Founders of Black-owned Ticketing Platform, Eventnoire, Win First Place in A $1 Million Startup Competition


According to a statement, Eventnoire is the winner of Mountain Dew’s Real Change Opportunity Fund Competition and will receive a portion of the $1 million prize pool, allowing it to continue work that strengthens Black business and uplifts Black communities. Eventnoire’s website describes it as a premiere event platform for event planners, organizations, and marketers that celebrate and embrace Black culture. Software solutions such as online event registration, venue selection, event management, mobile apps for events, and e-mail marketing are offered through the company.

“Before founding Eventnoire, (Jeff) Osuji and (Femi) Masha, both serial entrepreneurs with over 15 years of experience in the entertainment industry, recognized that mainstream event and ticketing platforms weren’t meeting the needs of the Black community,” Eventnoire said in a statement. “With this knowledge, Osuji and Masha went to work creating a niche event ticketing platform that keeps consumers “in the Black” by connecting them to Black events and experiences within their local communities.”

Additionally, Eventnoire said that as more revenue is gained, the company will be on a mission to recycle $1 million back into Black organizations annually and re-invest into the Black creative economy. If you are not familiar with The Mountain Dew Real Change Fund, the website explained that Mountain Dew’s parent company, PepsiCo, initiated a five-year, $400+ million plan. It is reportedly intended to uplift Black communities, strengthen Black business, and level the playing field for Black people in America. Five finalists from five HBCU’s were selected to advance to the final round of Mountain Dew’s Real Change Opportunity Fund Competition.

“In June, MTN DEW® is committed to fueling those who do and instigating real change,” information on the website explained. “As a first step, we have created the $1 Million Dollar, Real Change Opportunity Fund where we will help Black entrepreneurs who are current students or recent alumni from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), with existing PepsiCo relationships, turn seedlings of ideas into businesses or scale existing ventures.”

Entertainment journalist Gia Peppers hosted the third episode of Mountain Dew’s Real Change Opportunity Fund Competition. Eventnoire and other finalists competed to present their business ventures in a finale. Another statement explained that the Shark Tank-style contest was judged by DJ Envy of The Breakfast Club, Morgan DeBaun, and Lala Anthony. At the end of the YouTube video, Eventnoire was crowned the inaugural winner.

 


×