There are countless small black businesses that are doing great things that often go without recognition. In Charlotte alone, there are over 13,000 black-owned small businesses. That is why Black Enterprise is calling for entries for the annual Small Business Awards to be recognized at the 23rd annual Entrepreneurs Summit set to take place in Charlotte, North Carolina, from June 6-8, hosted by Nationwide.
This year, we will award and highlight four business owners who are blazing trails and making an impact in their industry. Each of the winners will receive the highly regarded Small Business Award, get VIP access to the Entrepreneurs Summit, and be featured in Black Enterprise either online or in the print magazine.
So, if you know a deserving techpreneur, family business, teenpreneur, or franchise owner—this is your opportunity to nominate them and their business for one of the Black Enterprise awards.
Here are the criteria for the nominations:
Outstanding techpreneurs nominated for the Techpreneur of the Year should reflect someone who has a fast-growing company that is delivering groundbreaking technology products or is disrupting the digital industry in some manner. All businesses nominated for the Family Business of the Year award should be a family-operated business that exemplifies the combined experience and expertise needed to excel in a key industry. Ambitious teens nominated for the Teenpreneur of the Year should be 19-years-old or under and committed to the tradition of black business achievement. Franchisees nominated for Franchise Owner of the Year should exhibit outstanding performance and overall contribution in enhancing the growth and development of the franchising industry.
Aside from Teenpreneur nominees, all companies must be independently owned; be at least 51% black-owned, be in operation for two years or more, have a minimum of three employees, generate annual revenues of at least $250,000 but no more than $20 million, and show a pattern of increasing revenues for the two years preceding application or raised a round of capital from venture capitalist or other private equity investors for tech startups.
All nominations must be received by Monday, April 23, 2018, EST.
Be sure to spread the word and mark your calendar for Friday, June 8, 2018, as the nominees will be recognized at the Entrepreneurs Summit awards luncheon and the winners will be announced at a special awards dinner. Register for the summit today and save on your ticket!