Morgan DeBaun, the 34-year-old founder, CEO, and chair of Blavity, Inc., is revolutionizing how Black millennials and Gen Z experience tech, entrepreneurship, and media.
From starting as a curated video newsletter, Blavity has evolved into one of the most influential platforms serving Black communities, reaching over 100 million individuals monthly.
After graduating from Washington University in St. Louis, DeBaun began her career at Intuit in Silicon Valley. Yet, she quickly noticed a glaring void: a lack of focus on Black consumers.
“I was surprised to find that no one was prioritizing us as a target demographic,” DeBaun told Fortune.
This realization prompted her to leave her full-time role and, in 2014, launch Blavity, a platform with the Black community at its core.
Blavity’s Growth and Impact
Based in Los Angeles, Blavity’s expansive portfolio now includes multiple lifestyle brands, original content, video series, and live experiences.
With major investments from GV, Plexo, Macro, Kapor Capital, and Comcast Ventures, the company has grown to employ over 150 people under the leadership of DeBaun and COO Jeff Nelson.
Among its standout initiatives is AfroTech, an annual conference launched in 2016 that has become the leading event for Black tech professionals, entrepreneurs, and innovators.
This year, AfroTech drew 37,500 attendees to Houston’s George R. Brown Convention Center, focusing on topics like artificial intelligence (AI) and cybersecurity.
Prominent speakers, including multi-platinum artist and tech entrepreneur will.i.am and activist and entrepreneur Colin Kaepernick, took center stage.
Supporting Black Founders
AfroTech is more than a conference—it’s a launchpad for innovation. Through its Founders Circle initiative, Blavity connected venture capitalists (VCs), angel investors, and tech leaders with 125 diverse startup founders.
Over two months, the selected founders underwent pitch training with DeBaun and an executive coach, culminating in product demos and networking opportunities during the conference.
“Research shows a significant gap in venture-capital funding for Black entrepreneurs,” DeBaun noted, referencing challenges like the lawsuit against the Fearless Fund, co-founded by Arian Simone, which aims to support Black women business owners.
Blavity’s Founders Circle directly addresses these barriers, offering not just funding opportunities but mentorship and resources for long-term success.
The Future of Innovation
For DeBaun, the next decade is about driving innovation.
“How do we provide more spaces for innovation into specific industries that we believe are going to be the future and provide the most value for our community?” she asks.
Through Blavity, AfroTech, and initiatives like the Founders Circle, Morgan DeBaun is empowering Black tech professionals and entrepreneurs to thrive, creating a ripple effect of change and opportunity across industries.
