The Black Sports Business Academy

Name

The Black Sports Business Academy

Legal name

VSP Social Projects

Website

https://thebsba.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Career Development Education

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

HBCU Systems & Multi-Campus Institutions (EDAHAMAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Business, Entrepreneurship & Case Competitions (DECA-style, Pitch, Case) (EDAMAGAJ)

Keywords

• HBCU career development
• Sports industry mentorship
• Nonprofit education programs
• Cohort-based training
• Professional community membership

Headquarters

HQ city

Detroit

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (Tax ID: 86-2534362), BSBA generates revenue through individual and corporate donations. The organization accepts donations via Donorbox and a dedicated donation page on their website. No fees are charged to students for participation in the Academy program.
2. Corporate Partnerships and Sponsorships: BSBA partners with sports and entertainment organizations who provide support through various mechanisms including financial contributions, mentor access, event sponsorship, and industry exposure opportunities for students.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Black Sports Business Academy operates a 14-week cohort-based virtual engagement and exposure program for HBCU students pursuing careers in sports and entertainment, structured around three pillars: Liberated Development, Sports Industry Exposure, and Community Building. The organization also operates The Yard, a digital community membership platform offering tiered access to resources, events, and networking for students, professionals, and alumni.

Product overview

The Black Sports Business Academy is a non-profit organization offering two primary programs: The Academy (a 14-week immersive engagement program for HBCU students) and The Yard by BSBA (a digital community platform with tiered memberships). The Academy provides exposure to the sports and entertainment industry through three pillars: Liberated Development, Sports Industry Exposure, and Community Building. The Yard serves as an online extension offering student, professional, and alumni membership tiers with exclusive access to resources, events, and networking opportunities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Yard by BSBA: A dynamic digital community that connects the growing HBCU sports business family, offering student, professional, and alumni membership tiers.

Products and services

• The Academy A 14-week immersive cohort-based engagement and exposure program open to HBCU students of all classifications and majors. Participants meet three times a week, and the curriculum is structured around three pillars: Liberated Development, Sports Industry Exposure, and Community Building. The Academy is free for selected students and is funded through donations and corporate partnerships.
• The Yard by BSBA

Quantifiable outcome

• 70+ members and alumni after three years
• +3 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• FanaticscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFanatics is a leading digital sports retailer and licensed sports merchandise company. As a Sports & Entertainment Partner, Fanatics provides BSBA members with exposure to career opportunities in sports retail, licensing, and digital commerce within the sports industry.
• LEARFIELDcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLEARFIELD is a sports and entertainment platform providing ticketing, marketing, and media rights services for collegiate athletics. As a partner, LEARFIELD supports BSBA's mission by providing industry exposure and career pathways for HBCU students interested in collegiate sports business.
• Charlotte FCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharlotte FC is a Major League Soccer expansion team. As an Industry Partner, the club provides BSBA members with exposure to professional soccer operations, business operations, and career opportunities within a professional sports organization.
• WassermancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWasserman is a global sports and entertainment company specializing in talent representation, marketing, and events. As a partner, Wasserman provides BSBA students with access to sports agency careers, athlete representation, and sports marketing opportunities.
• Jacksonville JaguarscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Jacksonville Jaguars are a National Football League franchise. As an Industry Partner, the team supports BSBA by providing exposure to NFL business operations, career opportunities, and mentorship from team executives.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Athletes for Hope: Athletes for Hope is a nonprofit that unites professional athletes around charitable causes and youth development. Comparable to BSBA in its sports-industry nonprofit identity and HBCU-adjacent youth career development mission, though oriented toward athlete-led philanthropy rather than direct cohort programming.
• INROADS: INROADS is a nonprofit that develops diverse college students through paid internships and corporate career pipelines. Closely comparable to BSBA in its cohort-style career-development-for-underrepresented-students model, though broader in industry focus than BSBA's sports-specialized scope.
• National Black MBA Association: NBMBAA is a nonprofit that drives Black professional development through education, networking, and career opportunities. Comparable to BSBA in its underrepresented-minority career-accelerator mission with corporate sponsorship ties, though focused on MBA-level business careers broadly.
• The Posse Foundation: Posse identifies diverse student leadership cohorts and connects them to top colleges and careers. Comparable to BSBA in its cohort-based, identity-affirming talent-development model serving underrepresented students, though Posse is more pre-college focused.
• Sponsors for Educational Opportunity (SEO): SEO is a nonprofit that provides educational and career programs to underrepresented students, with deep corporate partner relationships. Closely comparable to BSBA's HBCU-focused, cohort-based, corporate-partner-driven career development model.
• Jackie Robinson Foundation: Jackie Robinson Foundation provides scholarships, mentorship, and leadership development to minority students. Directly comparable to BSBA's minority-student-focused, mentorship-rich, cohort-style model, though it is scholarship-led rather than sports-career focused.
• National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE): NSBE supports Black engineering students and professionals through academic excellence, professional development, and corporate partnerships. Comparable to BSBA in its HBCU-adjacent, cohort-and-conference-based professional development model with strong corporate sponsorship ties, but STEM-focused rather than sports-focused.
• Women in Sports and Events (WISE): WISE is a nonprofit that supports the professional development of women working in sports and events through networking, mentoring, and educational programming. Directly comparable to BSBA in its sports-industry-specific career development and mentorship mission, with a different target demographic.
• Management Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT): MLT is a nonprofit that prepares high-achieving underrepresented students for careers through coaching and corporate partnerships. Directly comparable to BSBA as a structured, cohort-based career accelerator with strong corporate sponsorship ties, though serving multiple industries rather than sports specifically.

Broad incumbents

• TeamWork Online: TeamWork Online is the largest job board network for the sports industry, connecting employers with sports business candidates. Comparable to BSBA as a sports-industry career-talent platform and overlapping on the job-placement axis of The Yard, but operates as a for-profit job board rather than a nonprofit cohort program.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UClvAjQVV_fYHLsMlUMSnr6Q
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-black-sports-business-academy
• Instagraminstagram.com/the_bsba

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 The Black Sports Business Academy