Black-Owned Businesses

Avanath Capital Management

Irvine, CA

Avanath Capital Management is a leading Black-owned real estate investment company headquartered in Irvine, California. Founded by CEO Daryl Carter, Avanath acquires, renovates, and manages affordable and workforce housing communities across the United States — proving that institutional-grade investment returns and community-centered housing missions are not in conflict, but complementary. ## What Avanath Does Avanath builds and manages a diversified portfolio of affordable and workforce apartment communities, serving institutional investors seeking risk-adjusted returns and working families who need quality housing in expensive markets. ### Investment Strategy ✔ Acquisition of affordable and workforce housing communities ✔ Value-add renovations and sustainable property improvements ✔ Long-term institutional asset and portfolio management ✔ Multifamily real estate in high-barrier-to-entry markets ### Markets Served ✔ California — Los Angeles, San Francisco Bay Area, San Diego ✔ Northeast — New York, Washington D.C., Boston ✔ Southeast — Atlanta, Charlotte, Miami ✔ Midwest — Chicago, Minneapolis ### Investor Services ✔ Institutional-grade real estate funds and separate accounts ✔ Comprehensive property management and tenant relations ✔ ESG reporting and community impact measurement ✔ Investor reporting and transparency standards ## Who Avanath Serves Avanath serves two interconnected audiences: institutional investors — pension funds, endowments, and family offices — seeking strong alternative real estate returns, and the working families who need access to quality, affordable housing in America's most expensive cities. ## Frequently Asked Questions **What is Avanath Capital Management?** Avanath Capital Management is a Black-owned real estate investment firm in Irvine, California, focused on acquiring and managing affordable and workforce housing nationwide. **Who founded Avanath Capital Management?** Avanath was founded by CEO Daryl Carter, one of the most respected Black real estate executives in the United States. **What does Avanath invest in?** Avanath specializes in affordable and workforce apartment communities in major metropolitan markets across the country. **Is Avanath Black-owned?** Yes. Avanath Capital Management was founded by and is led by Black executives, making it one of the largest Black-owned real estate investment firms in the United States. [Learn About Avanath →](https://www.avanath.com)

Blavity

Los Angeles, CA

Blavity is a Black-owned digital media and technology company headquartered in Los Angeles, California. Founded in 2014 by CEO Morgan DeBaun, Blavity serves Black millennials and Gen Z through original content, live events, and six media brands — reaching over 100 million people monthly. The company exists to amplify Black voices, celebrate Black excellence, and build economic opportunity for Black communities across every industry. ## What Blavity Does Blavity operates six distinct media brands and a growing events portfolio, each serving a different dimension of Black millennial and Gen Z life. ### Media Brands ✔ Blavity News — Black culture, politics, and community coverage ✔ AfroTech — Technology careers, startups, and entrepreneurship ✔ Travel Noire — Black travel, adventure, and cultural discovery ✔ Shadow & Act — Black film, television, and entertainment ✔ 21Ninety — Health, relationships, and growth for Black women ✔ MadameNoire — Lifestyle, beauty, and culture for Black women ### Events & Community ✔ AfroTech Conference — the largest Black tech conference in the United States ✔ Summit21 — entrepreneurship and leadership summit for Black women ✔ Travel Noire Experience — immersive cultural travel programming ✔ Blavity House Party — annual cultural celebration and networking ## Who Blavity Serves Blavity creates for Black millennials and Gen Z professionals, entrepreneurs, creatives, and travelers who deserve media that reflects their experience and celebrates their contributions to American culture and innovation. ## Frequently Asked Questions **What is Blavity?** Blavity is a Black-owned digital media and technology company founded in 2014. It operates six media brands and live events reaching over 100 million Black millennials monthly. **Who founded Blavity?** Blavity was founded by Morgan DeBaun, a Black woman entrepreneur, in Los Angeles, California in 2014. **What media brands does Blavity own?** Blavity's portfolio includes Blavity News, AfroTech, Travel Noire, Shadow & Act, 21Ninety, and MadameNoire. **Does Blavity host live events?** Yes. Blavity produces AfroTech Conference, Summit21, Travel Noire Experience, and the Blavity House Party annually. **Is Blavity Black-owned?** Yes. Blavity was founded by and is led by Black entrepreneurs with a mission centered on Black community, culture, and economic opportunity. [Explore Blavity →](https://blavity.com)

