Charlotte entrepreneurs to ignite the ‘Black in Business Expo’ on JCSU campus
More than 70 Black business owners will gather at Johnson C. Smith University this Saturday to connect with customers across the Charlotte region.
The first Black in Business Expo is scheduled for 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the campus at 100 Beatties Ford Road. The expo is one of several key events held in honor of JCSU’s Founders Week.
This free community event features live entertainment, food trucks, raffles, line dancing, lawn games and activities for children. The marketplace will showcase an array of participants, including service providers such as staffing agencies and real estate agents, as well as retail boutiques offering skincare and apparel.
Beyond the marketplace, the Black in Business Expo will host workshops and panel discussions focused on improving economic development in underserved areas.
The event is organized by Nxt Big Thing Charlotte, a platform created in 2021 by CEO Alisia Hutchinson-Bradshaw to support Black-owned businesses through pop-up markets, educational resources and development programs.
The expo represents a new initiative for Hutchinson-Bradshaw, who aims to offer more than just a place to shop. “I’ve been organizing this event since October of last year,” she said, reflecting on six months of preparation.
A central goal of the expo is to provide entrepreneurs with the education and insights needed to navigate modern business challenges.
Hutchinson-Bradshaw emphasized the importance of these gatherings in addressing systemic economic disparities. Black-owned businesses represent only about 3% of U.S. establishments with more than one employee, according to the U.S. Census Bureau
While Black Americans make up about 14.2% of the U.S. population, they remain significantly underrepresented among business owners — a disparity experts often attribute to a persistent gap in access to capital.
Hutchinson-Bradshaw noted that research shows Black-owned businesses are roughly twice as likely to be denied loans. Events like the Black in Business Expo are designed to help bridge that gap.
Black in Business Expo schedule
- 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. — Workshop carousel (VIP pass required)
- 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. — Marketplace and entertainment kickoff (Free, open to the public)
- 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. — Panelists and speakers (VIP pass required)
- 1 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. — Photo ops and networking (VIP pass required)
- 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. — Indoor marketplace and awards (Free, open to the public)
All VIP events for entrepreneurs will be held indoors. VIP badges are $75, but can be purchased in advance for $25.
For more information or to register for sessions, visit nxtbigthingclt.eventbrite.com or blackinbusinessexpo.com/products/vip-badge. Attendees who register in advance at blackinbusinessexpo.com will be entered into a raffle for a $100 shopping spree at the expo.
