Black In Sport

What Black In Sport does

Black In Sport (BIS) is a London-based, founder-led community and events organization founded in 2022 that celebrates Black achievement in sport and connects young people aspiring to sports-industry careers with employers, mentors, and role models. Its core product is the annual Black In Sport Summit (BISS), hosted at Loughborough University in 2022 and at London Stadium from 2023 onward, alongside a secondary 'BIS is On' panel series co-produced with On at the brand's Spitalfields Market store. The organization also operates the 'Perspectives' Substack newsletter, maintains an active social presence on Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn, and runs an employer challenge program that has placed participants in internships at VERSUS and Myprotein and a full-time role at Oak View Group.

The business model is sponsorship- and partnership-driven: BIS generates revenue through corporate partnerships with sports brands, broadcasters, and consumer companies (a disclosed partner roster of 18+ logos includes Sky Sports, DAZN, On, Catapult, Hudl, Xbox, THG, and Loughborough University). Programs and events are offered to participants at no direct cost. The go-to-market is event-driven: summits, panel events, and networking sessions serve as the primary engagement mechanism, with digital content and social channels providing top-of-funnel awareness. There is no disclosed pricing, subscription, or contract structure; the model resembles a mission-aligned community platform monetized through sponsorship deals rather than per-seat or per-transaction fees.

From a technology standpoint, BIS is explicitly not a technology company. The platform stack consists of a content-managed website (blackinsport.com), a Substack-hosted newsletter, and standard social media profiles; there is no proprietary software, API, AI capability, or data asset. Operating geography is the United Kingdom only, with no international expansion disclosed. The organization is privately held with no disclosed funding, parent company, or institutional investors, and operates with a 1-10 person team under CEO and co-founder Ladi Ogunmekan.

Name

Black In Sport

Legal name

Black In Sport

Website

https://blackinsport.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Black In Sport is a London-based, founder-led community and events organization that celebrates Black achievement in sport and connects young aspiring sports professionals with employers, mentors, and partners through its annual BISS summit and employer challenge program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sports community advocacy and networking

NAICS

Agents and Managers for Artists, Athletes, Entertainers, and Other Public Figures (7114), Other Spectator Sports (711219)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Advertising (7310)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYMPAAAGAE

Sponsorship & Sports Experiential Marketing

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Advertising, Marketing & PR Services/Experiential & Event Marketing Agencies

SECONDARYMPAKALAH

Hospitality, VIP & Experiential Sponsorship (Suites, Fan Zones, On-Site Activations)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Sports (Leagues, Teams, Events, Venues)/Sports Sponsorship & Endorsements

Keywords

• Diversity in sports
• Sports networking events
• Youth sports mentorship
• Sports community advocacy
• Career pathways sports

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Partnership and sponsorship revenue: Black In Sport generates revenue through corporate partnerships and sponsorships with sports brands and organizations. Partners receive access to diverse talent pools and brand visibility with young sports professionals.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Black In Sport (BIS) operates a community advocacy platform that celebrates Black achievement in sport, amplifies diverse voices in the sports community, and connects young people with networking, mentorship, and career opportunities. Its flagship offering is the annual Black In Sport Summit (BISS) held at London Stadium, alongside partner-driven panel series, internship placement programs, and the PERSPECTIVES newsletter/blog.

Product overview

Black In Sport (BIS) is a community advocacy organization focused on celebrating Black achievement in sport and amplifying diverse voices. The core offering includes the annual Black In Sport Summit (BISS) event series that provides networking opportunities, mentorship schemes, and internship access through partner organizations. Additional offerings include the collaborative 'BIS is On' panel series with partner On, and the PERSPECTIVES blog content hosted on Substack. The organization connects young people to career opportunities in sport through events, content, and employer partnerships.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• BIS is On: A dynamic event series in partnership with On, featuring intimate panel events at On's London store in Spitalfields Market, designed to inspire and empower young people within the sports industry.

