Detroit, Michigan
The Sustainability Summit Impact
Attendees reported to gain the insight needed to secure and sustain funding.
Assembling Power
Nation’s largest convening of Black entrepreneur support organizations.
Scaling Support, Sparking Change
Provided direct programmatic support to over 100 organizational leaders, indirectly touching over 300K innovators and entrepreneurs.
Michigan Central – Newlab, in Detroit, Michigan
Tuesday • June 10, 2025 – Friday, June 13, 2025
VIEW THE RECAP
Sustainability Summit is BIA’s annual 3-day, in-person experience dedicated to helping our innovator support organizations (ISOs) build strong, durable and lasting organizations.
SESSIONS FOCUSED ON CORE CAPABILITIES IN FOUR KEY DEVELOPMENT AREAS
Strategy & Program Development
Funding and Partnerships
Operations and Systems
Staffing and Management
- What is Sustainability Summit?
The Sustainability Summit is an annual convening of the Black Innovation Alliance’s membership, and BIA’s signature event.
Our ecosystem grows in real-time at the Summit, as members work with each other to find solutions to their greatest challenges, and the alliance comes together to celebrate a year of triumphs.
Why Sustainability Summit is important?
This annual gathering has demonstrated that convening Innovator Support Organizations (ISOs) and leaders builds capacity, strengthens solutions across industries, and deepens support to the thousands of entrepreneurs they support each day.
By encouraging ISOs to submerge themselves in a community focused on their success, ingenuity and success blossom.
- 2025 Schedule
COMING SOON
day one • Welcome Reception
Tuesday • May 7th
12p–8p
Guest Arrival and Registration
2p–6p
BIA Believes in Me: Local Giveaway in Miami
6p–8p
Black Innovation Alliance Welcome Reception:
Under The DOBI Spotlight: A BIA Cocktail Hour
day two • ISO Capacity-Building
Wednesday • May 8th
7:00A
Sunrise Yoga | Gotham Room
8:15A
Late Registration and Breakfast
9a
Grounding Activity
9:15A
Event Welcome
9:30A
Master Class – Profitable Horizons: AI-Enhanced Strategies (Group A)
9:30A
Master Class – Evolution of an Entrepreneur: Transitioning from Founder to CEO (Group B)
10:30A
Master Class – Next-Level Strategies: AI-Powered Program and Service Development for Impact (Group A)
10:30A
Master Class – Survival of the Futurist: Developing an Iron-Clad Culture of Innovation (Group B)
11:30A
Master Class: Financial Management for Support Organizations (Group A)
11:30A
Effective Storytelling through Pitch Decks: Creating Investment-Ready Decks (Group B)
12:30p
Lunch
1:15p
Email breaks/Coworking
2p
Decade of Black Innovator discussion
3:10p
Panel Discussion: Funding the Entrepreneurial Journey
4:05p
Break
4:15p
Fireside Chat: Behind the scenes of BIA: A facilitated conversation on what is coming and how members should prepare for the balance of 2024.
6:30p
Speed Networking: A Taste of Miami Edition, Dukunoo Jamaican Kitchen
9p
Relax
day three • 21st Century Innovator Skills
Thursday • May 9th
7:00A
Sunrise Yoga | Gotham Room
8:15A
Sign In / Late Registration and Breakfast
9a
Grounding Activity
9:15A
Keynote Intro
9:30A
Keynote Speech: To Converse with Machines: The Symbiotic Relationship Between Man, Machines & The Future
10:05A
Coffee Break
10:25A
Master Class – Master Class: Operational Excellence: Tools for Modernizing Your Service Business (Group A)
10:25A
Master Class – Master Class: The Human Perspective in Building a Tech Stack (Group B)
11:25A
Master Class – Using Branding to Slay Giants (Group A)
11:25A
Master Class – Operational Planning: Designing Automated Workflows for Your Team (Group B)
12:25p
Lunch and Working Lunch (Email Breaks & Co-Working)
1:20p
BIA Awards Ceremony
2p
Master Class: Building an Engaging Following (Group A)
2p
Master Class: Doing Business with BIA (Group B)
3p
Master Class: Digital Transformation: BIA’s Approach to Impact Reporting
3:45p
Break
3:55p
UBS Panel Discussion: Closing the Deal
5p
Post-Panel Networking Session with UBS
6:30p
Free Night
9p
Relax
day four • Closing Sessions
Friday • May 10th
9A
Sign-in / Info Desk & Breakfast
9:45a
Grounding Activity
10A
Family Conversation with Kelly
11:30A
Lunch & Check Out
12:15p
— Lightning Talks & Share out Prompt: What's next for your ISO? What is your ask from this room?