Band of Vices

Los Angeles, CA

Band of Vices is a Black-owned contemporary art gallery and culture company headquartered in Los Angeles, California. Founded by curator and arts entrepreneur Louis Bell, Band of Vices creates space for Black and underrepresented artists through gallery exhibitions, fine art sales, cultural programming, and community events — amplifying voices the mainstream art world has historically overlooked. ## What Band of Vices Offers Band of Vices operates as both gallery and cultural platform — building the market for Black contemporary art while cultivating a community of collectors, creatives, and culture lovers across Los Angeles. ### Gallery Services ✔ Contemporary art exhibitions by Black and underrepresented artists ✔ Fine art sales, private acquisitions, and collection building ✔ Artist representation and career development support ✔ Corporate and institutional art consulting ### Cultural Programming ✔ Exhibition openings and community arts events ✔ Artist talks, panels, and cultural discussions ✔ Pop-up cultural experiences and brand collaborations ✔ Educational programming for emerging collectors ### Artwork & Collections ✔ Painting, sculpture, photography, and mixed media ✔ Emerging and established Black contemporary artists ✔ Works rooted in Black diaspora experience and cultural identity ## Who Band of Vices Serves Band of Vices serves art collectors, cultural institutions, corporate clients, and anyone who believes that the future of the art world must include Black voices at the center — not as an afterthought. ## Frequently Asked Questions **What is Band of Vices?** Band of Vices is a Black-owned contemporary art gallery and culture company in Los Angeles, founded by Louis Bell. It exhibits and promotes Black and underrepresented contemporary artists. **Who founded Band of Vices gallery?** Band of Vices was founded by Louis Bell, a curator and arts entrepreneur based in Los Angeles. **What type of art does Band of Vices show?** The gallery features painting, sculpture, photography, and mixed media by Black and underrepresented artists at emerging and established career stages. **Where is Band of Vices located?** Band of Vices is located in Los Angeles, California. [Visit Band of Vices →](https://www.bandofvices.com)

Breathe Day Spa & Boutique

Oakland, CA

Breathe Day Spa & Boutique is a Black woman-owned holistic wellness spa and curated boutique in Oakland, California. Offering massage therapy, esthetic treatments, energy healing, and a selection of Black-owned wellness products, Breathe creates an intentional sanctuary where Black women and communities of color can rest, heal, and be restored — free from the oversights that too often define their experiences in mainstream wellness spaces. ## Services at Breathe Day Spa Breathe combines professional spa treatments with a curated boutique experience, giving every client a full circle of wellness — from the treatment room to the product shelf. ### Spa Treatments ✔ Swedish massage and deep tissue therapy ✔ Custom facial treatments and skin care ✔ Body wraps, scrubs, and detox treatments ✔ Reiki and energy healing sessions ✔ Couples massage and group spa packages ✔ Seasonal add-ons and enhancement services ### Boutique & Products ✔ Curated collection of Black-owned beauty and wellness brands ✔ Aromatherapy, essential oils, and diffuser kits ✔ Crystals, candles, and intentional self-care accessories ✔ Gift packages and spa-day bundles for every occasion ## Who Breathe Serves Breathe Day Spa & Boutique is designed for Black women and communities of color in Oakland and the broader East Bay — professionals, mothers, caregivers, and anyone who deserves intentional rest, healing, and cultural affirmation as part of their wellness practice. ## Frequently Asked Questions **What is Breathe Day Spa & Boutique?** Breathe is a Black woman-owned holistic spa and wellness boutique in Oakland, California, offering massage, facials, energy healing, and a curated Black-owned wellness boutique. **Is Breathe Day Spa Black-owned?** Yes. Breathe Day Spa & Boutique is a Black woman-owned business built to serve Black women and communities of color in Oakland. **What services does Breathe offer?** Breathe provides Swedish and deep tissue massage, custom facials, body wraps, Reiki energy healing, couples packages, and a curated wellness boutique. **Where is Breathe Day Spa & Boutique located?** Breathe Day Spa & Boutique is located in Oakland, California. [Book at Breathe →](https://www.breathespaoakland.com)

