At a Glance
Location: Brazil
Impact Areas: Labor Inclusion, Employment Generation
People Supported:
Afro-Brazilians
Joined NESsT Portfolio:
2023
Overview
Diaspora.Black is a social enterprise in the tourism and events sector with a mission to promote positive racially- and ethnically-diverse travel experiences.
Having experienced racism in tourist destinations, both in Brazil and abroad, as well as in their own homes when hosting guests, the founders of Diaspora Black created a solution dedicated to improving the experiences of Black individuals in the tourism sector. Since its inception in 2017, the social enterprise has played a vital role in driving positive changes and promoting inclusivity within Brazil's tourism industry.
Today, Diaspora.Black brings together the largest Black culture community in Latin America. Its digital platform connects tourists, professionals, and entrepreneurs throughout 145 cities in 18 countries to offer a diverse array of travel and leisure services that aim to promote and foster Black culture.
The social enterprise’s main line of business is Afrotourism – a form of tourism that highlights the Afro-Brazilian cultural and historical heritage of destinations, promoting Black service providers and taking action to make Black travelers feel more comfortable, safe, and welcome when traveling. Diaspora Black currently supports 500 hosts, guides, and instructors to offer accommodation, curated itineraries, and guided tours in destinations of great Black and Indigenous significance, encompassing landmarks, festivals, artisanship, traditions, and many other forms of cultural expression.
To further drive social inclusion and employment opportunities in Black communities, Diaspora.Black works closely with local Afro-entrepreneurs to provide community-based tourism packages to schools, businesses, and non-governmental organizations. The social enterprise also offers training and consulting services for businesses in the area of diversity, equity, and inclusion, developed with their own methodology based on Afro-Brazilian civilization values and conscious, inclusive tourism.
Diaspora.Black has received various recognitions and awards from national and international institutions including WeWorkLabs, Innovation in Tourism by UNTWO, and the WTM Latin America Responsible Tourism Awards. Its work has also been supported by Google for Startups, among other important tech hubs in Brazil.
Results & Impact
41,000+
people impacted by Diaspora.Black experiences
850
Afro-entrepreneurs supported by 2023
BR $1.5M
in transactions between Black entrepreneurs
“Joining the NESsT Brazil portfolio marks a significant milestone for our mission to build an Afrotourism industry that strengthens Black entrepreneurs, paving the way for our expansion into key segments and regions. We hope to continue generating profound social impact and fostering awareness of the stories and experiences of Brazil’s Black population, which are an invaluable part of our cultural heritage.”
NESsT Investment
As part of the NESsT Racial Equity portfolio, Diaspora.Black will expand and diversify its Afrotourism experiences in Brazil’s main tourism destinations, tapping into up-and-coming travel trends with the aim of generating more income opportunities for Diaspora.Black hosts and guides.
Since the pandemic, the demand for tourism in Brazil has been on the rise among domestic and international visitors. With NESsT’s support, Diaspora.Black will leverage increased interest in cultural destinations and alternative ways to experience local culture through a strategic sales and marketing plan, which will focus on building the brand’s visibility on digital platforms.
In 2022, Diaspora.Black began to offer online and in-person event management services, including design, production, and logistics, to corporate clients such as JP Morgan, Uber, Google, and Amnesty International. With NESsT’s investment, Diaspora.Black will expand its B2B services in some of Brazil’s largest cities, which are most in demand by corporate clients, and tap into the business and leisure tourism sector, which combines business travel and leisure activities.
Additionally, the social enterprise will provide online workshops and funding to local Afro-entrepreneurs, strengthening sustainable Afrotourism in these popular destinations, and supporting Black tourism entrepreneurs to adopt best practices aligned with ESG corporate requirements.
During its time in the accelerator program, NESsT portfolio managers will work alongside Diaspora.Black to develop and implement social impact indicators across its business lines.