— Stuck Session
1:15p
Closing
1:40p
Farewell
2p
Depart for home
Speakers and Hosts
Audience Engagement
Host and Emcee
India Fordham
Black Innovation Alliance
Events & Experiences Manager
Panel Discussion
Closing the Deal
Tammy Charles
Black Innovation Alliance
Director of Corporate Relations
Panel Discussion
Closing the Deal
Melissa Van Putten-Henderson
UBS
Private Wealth Management
Panel Discussion
Closing the Deal
Liam McCormick
UBS
Executive Director,Senior Strategist, Central Division, Family Advisory and Philanthropy Services Americas
Panel Discussion
Closing the Deal
Adewale Ogunyele
UBS
Managing Director,Head of Sports and Entertainment
Audience Engagement
Event Welcome/
Lightning Talks & Share Out
Event Closing
Kelly Burton
Black Innovation Alliance
CEO & Executive Director
Audience Engagement
Fireside Chat: Behind the scenes of BIA
Lightning Talks & Share Out
Olivia Green
Black Innovation Alliance
Member Relations Director
Audience Engagement
Fireside Chat: Behind the scenes of BIA
Master Class: Doing Business with BIA
Facilitation: Stuck Session
Jenna Scott
Black Innovation Alliance
Chief of Staff
Masterclass
Effective Storytelling through Pitch Decks: Creating Investment-Ready Decks
Michael Lightman
Hate Your Deck
Founder
Masterclass
The Human Perspective in Building a Tech Stack
Melissa (MJ) Jackson
Black Innovation Alliance
IT Business Systems Manager
Masterclass
Building an Engaging Following
Gina Hooks
Black Innovation Alliance
Director of Marketing
Masterclass
Operational Excellence: Tools for Modernizing Your Service Business
Operational Planning: Designing Automated Workflows for Your Team
Blessing Richardson
Sayla
Tech Strategist
Keynote
To Converse with Machines: The Symbiotic Relationship Between Man, Machines & The Future
Vincent Hunt
The Bureau of Creative Intelligence, USA
Creative & Strategic Generative AI Lead
Panel Discussion
Panel Discussion: Funding the Entrepreneurial Journey
Jessica Norwood
RUNWAY
Founder & CEO
Panel Discussion
Panel Discussion: Funding the Entrepreneurial Journey
Roshell Rinkins
Knight Foundation
Vice President/Grants Administration and Chief DEI Officer
Panel Discussion
Panel Discussion: Funding the Entrepreneurial Journey
Donnie Bedney
Parrish Street Capital
Co-Founder
Masterclass
Evolution of an Entrepreneur: Tranisitioning from Founder to CEO
Survival of the Futurist: Developing an Iron-Clad Culture of Innovation
Elyse Klova
Blaze Leadership
Lead Strategist
Masterclass
Evolution of an Entrepreneur: Transitioning from Founder to CEO
Survival of the Futurist: Developing an Iron-Clad Culture of Innovation
Val Porter
Blaze Leadership
President & CEO
Masterclass
Profitable Horizons: AI-Enhanced Strategies
Next-Level Strategies: AI-Powered Program and Service Development for Impact
Bianca Jackson
BrickRose Exchange
Founder
See you in Detroit, Friends!