Black on the Block

What Black on the Block does

Black on the Block is a privately held event company founded in June 2021 in Los Angeles that organizes monthly touring marketplace festivals featuring 100+ Black-owned brands, food vendors, musicians, and cultural activations. The company has expanded from its initial Los Angeles launch to seven U.S. metros — Dallas, Houston, Washington D.C., Atlanta, Chicago, and Charlotte — drawing thousands of attendees per event. Its core products are (1) the Black on the Block Festival, a recurring physical marketplace event; (2) the Black on the Block mobile application (iOS and Android) used for ticketing, vendor discovery, and event updates; and (3) the Vendor Portal at appontheblock.com, an exclusive web-based application and account-management platform with a curated approval process rather than first-come-first-served vendor selection.

The business operates through a multi-stream revenue model: vendor booth rentals priced from $350 for a standard 10x10 space to $1,000 for a 10x20 Platinum package that includes newsletter blasts to 60,000+ contacts and dedicated Instagram placements; ticket sales for attendees (non-refundable, non-transferable); limited-edition branded merchandise (e.g., $50 Juneteenth Panther Tees); and corporate sponsorship, with past partners including Disney, NBC, BETX, AT&T, Chime, Hulu, Walmart, Coca-Cola Zero, Amazon Prime Video, Postmates, and Smirnoff, alongside an NFL/Stefon Diggs co-branded activation in Washington D.C.

The company is structurally organized as two related entities — Black on the Block, LLC as the Event Partner and App on the Block, Inc (California corporation, Sacramento-registered address) as the technology and authorized ticket supplier. It remains bootstrapped with no disclosed funding rounds, operates with 1–10 employees, and has accumulated 60,000+ app users, a 60,000+ newsletter list, and earned media coverage in Forbes, Washington Post, Essence, Black Enterprise, CBS Los Angeles, and the Jennifer Hudson Show. Go-to-market is event-driven, relying on organic social (Instagram, TikTok, Facebook), the proprietary mobile app, and vendor/attendee word-of-mouth.

Name

Black on the Block

Legal name

Black on the Block, LLC

Website

https://blackxtheblock.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Black on the Block organizes monthly touring marketplace festivals across seven U.S. cities, connecting 100+ Black-owned businesses with thousands of attendees through its proprietary mobile app and vendor portal.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cultural Marketplace Events

NAICS

Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Consumer & Public Shows (B2C) Organizers (THAHABAC)

Keywords

• Black-owned business festivals
• Vendor marketplace events
• Cultural marketplace festivals
• Community event organization
• Event ticketing platform

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Vendor Booth/Table Rental: Revenue from renting booth spaces to Black-owned businesses at monthly festival events. Pricing tiers range from $350 for standard 10x10 spaces to $1,000 for premium Platinum packages with marketing inclusions.
2. Merchandise Sales: Sale of branded merchandise including Juneteenth-themed apparel such as t-shirts ($50) through the company's e-commerce storefront
3. Ticket Sales: Revenue from attendee tickets to festival events, sold through the mobile app and App on the Block platform. Tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Black on the Block organizes monthly touring marketplace festivals that travel across major U.S. cities, featuring 100+ Black-owned brands, food vendors, live music, and cultural activations for thousands of attendees. The company operates an exclusive Vendor Portal for vendor applications and curation, a proprietary mobile app for ticket purchasing and vendor browsing, and sells branded merchandise such as Juneteenth-themed t-shirts. Vendor booth rentals are sold in tiered packages ($350–$1,000), supplemented by attendee ticket sales and merchandise revenue.

Product overview

Black on the Block operates as a multi-platform Black-owned business ecosystem comprising three core offerings: (1) the Black on the Block Festival, a monthly touring marketplace event across major U.S. cities showcasing 100+ Black-owned brands, food vendors, and live entertainment; (2) the Black on the Block App, a mobile application for ticket purchasing, vendor discovery, and event updates; and (3) the Black on the Block Vendor Portal, a web platform managing vendor applications and approvals. The company also sells branded merchandise including the BOTB Juneteenth Panther Tee and BOTB Juneteenth Tee lines in multiple colors. All ticketing is handled through App on the Block, Inc. (AOTB) as the authorized ticket supplier.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Black on the Block Festival Monthly touring marketplace festival featuring 100+ Black-owned brands, food vendors, live music, and cultural activations held in major U.S. cities for thousands of attendees.
• Black on the Block Mobile App Mobile application (iOS and Android) enabling users to purchase event tickets, browse featured vendors, and stay updated on future events and vendor application openings.
• Black on the Block Vendor Portal Web-based platform (appontheblock.com) through which prospective vendors submit applications to participate in Black on the Block festivals. The portal manages vendor approvals, communications, and event-specific requirements.
• BOTB Juneteenth Panther Tee (Brown) Limited edition unisex Juneteenth commemorative t-shirt in brown. Charcoal garment-dyed, 100% cotton, 6.5oz, washed with natural enzymes for a broken-in feel. Priced at $50.
• BOTB Juneteenth Panther Tee (Cream) Limited edition unisex Juneteenth commemorative t-shirt in cream. Garment-dyed, 100% cotton, 6.5oz, washed with natural enzymes for a broken-in feel.
• BOTB Juneteenth Panther Tee (Grey) Limited edition unisex Juneteenth commemorative t-shirt in grey. Garment-dyed, 100% cotton, 6.5oz, washed with natural enzymes for a broken-in feel.
• BOTB Juneteenth Tee Vintage black Juneteenth commemorative t-shirt.

