WORCESTER — If innovation is the currency of the future, Worcester is cashing in this spring.
The 3rd Annual New England African Business Expo, hosted by the Massachusetts Organization of African Descendants (MOAD) in partnership with the African Graduate Student Association (AGSA) at WPI returns Saturday, May 3, from noon to 5 p.m. and it’s got more than a few power moves in store.
Held this year at WPI’s Innovation Studio, the Expo brings together emerging Black and African entrepreneurs, researchers, and business leaders for a full day of economic inspiration, education, and opportunity. The event is free and open to the public.
The expo promises more than the standard panel-and-pamphlet affair. Attendees can expect interactive workshops, targeted networking, product showcases, and a pitch competition offering up to $5,000 in prizes — with an added bonus: mentorship that extends well beyond the final buzzer.
MOAD, a network representing more than 200 African descendants across Massachusetts and New England, said in its announcement that the goal is “to empower Black and African professionals, students, startups, researchers, and investors.” By creating an ecosystem of innovation, support, and visibility, the Expo aims to lay the groundwork for long-term growth — not just for individuals, but entire communities.
This year’s event features high-profile speakers and panelists, including:
- Jawad Yatim, founder and GM of the Massachusetts Pirates
- Khrystian E. King, Worcester city councilor at-large
- Jetari Veal, AVP of community and business development at Workers Credit Union
- Nana Antwi Boasiako, CEO of OMAMA services Incorporated
- Senator Robyn Kennedy and Senator James Eldridge
- Reverend Dr. Debora Jackson, keynote speaker
The expo’s signature pitch competition, open to “Afropreneurs, Agropreneurs, students, and dreamers,” selected 12 finalists for a month-long training cohort. With coaching from the Black Business Alliance of Connecticut, WPI’s i3Lab, and Score Worcester, the participants pitch solutions to major community and global challenges. Massachusetts-based winners can earn up to $2,000 in funding; Connecticut residents are eligible for up to $5,000.
Ambassador Inza Camara, Consul General of Ivory Coast in New York, is also slated to attend — underscoring the event’s regional and international reach.
This year’s shift from Worcester State University to WPI reflects a strategic expansion. Organizers said the move not only offers students a front-row seat to real-world business problem solving, but also strengthens the bridge between academia and industry.
“Whether you’re launching a startup, building a network, or just want to sample what innovation looks like in the Black diaspora,” the announcement reads, “the expo offers tools, knowledge, and inspiration to help you thrive.”
For vendor opportunities, registration, or more information, visit the New England African Business Expo website.
Have news, tips, or a story worth telling? Reach Editor Charlene Arsenault at carsenault@theworcesterguardian.org—because good stories (and great scoops) deserve to be shared.
