What Black Fleet Network™ does

Black Fleet Network™ (BFN) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Decatur, Georgia, founded by Exavious (Za) Farley to advance equity and representation for Black, African-American, and Black African descent professionals across the U.S. fleet and mobility industry. The organization operates a membership-based community platform offering individual and corporate memberships, mentorship, networking, recruiting pipelines, and curated events at industry conferences such as NAFA I&E, Government Fleet Expo, and ACT Expo. Core programmatic pillars include BFN EDU (education), BFN Tech Prep (a flagship VR-enhanced, ASE-aligned technician workforce development program), the Clean Energy Taskforce (sustainability consultation, energy transition planning, and an Endorsed Sustainability Provider Network), and content properties including the Mobility Magazine, TreadWrite newsletter, and TreadDeep podcast. BFN monetizes through tiered corporate membership fees ($335-$415 per employee), four sponsorship tiers ($5,000-$25,000), advertising inventory (newsletter ads, podcast and webinar sponsorships, guest blog posts), Tech Prep training programs, and donations including a 2026 Relay Campaign with a $510,000 fundraising goal tied to a 51-mile Selma to Montgomery relay. Its go-to-market combines community-led growth, direct corporate sales, partner referrals through Sourcewell, Element Fleet Management, Circle K Pro, AssetWorks, J3 Management Group, Agile Fleet, Optimus Technologies, and SHAED, and event-driven fundraising.

Name

Black Fleet Network™

Legal name

Black Fleet Network™

Website

https://blackfleetnetwork.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Black Fleet Network™ is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit membership community advancing equity, training, and clean energy access for Black professionals across the U.S. fleet and mobility industry, serving individuals, corporate fleets, HBCU students, and government agencies through memberships, sponsorships, BFN Tech Prep VR training, and the Clean Energy Taskforce.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Fleet Industry Professional Association & Workforce Development

NAICS

Apprenticeship Training (611513)

akta.pro primary industry

Transportation & Fleet Safety (DOT, Driver Safety) (EDABAEAM)

Keywords

• Fleet management services
• Workforce development training
• Professional association membership
• Clean energy consulting
• Technician training programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Decatur

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Membership Fees: Annual membership fees for individual professionals and students in the fleet industry. Provides access to community, education, events, and member-only digital engagement space.
2. Corporate Membership Fees: Tiered pricing for organizations: $415/employee (3-6 employees), $395/employee (7-12), $365/employee (13-21), $335/employee (22+). Includes team access to events, recruiting pipelines, and marketing opportunities.
3. Sponsorship Revenue: Four sponsorship tiers: Signature Sponsor $25,000, Momentum Sponsor $15,000, Steward Sponsor $7,500, Ally Sponsor $5,000. Each tier includes employee memberships and brand visibility benefits.
4. Marketing & Advertising Services: Newsletter ads ($1,000/month, 3-month minimum), podcast sponsorship ($2,150/episode), webinar sponsorship ($3,250/event), guest blog posts ($1,250/month).
5. Donations & Fundraising: Annual Relay Campaign fundraising initiative. Goal of $510,000 ($10K per mile for 51-mile relay). Also general donation capabilities.
6. Tech Prep Training Programs: Workforce development training programs for technician preparation. Programs include brakes/wheels/preventative maintenance, general auto/diesel/collision, EV certification, and hiring readiness.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Black Fleet Network™ (BFN) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit professional community that provides membership programs, workforce development training, and clean energy consulting for Black, African-American, and Black African descent professionals in the fleet and mobility industry. Its core offerings include individual and corporate memberships, the BFN Tech Prep VR-enhanced technician training program, and the Clean Energy Taskforce sustainability consultation services, delivered alongside events, mentorship, and content platforms.

Product overview

Black Fleet Network is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization operating as a community and membership-based platform rather than a traditional software product company. Its core offerings include BFN Tech Prep (flagship VR-enhanced workforce development program), the Clean Energy Taskforce (sustainability consultation and industry collaboration hub), and BFN Membership (community access with education, networking, and mentorship). Supporting modules include Corporate Membership, Sponsor Membership tiers, Mobility Magazine (quarterly digital publication), TreadWrite Newsletter, TreadDeep Podcast, Webinar Sponsorship, and the BFN Sustainability Endorsement program. The organization functions primarily as an equity-driven professional network for the fleet and mobility industry.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• BFN Tech Prep: Flagship workforce development solution for technician training, featuring ASE-aligned, VR-enhanced training for fleet maintenance, EV/clean mobility, last-mile logistics, public works, and manufacturing.
• BFN EDU
• Clean Energy Taskforce
• Mobility Magazine
• TreadWrite Newsletter
• TreadDeep Podcast

Products and services

• BFN Tech Prep Flagship workforce development program providing accessible, VR-enhanced technician training aligned to ASE standards, designed to move people into high-demand technician roles with job-matching support for public and private fleet operators.
• Clean Energy Taskforce Hub of expertise and industry collaboration delivering trusted guidance across the sustainability spectrum, offering consultation services, alternative energy forums, and energy transition planning for fleets.
• BFN Individual Membership Professional membership program providing community access, education, networking, mentorship, and business growth opportunities for Black fleet and mobility professionals and students.
• Corporate Membership Tiered corporate membership for suppliers, fleets, and mobility organizations with group rates by employee count, expanded visibility, talent access, and enhanced networking benefits.
• Sponsor Membership Sponsorship tiers (Signature $25,000, Momentum $15,000, Steward $7,500, Ally $5,000) providing brand visibility, stakeholder access, employee memberships, and marketing value across BFN events and platforms.
• Mobility Magazine Quarterly interactive digital magazine delivering operational insights and relevant stories about fleet and mobility professionals.
• TreadWrite Newsletter Email newsletter featuring operational insights, industry news, and member spotlights, available as a paid marketing channel for newsletter ad sponsors.
• TreadDeep Podcast Podcast series featuring conversations on fleet, mobility, and community topics, available for episode sponsorship at $2,150 per episode.
• Webinar Sponsorship Webinar sponsorship package at $3,250 per event including logo placement, verbal acknowledgment, branded slides, and social promotion.
• BFN Sustainability Endorsement Endorsement program recognizing diverse suppliers and solution providers as gold standard in delivering people-first, environmentally responsible sustainability solutions.

