BOMESI Accelerator Opens Cohort 5 to Publishers and Creators

The flagship program now offers a creator track alongside its publisher track, with $25,000 in support per company and no equity taken.

Applications are open for Cohort 5 of the BOMESI Accelerator, and the window closes October 1, 2026.

BOMESI, short for the Black Owned Media Equity and Sustainability Institute, was founded by DéVon Christopher Johnson, who built Bleu Magazine into a global multimedia brand, and Rhonesha Byng, founder and CEO of Her Agenda. The organization works to strengthen the business side of Black-owned and diverse owned media, connecting founders to funding, mentorship, and a network that now reaches more than 400 Black owned media companies and 2,500 diverse owned media companies overall.

A growing track record

The Accelerator is BOMESI’s flagship capacity-building program, and it has run for four cohorts so far. Those cohorts have graduated 32 companies, who together have secured more than $2 million in direct ad revenue and $675,000 in non-dilutive funding.

Redefining who counts as a publisher

Cohort 5 expands who gets a seat at the table. For the first time, the program is opening beyond independent publishers to creators building their own audience-owned media businesses, whether that audience lives on a website, in a newsletter, on a podcast, or across a video channel. The cohort will bring together 5 publishers, 5 creators, and 1 creator in residence.

Each selected company receives $25,000 in total support, made up of a $10,000 cash grant and $15,000 in services, and BOMESI takes no equity in exchange. To qualify, applicants need a legally formed media business generating between $50,000 and $1 million in annual revenue, with fewer than 20 employees and a demonstrated owned audience, whether through an email list, site traffic, or app users. Individual influencer accounts without a business entity behind them are not eligible.

The application window

Review moves on a rolling basis, so earlier applications carry an advantage. Publishers and creators who fit the profile, or who know someone who does, can APPLY HERE before the October 1, 2026 deadline.

About BOMESI

BOMESI, short for the Black Owned Media Equity and Sustainability Institute, was founded by DéVon Christopher Johnson, who built Bleu Magazine into a global multimedia brand, and Rhonesha Byng, founder and CEO of Her Agenda. The organization exists to strengthen the business side of diverse owned media, connecting founders to funding, mentorship, and a network that now reaches more than 400 Black-owned media companies and 2,500 diverse owned media companies overall. Beyond the Accelerator, BOMESI runs an annual Summit, a media database that connects advertisers to independent outlets, and a series of webinars and trainings designed to build capacity across the industry. Learn more about BOMESI’s work at bomesi.org.