Cocoa + Entrepreneur = Cocoapreneur

The mission of Cocoapreneur is to foster an environment of economic prosperity in order to ensure more sustainable neighborhoods for the historically Black communities and neighborhoods around Pittsburgh, PA. Through support to businesses via advertising, marketing and consulting, Cocoapreneur aims to normalize the idea of entrepreneurship. We want to make becoming a business owner a more feasible and attainable goal for Black people in the Greater Pittsburgh area.

          Khamil Bailey founded Cocoapreneur Pgh, LLC in February 2018 but began this mission of circulating the Black dollar within Black communities well before that date. What began as the Black Dollars Matter campaign, started by Khamil and Nazura Asaseyeduru, has now evolved into what Cocoapreneur is today. This work is a labor of love and the goal is, and always will be, freedom!

History

Before The Cocoapreneur Directory, Connie Portis and Richard Portis had published the Greater Pittsburgh Black Business Directory and Resource Guide. The directory had run for over 30 years and was the oldest continuously  running Black business directory in the US. The work of the Greater Pittsburgh Black Business Directory and Resource Guide is responsible for the growth of hundreds of Black business owners and professionals in this region. The notable red cover with 42 faces of Black entrepreneurs and professionals paved the way for the work of Cocoapreneur today!

Adrienne McCall

Aliya Wray

Alisha Branson – Real Estate

LaTrenda Leonard-Sherrill

Systas4Systas Inc.

Shef Shaun

Tenika Chavis

The Soul Pitt

Lastly, thank you to Bates Management Professionals for taking my vision and bringing it to life.