Products and services

• Black In Sport Summit (BISS) Annual flagship summit bringing together sports professionals, athletes, speakers, and aspiring young professionals for networking, panel discussions, mentorship access, and connections to internship opportunities with partner organizations such as VERSUS, Myprotein, and Oak View Group.
• BIS is On Series Collaborative panel event series with sportswear brand On, hosting intimate gatherings at On's London store designed to connect young sports professionals with industry veterans through networking and dialogue.
• PERSPECTIVES Newsletter

Quantifiable outcome

• 80% of jobs are filled through networking, highlighting the value of BIS's networking focus

Named customers3 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

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

• Loughborough University LondoncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 February 2024Partnership to deliver a panel on 'Allyship in the Business of Sport' featuring Olympian Abigail Irozuru and Brentford FC Ambassador Marcus Gayle, joined by EDI consultants and staff from Fulham FC.
• Sports InteractivecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 February 2024Joint partnership with Loughborough University London to deliver panel discussion on allyship in sports business, bringing together athletes, EDI consultants, and club staff.
• OnflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Strategic partnership in 2024 launching the 'BIS is On' series of intimate panel events at On's flagship London store in Spitalfields Market. The collaboration aims to inspire and empower young people within the sports industry through networking and dialogue with seasoned sports professionals. Three panel events are planned as part of the initial launch.
• VERSUScoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner organization participating in BIS employer challenge program, hosting interns and providing work experience opportunities for young people.
• DAZNminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSports streaming partner with logo displayed on BIS website, indicating marketing/partnership relationship.
• Sky SportsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor sports broadcaster partner with logo displayed on BIS website.
• CatapultminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSports technology company partner with logo displayed on BIS website.
• HudlminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSports analytics and video platform partner with logo displayed on BIS website.
• WingstopminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRestaurant brand partner with logo displayed on BIS website.
• Loughborough UniversityminorGTM or Marketing PartnerUniversity partner with logo displayed on BIS website; venue for BISS 2022 summit.
• OctagonminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSports and entertainment agency partner with logo displayed on BIS website.
• BaduminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner organization with logo displayed on BIS website.
• BCOMSminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner organization with logo displayed on BIS website.
• DripminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner organization with logo displayed on BIS website.
• PingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner organization with logo displayed on BIS website.
• THGminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner organization with logo displayed on BIS website.
• TopicalsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner organization with logo displayed on BIS website.
• XboxminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner organization with logo displayed on BIS website.
• PureSportminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner organization with logo displayed on BIS website.
• NneSagaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner organization with logo displayed on BIS website.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Beyond Sport: Global organisation supporting the use of sport for social impact. Comparable to BIS through its focus on sport as a vehicle for diversity, equity, and inclusion outcomes, though operating at a broader global scale with funding-led rather than community-led model.

Direct peers

• Show Racism the Red Card: UK anti-racism educational charity using sport to challenge racism. Highly comparable to BIS in mission (anti-racism in sport), UK base, education-led programming, and reliance on high-profile sports ambassadors.
• Women in Sport: UK charity promoting gender equality in sport through research, advocacy, and programmes. Closely comparable operating model (UK-focused, programmatic, advocacy-driven) and analogous focus on diversity in sport career pathways.
• Kick It Out: UK-based charity tackling racism and discrimination in football. Highly comparable to Black In Sport in mission (ethnic equity in UK sport), audience (young Black professionals and athletes), and event-driven engagement model.
• Level Playing Field: UK charity campaigning for disabled supporters' and participants' access to sport. Comparable operating model to BIS as a UK-based sports inclusion charity running campaigns, events, and awareness programmes.
• Women in Football: UK organisation supporting women working across the football industry. Directly comparable to BIS through its focus on career access, networking, and professional development for under-represented groups in sport.
• Sporting Equals: UK charity focused on ethnic diversity and inclusion across sport. Directly comparable to BIS through its focus on under-represented ethnic communities in sport, policy advocacy, and community programmes across the UK.

Regional players

• Athlete Ally: US-based nonprofit advocating for LGBTQ+ inclusion in sport. Comparable to BIS through its athlete-advocacy model, programming for under-represented communities, and emphasis on allyship — though focused on a different diversity dimension and US geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/blackinsport
• Instagraminstagram.com/blackinsport
• TikToktiktok.com/@blackinsport

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 Black In Sport