Remote Year and Venture Noire partner in a Global Accelerator Program for Black and Minority Entrepreneurs

We are excited to announce a new partnership with Venture Noire! Together our dynamic teams will lead “In the Black”, a first-of-its-kind, 8-week program to support Black and minority entrepreneurs in the travel and hospitality industries. This 3-year partnership will combine Venture Noire’s expertise in scaling entrepreneurial businesses with Remote Year’s experience in creating a transformational community-based platform for remote working globally.

seeks to improve Black quality of life through entrepreneurship, supporting minority workforce creation and development. The cohort program will focus specifically on Black and minority founders of startups that are focused on the future of work, as well as the travel and hospitality industry, providing them with weekly training and mentorship on how to grow their businesses. 

The first cohort will bring 15-20 US-based startup founders to South Africa later this year where they will meet up with local South African entrepreneurs in Cape Town and Johannesburg for a truly international collaboration. 

“We believe that the rise in remote work is here to stay and has already shifted the ways in which businesses fundamentally operate and adapt. With this partnership, we’re putting the best and brightest minds internationally to creating solutions for the future of work,” said Keenan Beasley, Founder of Venture Noire. “By expanding internationally we’re also able to bring even more BIPOC founders and entrepreneurs into our community to network, impact and empower.” 

This program is best suited for entrepreneurs whose companies are already set up for remote work and who are ready to scale in a remote capacity. Entrepreneurs within the cohort will gain first-hand experience and knowledge about the intricacies of operating a global supply chain and scaling internationally. Up to 20% percent of the cohort participants will be locally based in South Africa as part of Remote Year’s commitment to driving a positive impact in the local communities in which it operates. Participants will learn to cultivate international appeal for their products and services based on real-world networking experiences with fellow global entrepreneurs. 

“Remote Year is built on the belief that travel and remote work leads to innovation, exploration, and personal and professional growth,” said Tue Le, VP of Brand, Product & Community at Remote Year. “Partnering with Venture Noire is a natural fit for us because we share not only those same beliefs, but also a deep commitment to using our platforms to solve global inequities and create a tangible benefit for Black and minority business owners, the local community, and the global economy. We are excited to launch this program as the first in a series over the next few years and to be a part of these entrepreneurs’ transformational journeys particularly on a continent that has given birth to so many Black entrepreneurs and businesses.”