The 2023 BIA Timeline
A Year of Progress and Perseverance
As we reflect on the journey of the Black Innovation Alliance (BIA) throughout the dynamic and challenging landscape of 2023, this timeline serves as a testament to our unwavering commitment and resilience. It encapsulates a year marked by significant milestones, strategic partnerships, and impactful initiatives that have collectively propelled our mission forward. Each month unveils a story of progress, perseverance, and the unyielding spirit of innovation that defines our community. From global conferences to powerful collaborations, from legislative engagements to expansive outreach, this timeline highlights the steps we’ve taken to advocate for and support Black innovators and entrepreneurs. Join us as we walk through the pivotal moments and achievements of BIA in 2023, a year that has not only shaped our organization but also the broader landscape of Black innovation and entrepreneurship.
BIA held its second annual partner’s meeting designed to celebrate our wins and share our vision for the future.
Team BIA traveled to the UBS Headquarters in New York City to launch our new partnership in support of the Decade of Black Innovation.
BIA created opportunities for members to speak across four different stages during SXSW, including Omidyar’s The Lighthouse and Black Futures House.
CEO, Kelly Burton received a certificate of completion from the Harvard Kennedy School’s Executive Leadership program on Power, Purpose and Innovation.
Team BIA attended the Skoll Forum in Oxford, England and participated in a convening of ecosystem builders from around the world.
As a Web Summit Community Partner, BIA traveled to Brazil for Web Summit Rio, during which we convened Black ecosystem builders supporting entrepreneurs on the ground.
BIA joins UBS and the White House Initiative on Black Americans at the Social Innovation Summit in Los Angeles, to announce a new collaboration honoring the Decade of Black Innovation.
Kelly traveled to Graz, Austria to present a keynote during the 15 Seconds Conference on what it takes to lead a rapidly scaling social change organization.
BIA convened approximately 80 BIA members for the second annual Sustainability Summit in Miami, Florida.
A ten-person BIA member delegation traveled to Toronto, Canada for the Collision Conference to learn more about global technology trends.
A delegation of BIA members traveled to Capitol Hill to meet with Congressional leaders, including co-chairs for the Congressional Caucus on Black Innovation, Congresswoman Plaskett and Congressman Torres to share their experiences working with entrepreneurs and innovators of color.
BIA’s work was featured during Impact House, a collaboration between UBS and Time Magazine, as well as a panel hosted by the Center for American Progress.
Our membership experience team launched member prospecting popups in cities around the nation where ecosystem builders are underrepresented in the BIA ISO network. Stops included Kansas City, MO, Cincinnati, OH and Denver, CO.
Team BIA traveled to Stanford for the NMI Conference where Kelly served on a panel focused on intersectional leadership.
During the Clinton Global Initiative, Kelly provided an update on BIA’s commitment to action, which was first announced during last year’s CGI and featured the Congressional Caucus on Black Innovation and Black Innovation Policy Agenda.
As part of Congressional Black Caucus Week, BIA activated two panels with our co-chairs from the Congressional Caucus on Black Innovation during the Annual Leadership Conference, held a mixer which included a book launch, and a full day of programming with a member-partner at the Creator’s House.
A BIA delegation of members and staff traveled to Melbourne, Australia for the Global Entrepreneurship Congress and returned with formal recommendations on how we activate global delegations moving forward.
BIA joined forces with the Skoll Foundation and TED Women to host a 200 person dinner in Atlanta, celebrating Black women leaders who set the pace and drive measurable systems change in America.
BIA released the second edition of BLADE Blueprint which explores the ways Black digital entrepreneurs are blazing a path toward profitability, sustainability and personal financial security.
Our CEO was asked to present the BLADE Blueprint findings during a ceremony at the White House, launching a new commission spearheaded by the White House Initiative on Black Americans.
The BIA team traveled to the Bahamas to announce a new partnership with the Ministry of Tourism, Investments and Aviation focused on building the entrepreneurial ecosystem there and exploring cleantech solutions to climate change.
While in the Bahamas, Team BIA held our first ever staff retreat. The experience was restorative and helped focus and prepare the team for the work ahead.
BIA partnered with members CultureBanx and UrbanGeekz to launch a first of its kind media series, “Black Innovation’s Frontline” spotlighting Black ecosystem builders in the BIA network.
In an effort to improve service delivery to our membership, BIA launched BIA Connect, a digital platform designed to build community and facilitate the member experience.
In response to the litigation directed toward the Fearless Fund, and in an attempt to get on the “offensive”, BIA launched The Clapback on September 13th. The 90-Day communications campaign culminated with a town hall dedicated to reflection and exploring next steps.
BIA staff and members attended the Culture, Capital, and Catalytic Change event, sponsored by UBS during Art Basel in Miami, Florida, where we shared our experience advancing narrative change and attended a screening of Origin with Ava Duvernay.
