10 Aug Breaking Barriers: Why We Still Need to Fund Black-Owned Businesses
It’s 2025, and yet many of the barriers that Black entrepreneurs face today are deeply rooted in generational inequality, lack of access to capital, and systemic gatekeeping. While the momentum around “supporting Black-owned” has seen waves of attention, sustained support — especially financial — is still lacking.
At The Fish Bowl Experience, we’re not just handing out money. We’re shifting mindsets, creating access, and making sure Black-owned businesses aren’t just seen during trending moments, but funded all year round.
1. The Capital Gap Is Still Real
According to the Federal Reserve, Black business owners are significantly less likely to be approved for loans than their white counterparts — even when controlling for credit scores and business performance. That’s not a perception issue. That’s a systemic one.
We can’t talk about generational wealth if we’re not funding the vehicles that create it — and business is one of the most powerful vehicles there is.
2. Funding Isn’t Charity — It’s Smart Economics
Investing in Black-owned businesses isn’t just the “right thing to do.” It’s an economic strategy. These businesses often:
- Serve underserved communities
- Create local jobs
- Innovate culture, design, and tech
- Circulate money locally and sustainably
When they thrive, entire ecosystems thrive.
3. Representation Matters in Ownership Too
Black entrepreneurs don’t just want to be the talent, the labor, or the face of a brand. We want to own it. We want to control the narrative, the equity, the legacy.
Every time a Black entrepreneur is funded, it sends a message: You belong here. Your ideas are valid. Your leadership matters.
That ripple effect reaches younger generations, reshapes industries, and redefines what’s possible.
4. Pitching Is Only the Beginning
That’s why we created The Fish Bowl Experience — to offer more than a mic and a check. We’re building a community where Black-owned businesses can:
- Practice and perfect their pitches
- Build their networks
- Access resources beyond pitch day
- Stay connected with mentors, software, and funding partners
It’s about ongoing support, not one-time hype.
5. Let’s Normalize Black Wealth, Not Just Spotlight Black Struggle
We’re not here to sell pain stories. We’re here to elevate power stories. And that starts with access.
If we want to truly level the playing field, Black-owned businesses need funding, visibility, and community — not just for the culture, but for the country.
Final Word:
We don’t just fund Black-owned businesses because they need help. We fund them because they deserve investment. Because they innovate, uplift, and transform — and that’s worth betting on.