Essence Experiences for Small Businesses and the Essence Entrepreneurship Institute to Launch at the 2016 Essence Festival

The 2016 Essence Festival will be bigger, better, and bolder than ever before. We recently reported a new expansion of the multi-day event to South Africa for 2016, and on December 8, Essence announced yet another addition to its already growing undertaking for the 2016 season.

Noting a surge in movement towards entrepreneurship and small owned businesses, Essence will now introduce Essence Experiences at the 2016 festival to connect the community to black small businesses and products.

Officially hitting New Orleans June 30 through July 3, 2016, the new Essence Experiences seeks to capitalize on the reported $1.3 trillion nationwide buying power of the black community. Personally connecting its 500,000 festival attendees to selected businesses, Essence aims to “create scenes for community connections and brand building that harness [the] buying power to support…small businesses.”

And it gets even better…

In addition to brand exposure and buying power, selected businesses will also have the opportunity to access the Essence Entrepreneurship Institute – a 2-day intensive training course designed to offer high-growth entrepreneurs the chance to learn about best practices from today’s best business minds.

Additionally, the Institute will feature experts who dish first-hand lessons surrounding business expansion, competitive branding, and how to pitch business ideas to potential investors in the hopes of securing funding for future endeavors.

In its totality, the Essence Entrepreneurship Institute will arm attendees with essential skills necessary for business growth, ways to strengthen their regional economy, and most importantly, an avenue by which they can bring jobs back into their communities.

Interested businesses can sign up now for this innovative experience to vend products, explore new ideas, recruit talent, network, and more. Small business owners interested in participating can apply for Basic, Super and Premium level packages until February 26, 2016. For more information and to sign up, visit Essence.com/Festival/Apply.