In 2015, Mandy Bowman created a platform known as the Official Black Wall Street (OBWS) to bridge Black consumers with Black-owned businesses.

While a quick Google or social media search can help discover Black-owned businesses, OBWS is a one-stop-shop for finding products and services made by Black entrepreneurs.

Bowman, the Founder and CEO of OBWS created the platform to “encourage Black ownership and provide consumers with a comprehensive, user-friendly platform to discover, review, and shop Black-owned businesses around the world” (BlackNews.com).

Users can access OBWS with an app launched in 2017, which allows them to support Black-owned businesses on the go. The app features thousands of businesses and resources for Black entrepreneurs, including masterclasses, free legal services, a business directory, and a database of grant/funding opportunities.

In addition, OBWS is one of the leaders of the Buy Black Movement, which aims to unite Black people in supporting Black-owned businesses, recycle capital back into Black communities and generate income for Black families globally. 

Recently, OBWS was featured in a Mastercard campaign highlighting Black female business owners and how they’ve influenced their communities.

With OBWS's success and impact on the Black community, Bowman was a recipient of PayPal’s Maggie Lena Walker Emerging Leader Award. This award recognizes emerging Black entrepreneurs and leaders by encouraging economic growth in their communities. 

Check out the OBWS app, available on the App Store and Google Play, which helps support the Buy Black Movement.

Register your Black business on OBWS’s access to reach more consumers and gain access to free resources.

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