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and supporting.

• Exavious (Za) FarleycoreOthersFounder of Black Fleet Network who initiated the 2026 Relay Campaign to raise $510,000 for the organization through a 51-mile run.
• Eric PooleminorOthersRelay Campaign teammate who ran the Selma to Montgomery relay with Founder Za Farley.
• Tank ThomasminorOthersRelay Campaign teammate who ran the Selma to Montgomery relay with Founder Za Farley.
• SourcewellcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner providing cooperative purchasing contracts for public sector and nonprofit fleets. Supports BFN through professional development, co-branded programming, and participation in signature BFN events.
• Element Fleet ManagementcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor Partner and fleet management company providing data-driven vehicle fleet solutions. Committed to inclusive leadership and representation with emphasis on expanding resources and professional development for employees through BFN partnership.
• Agile FleetsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAccess Partner providing FleetCommander fleet management platform. Donated 15 annual memberships to help professionals and students join BFN, establishing critical early member base.
• Optimus TechnologiessupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCareer Development Partner and clean-energy innovator offering Vector System for heavy-duty diesel engines on 100% biodiesel. Committed to employment opportunities for qualified BFN members.
• SHAEDsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCareer Development Partner operating CommercialEVs.com marketplace. SHAED Scholars program sponsored alternative fuels education for four HBCU undergraduates from Southern University, Prairie View A&M, and Texas Southern University.
• Waymaker JourneyssupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate Travel Affiliate providing curated travel experiences for professionals. Offers exclusive travel opportunities to BFN members that foster connections and leadership development.
• Freight Runner OperatorssupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerBrokering Affiliate helping SMBs secure government contracts through consultation and hands-on brokering support. Provides BFN members exclusive support in pursuing and winning contracts.
• Mother of EasesupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerBlack Maternal Care Affiliate founded by Kris Elle, providing Black maternal and family care through evidence-based education and practical solutions. Extends exclusive offerings to BFN members.
• ChargerHelp!supportingGTM or Marketing PartnerEndorsed Sustainability Provider offering EV charging solutions. Part of BFN's curated network of clean energy and sustainability providers.
• Smart Connections ConsultingsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerEndorsed Sustainability Provider offering sustainability consulting services. Part of BFN's curated network of clean energy and sustainability providers.
• OpConnectsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerEndorsed Sustainability Provider offering EV charging solutions. Part of BFN's curated network of clean energy and sustainability providers.
• Georgia Green Energy ServicessupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerEndorsed Sustainability Provider offering green energy services. Part of BFN's curated network of clean energy and sustainability providers.
• PritchardsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerEndorsed Sustainability Provider. Part of BFN's curated network of clean energy and sustainability providers.
• uShip LogisticssupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerTransportation logistics partner providing vehicle transport services through a network of 2,700+ carrier partners. Offers BFN members 25% off first vehicle shipment through affiliate benefits.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• SAE International: Global standards and professional association for mobility engineering. Adjacent peer via overlapping standards-driven training/credentialing activity for technicians and fleet engineers.
• Element Fleet Management: Largest global fleet management company and a Core sponsor/partner of BFN. Listed as a peer because it is both a partner and the dominant incumbent whose DEI-focused engagement validates BFN's corporate value proposition.
• ACT Expo: Premier industry conference for clean transportation and fleet decarbonization. BFN lists ACT Expo as a channel for industry events; comparable as an ecosystem convener in clean fleet mobility.

Broad incumbents

• CALSTART: Major clean transportation technology nonprofit working with fleets, governments, and industry on clean mobility adoption. Comparable to BFN's Clean Energy Taskforce pillar and broader sustainability mission, though CALSTART operates at much larger scale and broader scope.
• Universal Technical Institute (UTI): For-profit technician training institution with national footprint. Comparable to BFN Tech Prep on the technician training axis, though UTI is broader in scope and for-profit.
• Automotive Service Excellence (ASE): Industry-standard certification body for automotive technicians. BFN Tech Prep's curriculum is explicitly ASE-aligned, making ASE a direct standards partner/comparator for the training pillar.

Direct peers

• TechForce Foundation: Nonprofit workforce-development organization focused on attracting students to automotive/diesel technician careers and providing scholarships and training pathways. Closely mirrors BFN Tech Prep's mission of building a diverse pipeline of technicians for the fleet/mobility industry.
• NAFA Fleet Management Association: The largest professional association for fleet managers in North America. Directly comparable because both serve fleet professionals via membership, education, events, and corporate sponsorship programs, though BFN's focus is narrower (DEI-focused) and NAFA's is broad.
• Women in Automotive (WIA): Industry association dedicated to advancing women in automotive retail and mobility through community, education, and leadership development. Highly comparable to BFN as a DEI-focused professional community network in the broader mobility ecosystem.
• Automotive Fleet & Leasing Association (AFLA): Association serving commercial fleet management professionals through networking, education, and industry events. Directly comparable as a fleet-industry membership community with corporate sponsorship tiers.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@BlackFleetNetwork
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/blackfleetnetwork
• Instagraminstagram.com/blackfleetnetwork

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

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 Fleet Network™