers, financial advisors, and studio/network executives featuring referrals, member listserv access, exclusive networking events, discounted event admission, member-only events, and access to diversity data.
• Sports Agent Bootcamp Annual two-day intensive bootcamp designed to prepare Black professionals and students for careers as professional sports agents, featuring panels, fireside chats, and workshops covering recruiting, scouting, endorsements, and negotiating tactics.
• Black Ownership In Sports Symposium Biennial symposium aimed at educating Black students and professionals about owning professional sports teams, featuring panels, fireside chats, and workshops led by sports team owners.
• Entertainment Career Summit Annual two-day event providing diverse professionals and students opportunities to learn about entertainment careers from recruiters, HR directors, and executives from television networks, agencies, studios, and streaming platforms.
• National Black Women In Sports Day Annual July 7 celebration recognizing the accomplishments and achievements of Black women in all facets of the sports industry, with programming including White House celebrations and NASDAQ Opening Bell ringing.
• Job Board Job board listing opportunities within the sports and entertainment industry for diverse professionals, hosted at diverserepresentation.com/jobboard.
• Premium Newsletter Subscription newsletter providing exclusive news, updates, and information about upcoming events and industry developments in sports and entertainment diversity.

Quantifiable outcome

• National Black Women In Sports Day celebrated at White House (2024)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and flagship.

• Events DCminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 29 July 2026Events DC sponsored the Black Women In Sports Art Exhibit in Washington DC, a multi-day event celebrating Black women's contributions to sports through curated artwork.
• Morgan Stanley Global Sports & EntertainmentminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 29 July 2026Morgan Stanley Global Sports & Entertainment sponsored the Black Women In Sports Art Exhibit in Washington DC, demonstrating corporate support for diversity initiatives in sports.
• USC Gould School of LawminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 April 2026USC Gould School of Law partnered with Diverse Representation to co-host a webinar titled 'The Comeback: How Motherhood is Reshaping Athlete Contracts' addressing best practices for structuring agreements that protect women athletes' rights.
• UCLA School of LawminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 April 2026UCLA School of Law partnered with Diverse Representation to co-host the webinar 'The Comeback: How Motherhood is Reshaping Athlete Contracts' addressing legal considerations for women athletes and motherhood.
• WassermancoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 July 2025Diverse Representation and Wasserman collaborated on a groundbreaking study on the representation and influence of Black women in sports. The study, titled 'The Unseen Influence of Black Women in Sports,' revealed that only 11.7% of Black women sports fans feel completely seen and represented by sports organizations, highlighting the ongoing need for increased representation.
• Amazon MGM Studios / OrionminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 7 July 2025Amazon MGM Studios and Orion invited the Diverse Representation community to a private screening of 'Is God Is' film, featuring Alesha Harris' directorial debut starring Sterling K. Brown and Vivica A. Fox.
• Tribeca FestivalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 June 2025Diverse Representation partnered with Tribeca Festival to present 'Redefining Legacy Through Diverse Representation' panel discussion on the ways Black agents, attorneys, and managers are building and protecting the legacy of diverse artists, filmmakers, and content creators.
• FanaticsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 10 February 2025Fanatics collaborated with Diverse Representation during Super Bowl LIX, providing curated gifts for attendees at ownership-focused events.
• NFLcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 February 2025Diverse Representation partnered with the NFL for Super Bowl LIX weekend, hosting 'Next Play(er): Getting into the Ownership Game,' an intimate breakfast designed to expand access and awareness around ownership in professional sports.
• William Morris Endeavor (WME)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 December 2024WME Sports partnered with Diverse Representation on an HBCU sports business competition ahead of Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans. The 'Shark Tank'-style competition provided college students the opportunity to pitch innovative sports business ideas. WME has also partnered on other events including Super Bowl programming and the Careers in the Fashion Industry panel.
• White House Office of Public EngagementflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 31 July 2024The White House, in collaboration with Diverse Representation and the White House Office of Public Engagement, hosted National Black Women in Sports Day celebration at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, highlighting achievements of Black women in the sports industry.
• Minorities in Sports Business NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 February 2024Minorities in Sports Business Network partnered with Diverse Representation to recognize the accomplishments of Black NFL team presidents at the 'A Toast To Black Sports' pre-Super Bowl event honoring Chicago Bears President Kevin Warren and Washington Commanders President Jason Wright.
• WME FashionminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 June 2023Diverse Representation and WME Fashion partnered for a panel discussion on careers in the fashion industry, highlighting professionals with unique roles across modeling, New York Fashion Week, IMG Models, and The Wall Group.
• NASDAQflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerIn honor of National Black Women In Sports Day, Diverse Representation rang the NASDAQ Opening Bell in New York, joined by Black women sports agents, attorneys, executives, team owners, athletes, and media personalities.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Ebony: Heritage Black American media brand with regular coverage of Black excellence in sports and entertainment. Shares audience and editorial positioning with DR, though at a broader cultural-media level rather than a focused professional-services directory.
• Black Enterprise: Established media brand covering Black business, investing, and entrepreneurship. Shares DR's audience of Black professionals and corporate DEI decision-makers, but functions as a media company rather than a curated professional directory.
• Andscape: ESPN-owned media platform covering Black sports, culture, and storytelling. Overlaps with DR's audience and earned-media channels (DR is featured in Andscape), but operates at much larger scale as a general-interest media brand rather than a professional network.
• Essence: Major media brand for Black women, with growing coverage of sports and entertainment careers. Comparable audience and cultural authority, but operates at media scale rather than as a niche professional network.

Others

• Color Of Change: Largest online racial justice organization in the U.S. Operates in the broader DEI ecosystem where DR's corporate partners engage, but focuses on policy and civic campaigns rather than professional networking.
• NAACP: America's oldest and largest civil rights organization. Adjacent to DR's mission of advancing Black representation, and a peer in accessing high-level institutional partners (including the White House), but operates as a civil rights advocacy body rather than a professional services network.

Direct peers

• National Bar Association: The oldest and largest national association of predominantly African-American attorneys. Shares DR's mission of increasing visibility and opportunity for Black legal professionals, including the entertainment and sports attorneys that DR's directory aggregates.
• Women in Sports and Events (WISE): Long-standing membership and networking organization for women professionals in sports and entertainment business. Comparable to DR in its directory-plus-events-plus-networking model, though focused on gender rather than racial representation.
• Minorities in Sports Business Network: Network focused on advancing minorities in the sports business industry; explicitly partners with Diverse Representation on programming such as the 'A Toast To Black Sports' pre-Super Bowl event, making it the closest direct peer in mission and audience.

Emerging players

• Players Coalition: NFL-player-led nonprofit focused on social justice and racial equity in sports. Operates in the same intersection of sports and Black representation that DR addresses, but from an athlete-advocacy angle rather than a behind-the-scenes professional network.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/diverserepresentation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/diverse-representation
• Instagraminstagram.com/diverserepresentation

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 Diverse Representation