Black Pages International

What Black Pages International does

Black Pages International is a privately held, Chicago-based business discovery platform that operates a directory, quarterly print magazine, event series, and content hub focused exclusively on Black-owned enterprises. Operated under parent entity Black Eagle Marketing Inc, the platform serves two primary user groups: Black-owned small and medium businesses seeking visibility and customer access, and consumers actively seeking to find and support Black-owned businesses. The core technology is a web-based searchable directory organized by industry category and location, supplemented by print magazine flipbooks, a self-service "Get Listed" submission portal that verifies Black ownership via a self-attested confirmation, a video gallery, and an events module. The platform covers at least ten US markets including Chicago (where it lists approximately 137 businesses), Atlanta, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Washington DC, Memphis, Richmond, Milwaukee, Indianapolis, and Dallas.

The business model is multi-stream and operationally lean. Directory listing submission is free and self-serve, with no publicly disclosed pricing tiers, suggesting either a freemium structure or quote-based premium upgrades that are not visible on the public site. Revenue is generated through (1) print magazine sales via an e-commerce shop (quarterly print and digital editions), (2) advertising within the printed directory, and (3) potentially paid premium listing upgrades not disclosed publicly. Distribution is primarily self-service digital (web directory and shop) with auxiliary physical distribution of the print directory. The company maintains organic social presence across Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube, and pursues content marketing through its blog covering Black entrepreneurship and funding topics.

The company is founder-led, with no disclosed institutional funding, management team profiles, or external investors. Partnerships are limited to two minor association partnerships with Lighthouse LV & S.A.V.E. and Bronz'D Entertainment for the "Back in the Day" cultural event in Las Vegas (January 2026). No mobile app, public API, AI features, patents, awards, or regulatory actions are disclosed. The overall operational posture is that of a community-rooted, content-and-events-driven SMB directory with a niche specialization that addresses a real discoverability gap — 194,585 majority Black-owned US firms as of 2022 and a projected $2.1–2.2 trillion in Black buying power in 2026 — but with limited monetization infrastructure and no disclosed external capital.

Name

Black Pages International

Legal name

Black Pages International

Website

https://blackpagesinternational.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Black Pages International is a privately held, Chicago-based directory, magazine, and events platform that helps consumers discover and support verified Black-owned businesses across multiple US cities. It serves SMB business owners seeking visibility and consumers seeking Black-owned enterprises via self-serve listings and quarterly print publications.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Online Business Directory Services

NAICS

Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers (5131), Periodical Publishers (513120), Web Search Portals and All Other Information Services (51929)

SIC

Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721), Miscellaneous Publishing (2741)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAMAAAD

Vertical/Specialty Search (e.g., jobs, real estate, travel, products)

Business & Public Services/Web, Mobile & Digital Platforms/Search, Discovery & Web Portals

Keywords

• Business directory platform
• Black-owned business listings
• Local business discovery
• Print business directory
• Community business platform

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago Park

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Business Directory Listings: The platform generates revenue by enabling Black-owned businesses to create and manage listings in the online directory. While the exact pricing model is not explicitly disclosed on the public website, the listing submission process suggests a freemium or paid listing model where businesses can add themselves to the directory.
2. Print Magazine and Digital Publications: The company publishes and sells the Black Pages International Magazine (quarterly), available as both digital downloads and print editions. Q1 2026 magazine is available for instant download purchase and print ordering through the shop.
3. Print Directory Advertising: Separate from directory listings, the platform offers advertising opportunities within the print directory, providing additional revenue from businesses seeking enhanced visibility in the physical publication.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Black Pages International operates a searchable online directory of verified Black-owned businesses organized by category and location, enabling consumers to discover and support local enterprises. The platform also publishes a quarterly print magazine available in both printed and digital flipbook editions, runs sponsored community events, and produces editorial content addressing Black entrepreneurship and economic empowerment. The core offering is a discovery and visibility platform rather than a transactional marketplace, monetized through business listings, print directory advertising, and magazine sales.

Product overview

Black Pages International operates as a business directory platform connecting consumers with Black-owned businesses. The core product is its Online Directory, which allows businesses to create verified listings organized by category and location. Supporting products include the quarterly Print Directory/Magazine (available in print and digital flipbook formats), Business Videos for promotional content, BPI Events for community event discovery, and a Blog/News section with editorial content on entrepreneurship and economic empowerment. The platform functions primarily as a discovery and visibility tool rather than a transactional or service-based SaaS product.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Online Directory Searchable digital directory of verified Black-owned businesses organized by category and location, enabling consumers across multiple U.S. cities to discover and support local enterprises.
• Black Pages International Magazine (Print Directory) Quarterly print and digital flipbook magazine featuring Black-owned businesses, available for purchase through the online shop with direct print ordering and instant digital download options.
• Get Listed (Business Listing Submission) Free business listing submission service allowing Black entrepreneurs to create verified profiles, connect with customers, and gain visibility through the directory, including fields for business name, category, description, contact details, and Black ownership confirmation.
• Print Directory Advertising Advertising placements offered within the quarterly print directory, providing Black-owned businesses with paid enhanced visibility in the physical publication alongside their standard online listings.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 194,000 Black-owned firms exist in the US (2022 data), representing the total addressable market for Black-owned business visibility platforms.

Named customers9 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

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Lighthouse LV & S.A.V.E.minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Co-presentation partnership for the 'Back in the Day' stage play event in Las Vegas. Black Pages International serves as an association partner for the cultural event targeting the Black community in Las Vegas.
• Bronz'D EntertainmentminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Association partnership for the 'Back in the Day' cultural event in Las Vegas. Black Pages International is listed as an association partner alongside Bronz'D Entertainment for this Black arts and culture production.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Shoppe Black: Online marketplace and community for Black-owned brands and businesses; overlapping with BPI on SMB discovery and cultural curation, though more weighted toward e-commerce transactions than directory listings.

Direct peers

• We Buy Black: Online marketplace and directory connecting consumers with Black-owned businesses; competes directly with BPI for the same supply-side merchants and demand-side consumers.
• Official Black Wall Street: Directory and community platform for Black-owned businesses across the US, built around discovery, listings, and cultural community — directly comparable to BPI's core directory proposition.
• EatOkra: Mobile-first directory and discovery platform for Black-owned restaurants and food businesses, with a similar verification-led mission and SMB-listing business model targeting the same Black consumer demand curve.

Broad incumbents

• Yelp: Generalist SMB directory and discovery platform that competes for the same consumer search intent and SMB advertising dollars, though without BPI's Black-ownership verification and community positioning.
• Google Business Profile: Default SMB discovery surface on Google Search and Maps; the dominant incumbent for local business listings and the most likely first-click destination for any consumer searching for a Black-owned business.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/BlackPages1
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCWyLeI0bnx7SjnY3AypBdvQ/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/Blackpagesinternationalchicago
• Instagraminstagram.com/blackpagesinternational
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/black-pages-international

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 Pages International