The Black Innovation Alliance (BIA), a coalition of Black tech innovators and entrepreneurs dedicated to closing the racial wealth gap, concluded its annual “Sustainability Summit” in Miami last week by charting its next steps in a world where DEI is no longer a priority, and the battle is on to ensure people of color are included in a new era of technological innovation.

The summit brought together more than 100 “Innovator Support Organizations” (ISOs) from across the country supporting more than 300,000 Black entrepreneurs and innovators. Discussed was everything from designing automated workflows and understanding the relationship between humans and machines, to funding the entrepreneurial journey and harnessing the power of artificial intelligence.

Since its inception in 2020, BIA has pushed for full inclusion of Black people in the innovation economy and awarded more than $1 million in grants and other financial support to ISOs.

“The lack of access to financial, social and knowledge capital has been an uphill battle for Black businesses for generations,” said Kelly Burton, BIA CEO, in a news release. “We cannot sit silently and wait, which is why we’re proud to step up, aligning with our members and partners, to deploy real funding to Black-owned businesses when many are standing down.”

The conference was an opportunity for innovators to discuss their thoughts, fears and concerns following last year’s U.S. Supreme Court decision to end affirmative action, and concurrent litigation against grant-making organizations that has drained resources from the Black entrepreneurial ecosystem. As a result, many Black-owned businesses are suffering, and Black ecosystem leaders are scrambling to secure the resources necessary to effectively support them.

“We are being called to this moment because our momentum is not natural. The opportunities that land in our laps are not natural. They are supernatural,” Burton told the packed ballroom. “Use this room to get answers that you need, Go deep with one another. This is your tribe. These are the folks that are going to respond to that SOS email. You are loved in this space.”

Earlier last week, BIA, in partnership with the UBS Innovation Fund, disbursed $50,000 in surprise “Believe in You” grant funding to Black entrepreneurs, Publisher’s Clearing House style, across the city of Miami, meeting them at their places of business. Five local, highly rated Black-owned restaurants were the recipients of $10,000 each. The concept was inspired by BIA-member Jessica Norwood’s recent book, “Believe in You Money: What Would it Look Like if the Economy Loved Black People.”

Grant recipients included the Smith & Webster Restaurant and Bar, Rosie’s, World Famous House of Mac, Lil Greenhouse Grill and House of Wings.