Burdell

Oakland, CA

Burdell is a MICHELIN-recommended Black-owned soul food restaurant in Oakland, California's Temescal neighborhood. Founded by Chef Nelson German — a Top Chef Season 18 contestant — Burdell honors the West African and African American culinary traditions at the roots of Southern soul food, prepared with California's finest seasonal ingredients and presented with the craft and care of fine dining. ## What to Expect at Burdell Every dish at Burdell is chef-driven and culturally rooted — connecting the flavors of West Africa, the American South, and the Bay Area into one honest dining experience. ### The Food ✔ Braised oxtail and slow-cooked short rib preparations ✔ Fried chicken with house-crafted sauces ✔ Seasonal vegetable dishes rooted in West African traditions ✔ Southern-inspired starters and sides ✔ Rotating seasonal menu driven by California farmers and producers ### The Experience ✔ MICHELIN-recommended dining in Oakland's Temescal neighborhood ✔ Intimate, chef-driven restaurant atmosphere ✔ Craft cocktail program with cultural inspiration ✔ Private dining and special event hosting ## Who Burdell Serves Burdell welcomes Oakland locals, Bay Area food enthusiasts, and visitors seeking a culturally meaningful dining experience — where great cooking meets ancestral knowledge and the living tradition of Black culinary heritage. ## Frequently Asked Questions **What is Burdell?** Burdell is a MICHELIN-recommended Black-owned soul food restaurant in Oakland's Temescal neighborhood, founded by Chef Nelson German. **Who is the chef at Burdell Oakland?** Burdell is owned and operated by Chef Nelson German, a Top Chef Season 18 contestant and acclaimed Bay Area chef. **Is Burdell MICHELIN recommended?** Yes. Burdell has received a MICHELIN recommendation for its exceptional soul food and culturally rooted dining experience in Oakland. **What kind of food does Burdell serve?** Burdell serves chef-driven soul food rooted in West African and African American culinary traditions, using California seasonal ingredients. **Where is Burdell located?** Burdell is located in the Temescal neighborhood of Oakland, California. [Reserve at Burdell →](https://www.burdelloakland.com)

Alta Adams

Los Angeles, CA

Nail Dega

Los Angeles, CA

The LA Home Girl

Pasadena, CA

The Combine

Oakland, CA

Swift Café

Los Angeles, CA

Philthy Ragz

Inglewood, CA

The Sax Agency

Los Angeles, CA

LaMay Day Media LLC

Los Angeles, CA

Sparkling Clean Maids

Los Angeles, CA

A & B Auto Repair Center Inc

Los Angeles, CA

Club Z In-Home Tutoring Westside

Santa Monica, CA

Mwokaji Cakery

Los Angeles, CA

Spatial Labs

Culver City, CA

Blacksauce Kitchen

Baltimore, MD

Blacksauce Kitchen is a Black-owned Baltimore restaurant founded in 2010 by chef Damian Mosley, known citywide for its buttermilk barbecue biscuit sandwiches. What began as a stall on the Baltimore farmers market scene now operates a Remington storefront at 401 W 29th Street alongside its long-running Saturday morning stand at the 32nd Street Waverly Farmers Market. The kitchen serves smoked meats, Southern and Caribbean dishes, and vegetarian and vegan options.

Buttah Skin

Los Angeles, CA

Buttah Skin is a Black-owned luxury skincare brand founded in Los Angeles, California by entrepreneur Dorion Renaud, designed specifically for melanin-rich skin. Buttah Skin's shea butter-based formulations moisturize, brighten, and protect deeper skin tones without leaving white cast — a problem that plagued mainstream skincare brands that historically ignored Black consumers. After a successful Shark Tank appearance, Buttah Skin became one of the fastest-growing Black-owned beauty brands in the country, now sold in major retailers nationwide.

The Serving Spoon

Inglewood, CA

The Serving Spoon is a Black-owned soul food breakfast and lunch restaurant in Inglewood, California, founded in 1983 by Harold E. Sparks and now run by his grandchildren Justin Johnson and Jessica Bane alongside Angela and JC Johnson. Known for catfish and grits, smothered chicken and Southern breakfast plates, it received a James Beard America's Classics Award in 2026.

Lois the Pie Queen

Oakland, CA

Lois the Pie Queen is a Black-owned bakery and soul food restaurant at 851 60th Street in Oakland, California. Lois Davis began baking in the Berkeley area around 1950 and moved the business to Oakland in 1973. Her son Chris Davis runs it today, with granddaughter Margot making the pies — sweet potato, peach cobbler and Southern breakfast plates.

Destiny Arts Center

Oakland, CA

Destiny Arts Center is a Black-founded youth arts education organization in Oakland, California, providing high-quality dance, martial arts, theater, and visual arts training to young people ages 2 to 22 regardless of financial circumstances. Founded in 1988, Destiny Arts Center serves over 1,500 youth annually using the transformative power of art to build confidence, community, and leadership in Oakland. One of the Bay Area's most respected youth arts institutions and a cornerstone of Oakland's cultural life.