About

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=”50px”][headline extra_space=”disable” font_container=”tag:h1|text_align:center” font_weight=”normal” margin_top=”15″ margin_bottom=”35″ clearfix=”1″ from_vs=”yes”]Cocoa + Entrepreneur = Cocoapreneur[/headline][vc_empty_space height=”40px”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”18202″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_shadow”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text]

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!

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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![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space][vc_custom_heading text=”SPONSORS” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:center”][vc_separator border_width=”2″][vc_custom_heading text=”Cocoapreneur would like to thank our OFFICIAL SPONSORS!
Thank you for your commitment to the community!!!” font_container=”tag:h3|text_align:center”][vc_empty_space height=”25px”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_wp_text][/vc_wp_text][vc_wp_text][/vc_wp_text][vc_wp_text][/vc_wp_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_wp_text][/vc_wp_text][vc_wp_text][/vc_wp_text][vc_wp_text][/vc_wp_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_wp_text]

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Adrienne McCall

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Aliya Wray

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Alisha Branson – Real Estate

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LaTrenda Leonard-Sherrill

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Systas4Systas Inc.

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Shef Shaun

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Tenika Chavis

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The Soul Pitt

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=”60px”][vc_custom_heading text=”Media Sponsors” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:center”][vc_separator border_width=”3″][vc_custom_heading text=”Also, a special thank you to the following artists for allowing us to feature their photos on the site…” font_container=”tag:h3|text_align:center”][vc_empty_space height=”25px”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_wp_text][/vc_wp_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_wp_text][/vc_wp_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_wp_text][/vc_wp_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=”60px”][vc_separator border_width=”3″][vc_column_text]

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

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We’ll Be Back Soon

ABOUT
The Cocoapreneur Directory is an online and mobile tool that connects people with Black owned businesses in the Greater Pittsburgh Area and Western PA and connects Black owned business owners to each other and resources.

MISSION
The mission of Cocoapreneur is to engineer frameworks to create sustainable neighborhoods for historically disenfranchised Black communities throughout the Greater Pittsburgh area.

VISION
Cocoapreneur aims to normalize the idea of entrepreneurship for Black people in the greater Pittsburgh area and nationwide by providing business supportive services in the areas of advertising, marketing, consulting and personal development.

INCEPTION
Cocoapreneur was started in September 2015 out of an apparent necessity. 2015 marked a year with increased visibility of the murder of innocent Black people by the hands of police and “neighborhood watch”; the answer to the problem was economic withdrawal from large corporations and those satisfied with the status quo. The issue with that plan was finding suitable alternatives for those basic commodities. Buying Black was the answer. In doing the search to buy Black, the businesses discovered, were then shared.
Today, Cocoapreneur serves as a liaison between the community and small Black businesses in the Greater Pittsburgh area. The aim is to better equip Black businesses to serve the communities in which they reside and to point consumers to the Black businesses in their communities that contribute most to it.

FAQs
How much does it cost to have a listing on Cocoapreneur?
All businesses are entitled to a FREE listing. Additional marketing and advertising services are available for purchase.

How do I add my business to Cocoapreneur?
Click the link to SUBMIT A LISTING.

Can I submit a business even if it is not my own?
YES. Involvement of the community in building this directory is highly encouraged. All information submitted will be verified for validity and accuracy.

Do businesses submitted have to be within Pittsburgh city limits?
NO. The directory will serve the Greater Pittsburgh area including Allegheny, Washington, and Westmoreland Counties. As the directory grows, the scope will expand.

Is the directory available in print?
There is no paper copy of the directory. In order to keep the listings and information as up-to-date as possible, the directory is digital only.

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