Dear friends and colleagues,

On June 16, program alumni, mentors, team members, supporters, and guests joined us at the Bill.com headquarters for an intimate networking reception to celebrate the first year of the Accelerating Black Leadership and Entrepreneurship (ABLE) program. The event was filled with energy, excitement, and hope as CEO and Founder René Lacerte of Bill.com spoke to their commitment of supporting small businesses. It was especially uplifting to hear remarks from the entrepreneurs themselves on their experiences in the program and where they are today.

With deep gratitude, thank you to our anchor funder, Bill.com, for hosting the event, and to CEO and Founder René Lacerte and Joyce Chung for their continued support of the ABLE program. I also thank the County of Santa Clara, the CA Black Freedom Fund, and KLA Foundation for your commitment to ABLE. We thank our ADN Board members, guests, and team for their commitment to our shared vision. A special thank you to ADN board member Raj Aji for championing the ABLE program.

We are excited to build on the momentum of our first year and to support many more Black business leaders as they build their enterprises and make an impact in their communities. More information on the next application cycle will be released in August. We look forward to engaging you as we prepare for the launch of cohort two.

As always, thank you,


Almaz Negash 
Founder & Executive Director 
African Diaspora Network

Accelerating Black Leadership and Entrepreneurship (ABLE) is an enterprise accelerator program designed to strengthen, energize, and support startups and small businesses led by Black entrepreneurs in the United States. 

Adapted from ADN’s Builders of Africa’s Future program, ABLE identifies Black business leaders with impact-oriented solutions at the local and national level across multiple sectors. This includes healthcare, finance, connectivity, agriculture, and renewable energy, all of which address essential community needs while spurring sustainable growth. 16 entrepreneurs graduated in the inaugural year of the program in February 2022. 

The program is designed to expand economic pathways and advance entrepreneurial efforts through online and in-person training and mentorship that supports the adaptation and innovations of Black entrepreneurs within the current global pandemic and changing economic climate.

Check out our video of the week to learn more about issues, trends, and opportunities on the African continent! With your support, ADN gathers an incredible lineup of industry leaders, government officials, and entrepreneurs to share their insights and expertise. We invite you to explore our gallery of past sessions and stay tuned for upcoming live events. 

In the featured YouTube video of the week, René Lacerte, Bill.com CEO and Founder, explains why Bill.com supports Accelerating Black Leadership and Entrepreneurship (ABLE).

“My admiration for entrepreneurs and the businesses they start began as a kid growing up in and around small and medium-sized businesses. The risk of putting yourself out there each and every day for others is always present and deserves to be both respected and celebrated.” 

The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) helps small and mid-size businesses gain footholds in emerging market countries and expand their business overseas. African Diaspora Network (ADN), based in the Silicon Valley, harnesses and engages the intellectual, financial, philanthropic and entrepreneurial capacity of Africans and friends of Africa in support of economic and social development across Africa. In support of their joint vision of furthering economic development around the globe, DFC and ADN invite you to a virtual seminar on
July 27, 2022 @ 11am ET to 12:15pm ET highlighting the tools available to help grow your business in emerging markets.

Looking to have a more active role as a member of African Diaspora Network? Learn more about ways to engage:

Invite a friend to subscribe to our newsletter by sending them the link here Follow us on social media: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram Subscribe to our YouTube channel Support us through Amazon Smile Give Through Silicon Valley Community Foundation (SVCF) Donor-advised fund Mentor entrepreneurs participating in our ABLE and/or BAF programs. Contact Debra Pacio, ADN's Entrepreneurship and Community Engagement Manager, at debra@africandiasporanetwork.org to learn more. Be a volunteer and support African Diaspora Network initiatives Be an organizational sponsor and support the African Diaspora Network to bring together diverse people from around the world to collaborate and work together. Support ADN HERE

Hugh Stuart Center Charitable Trust