TikTok And Black Girl Ventures Launch ‘SOAR Together 2025’ Amid App’s Ban Delay

Despite being removed from app stores by a court-mandated ban in January and facing an uncertain future in the U.S. thanks to an executive order signed by President Trump delaying the ban for at least 75 days, TikTok is still moving full speed ahead with its efforts to support Black-owned businesses and creatives – a group that will be disprortionately impacted by a ban.

TikTok is continuing its commitment to supporting Black entrepreneurs by launching SOAR Together 2025, continuing last year’s efforts to support Black entrepreneurs. The business accelerator program is in collaboration with Black Girl Ventures (BGV). This initiative aims to help create equitable opportunities for Black-owned businesses, reinforcing TikTok’s broader efforts to foster long-term impact within the Black community.

An Oxford Economics study recently found that 57% of Black-owned small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) indicated that their access to TikTok is “critical to their business’s existence,” compared to 36% of white business owners. Key success stories about the platform’s contributions to success include that of Canvas Beauty founder Stormi Steele, who became the first Black woman to earn $1 million in a single live session on the platform.

SOAR Together 2025 is set to provide 20 Black-owned businesses with a six-week mentorship experience, expert coaching, and exclusive access to TikTok Shop resources, according to a news release. This accelerator program seeks to equip Black entrepreneurs with the tools, insights, and support needed to scale their businesses in today’s competitive digital landscape.

This initiative comes after TikTok previously committed $1 million to help Black Girl Ventures expand funding opportunities. By continuing to invest in programs that fight to remove financial and systemic barriers, TikTok is ensuring that Black business owners have equitable access to tools that drive success. TikTok’s collaboration with BGV aligns with the platform’s mission to empower diverse voices, continue to create opportunities for minority entrepreneurs to thrive whether on or off the platform, and level the playing field.

This month, TikTok has also launched #BlackTikTok Voices To Watch, which highlights Black changemakers driving impact across education, entertainment, beauty, fashion, food, and lifestyle on TikTok. This year’s #BlackTikTok Voices to watch include @afamstudies, @thelaybankz, @cocoaasante, and more.

As roller-coaster developments about the U.S. TikTok ban ebb and flow like the plot of a Netflix telenovella, TikTok doesn’t seem to be slowing down its efforts to invest in Black entrepreneurship in the U.S. The jury’s still out as to where the app will land in the U.S. and what the scope of availability and use will look like for Black business owners and creatives.