Group Black

Group Black was co-founded in 2021 by Travis Montaque, Richelieu Dennis, and Bonin Bough with the mission to build the largest collective of Black-owned media and creators. The company emerged to address the significant underinvestment in Black-owned media, aiming to create a more equitable media ecosystem. Travis Montaque, who serves as the CEO, previously founded Holler, a messaging technology company, bringing his experience in digital communication and content creation to this new venture. Richelieu Dennis, the founder of Sundial Brands and the New Voices Fund, contributes his extensive background in building successful businesses that serve the Black community. Bonin Bough adds his expertise from years in high-level marketing roles at major corporations.

The firm operates as a media collective and accelerator, focused on dramatically increasing the flow of advertising revenue to Black-owned media outlets. Group Black's business model involves creating a scalable platform that connects major brands and advertising agencies with a curated portfolio of Black-owned publishers and creators. By aggregating these media properties, the company provides advertisers with a single point of access to a large, engaged, and culturally relevant audience, simplifying the media buying process. Revenue is generated by taking a percentage of the advertising deals facilitated through its network.

A central part of Group Black's offering is the accountability and measurement it brings to diversity-focused media spending. The company provides infrastructure and resources to help Black-owned media partners grow and scale their operations. In a significant move to expand its capabilities, Group Black Media acquired the multicultural marketing firm Galan Gaddy in mid-2022. This acquisition enhances its ability to deliver comprehensive marketing solutions to its clients. The company has secured commitments from major corporations like Procter & Gamble and General Motors, who have pledged to increase their spending with Black-owned media through the platform.

Keywords: Black-owned media, advertising collective, media investment, multicultural marketing, creator economy, brand advertising, publisher network, diversity in media, media accelerator, ad spending