Quantifiable outcome

• 60,000+ app users and 60k+ newsletter contacts
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 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

Integration3 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• DisneyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPast sponsor of Black on the Block festivals; Disney logo featured in past partners section on website
• NBCminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPast media partner and sponsor; NBC logo featured in past partners section
• BETXminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPast sponsor and media partner; BETX logo featured in past partners section
• AT&TminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPast sponsor of Black on the Block festivals; AT&T logo featured in past partners section
• ChimeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPast financial services sponsor; Chime logo featured in past partners section
• HuluminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPast streaming media sponsor; Hulu logo featured in past partners section
• SmirnoffminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPast beverage alcohol sponsor; Smirnoff logo featured in past partners section
• WalmartminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPast retail sponsor of Black on the Block; Walmart logo featured in past partners section
• Coca-Cola ZerominorGTM or Marketing PartnerPast beverage sponsor; Coca-Cola Zero logo featured in past partners section
• Amazon Prime VideominorGTM or Marketing PartnerPast streaming sponsor; Amazon Prime Video logo featured in past partners section
• PostmatesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPast delivery partner; Postmates logo featured in past partners section
• App on the Block, InccoreTechnology or IntegrationExclusive authorized ticket supplier and app developer for Black on the Block. Operates the Black on the Block App (iOS/Android) and Vendor Portal platform. California corporation handling ticket sales, vendor applications, and event-related services on behalf of Black on the Block LLC.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Eventbrite: Eventbrite is a large-scale event ticketing and management platform serving many festival organizers including cultural events. Comparable as a self-serve ticketing and event-discovery backbone that BOTB's app competes with functionally.
• Black Enterprise (BE Expo/Events): Black Enterprise runs expos, media, and content around Black entrepreneurship. Comparable in serving Black-owned business audiences and in producing recurring events/expos with vendor marketplaces.

Direct peers

• Afropunk: Afropunk operates large-scale music and cultural festivals celebrating Black creativity and entrepreneurship. Highly comparable as a touring, multi-city festival platform with a cultural-commerce angle, vendor marketplace, and lifestyle brand extensions.
• ESSENCE Festival of Culture: ESSENCE Festival is a marquee Black-culture event with music, vendors, and brand activations. Directly comparable in audience, sponsor profile, and Black-owned business marketplace component.
• Official Black Wall Street: Official Black Wall Street is a directory and marketplace platform for Black-owned businesses. Comparable in the Black-owned business discovery and vendor-matching space, though digital-only rather than event-based.
• Broccoli City Festival: Broccoli City runs an annual festival and year-round cultural programming anchored in Black culture, music, and food. Comparable as a cultural event platform with a vendor marketplace and major brand sponsorship.

Emerging players

• EatOkra: EatOkra is a discovery platform for Black-owned restaurants and food businesses. Comparable as a curated marketplace connecting consumers to Black-owned food vendors, overlapping BOTB's food vendor component.
• Renegade Craft Fair: Renegade operates curated, touring maker markets with vendor booths. Comparable in the curated marketplace / booth-rental touring event model, though not Black-owned business specific.
• Made in Harlem / Shop Black Owned events: Regional Black-owned business pop-ups and marketplaces operating across US cities. Comparable as curated in-person Black-owned business marketplaces, though typically smaller and single-city.
• Shoppe Black: Shoppe Black is a curated online directory of Black-owned brands. Comparable in connecting consumers with Black-owned businesses, complementary rather than event-based competition.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/blackontheblock
• Instagraminstagram.com/blackxtheblock
• TikToktiktok.com/@blackxtheblock
• Xx.com/blackxtheblock
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/black-on-the-block

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Black on the Block