The highlight of this year’s Where Are All The Black People (WAATBP) annual diversity conference and career fair will be an exciting “Keep It 100” entrepreneur pitch competition sponsored by Elite Media, where one winner will receive $50,000 in funding.
Now in its 15th edition from the nonprofit One Club for Creativity, WAATBP 2025 is a hybrid event on October 16-17, 2025, with the first day taking place online and the second in person at Convene, 177 West 46th St. near New York’s Times Square.
WAATBP 2025 keynote address on Friday morning will be given by Chris Crawford, founder and CEO at Elite Media, an independent, Black-owned, woman-led advertising agency with expertise in leveraging the influence of celebrity and cultural movements to create win-win partnerships between brands, talent, and content creators. He will speak on why ownership matters, and how we can create opportunities to push the industry forward.
Immediately following the morning keynote, Crawford will lead a panel of judges in the “Keep It 100” pitch competition, a “Shark Tank”-style live session where a pre-selected group of five-to-seven finalists will get seven minutes to impress a panel of creative leaders with their entrepreneurial idea. The judges will announce the winner of the $50,000 grant at the conclusion of the day’s activities.
The pitch competition invites entrepreneurs, creators, and innovators who are ready to flip the script, shake the table, and bring their vision to life. The $50,000 award will be presented to the winner with an original idea or product that pushes culture forward, the next big media platform, a creative agency that’s primed to launch, or a concept ready for the spotlight.
“Keep It 100” is open to all talent of color and their allies; interested entrepreneurs can apply now for a potential slot on stage. The deadline for entry is September 26, 2025, 11:59 pm ET. After a review of all submissions, the judges will notify the finalists the first week of October.
“WAATBP isn’t just another overpriced industry meet-up that commodifies culture,” said Crawford, who started Elite Media in 2013 out of his apartment in Harlem. “Our partnership with groups like The One Club are intentional and the pitch competition is the first act in a larger movement to rally community and invest in creators, entrepreneurs, future agency owners — because this isn’t about competing for the industry spotlight, it’s about providing access to opportunities and bridging equity gaps, it is just good business.”
“Keep It 100” is an extension of Elite Media’s existing commitment of support, having already invested over $2 million of agency dollars directly back into the community to bridge equity gaps in its own backyard of Harlem. Crawford says the goal is to use agency dollars, creative gifts, and influence to impact communities in a real way.
“In this critical time where our community needs us the most, we’re putting our money where our mouth is to empower people, create opportunity, and have real world impact,” he added. “We invite the industry to join in doing better by doing good and proving that purpose and profit can grow side by side.”
“At a time when so many doors are closing, this is our way of saying ‘yes’,” said Adrienne Lucas, head of DEI & Strategic Partnerships at The One Club. “Partnering with Elite Media allows us to put real resources behind creative entrepreneurs, and offer an opportunity that could truly change the course of someone’s life. That’s the power of investing in our community. I’m proud of this ‘OutGooding’ initiative, and excited to see the ideas it brings to life.”
About WAATBP 2025
Where Are All The Black People is the leading annual conference and career fair to address and correct the lack of diversity within the ad industry, bringing together Black voices – from students to C-suite leaders – to celebrate successes, examine challenges, and assert their rightful place at the table alongside their allies.
Virtual panels, portfolio reviews, and recruiting sessions will happen online on October 16. The next day at Convene (177 West 46th St.) kicks off with the keynote address, followed by The One Club-Elite Media “Keep It 100” pitch competition, additional presentations, crowdsourced panels, recruiting booths, and portfolio reviews. The complete agenda can be viewed here.
In light of the current cultural and economic climate, this year’s WAATBP remains resilient as a community-backed, partnership-driven event rooted in purpose. In addition to the support of agency and brand sponsors, the event for the first time included a community crowdfunding component as a way for individuals — especially those outside of New York who are unable to attend — to contribute at or above the modest ticket prices.
Attendee tickets prices are $25 for students and job seekers, $75 for industry professionals, $150 for executives. The One Club members get reduced prices: $20 for students and job seekers, $65 for industry professionals, and $140 for executives.
WAATBP 2025 is made possible by the generous support of the following sponsors: Platinum — Capital One, Elite Media, and Verizon; Champion — McKinney and Ogilvy; Advocate — 72andSunny, Best Buy, Day One Agency, Goodby Silverstein & Partners, Publicis Creative, Team One, and WorkInProgress. Partnership opportunities are still available.
WAATBP branding was developed by Nicole Cousins and Dante Carlos at COLLINS New York, with a gold colored reimagining by Washington DC-based type designer Tré Seals.
Please visit the WAATBP website for more information and to register for this important event.
