Our Founder

A young woman with braided hair smiling and standing in front of a vibrant bus stop shelter with a colorful mural on the roof, a sign indicating direction to River Market, and a yellow and black sign that reads 'Black Owned.' She is wearing a camouflage jacket, a black T-shirt with yellow lettering, and dark jeans, and holding a smartphone in her left hand.

Photo Credit: Kenny Ellison Photography

Many call me a visionary. I call it purpose-leader.

I'm Dr. Chelsey M. — educator, wife, mother, and the founder of KC Black Owned. Since 2020, I have dedicated my life to one mission: ensuring Black and Brown entrepreneurs have every tool, resource, and connection they need to build businesses that last and that consumers know exactly where to find them.

What started as a response to a desperate need in Kansas City has grown into a global movement. I have personally supported thousands of Black-owned businesses and connected even more consumers to businesses they now call their “fav”. My work has touched entrepreneurs and communities not just across Kansas City, but around the world, helping founders launch, grow, protect, and pass down what they have built.

My mission has never changed: supporting Black-owned businesses is not a trend. It is a way of life. I hope you'‘ll find a business to connect with and redirect funds today!

Who Are We?

KCBO is a for-profit organization that provides an online platform and support services to help the scalability and visibility of Black Owned business. We support the Black Owned businesses by providing potential customers with the knowledge and awareness of businesses in and around the KCMO area. 

Our platform serves two purposes. We act as a modern-day phone book for consumers nationwide to access Black businesses in the KC Metro area. We also strengthen Black businesses by assisting them with marketing and advertising services to enhance their digital footprint online and connect them to resources that will help them scale.

A group of four people standing in front of a brick wall decorated with black, yellow, and red balloons, featuring a large red number 5 balloon. They are smiling, and there is an indoor space visible behind them with several people and a table with a red and gold cloth in the background.

“After your feature today, I have received about five orders! Someone even donated to my business!”

-Chance, P.S. I Miss You..What's Your Story

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Snippets from some of our conference soeakers (@ksgant @marty_sandiego @chanelemartin) We won’t have panels at our conference, only an in-depth learning session from each speaker that will enlighten us as entrepreneurs! Click our link in bio
Vulnerable Post: I’ve spoken with many entrepreneurs this past month and a lot of them have shared personal stories, challenges and woes that they’ve experienced this year. As we go into our fall season be sure to visit their stores, in
@orangebydevoured had a soft launch yesterday and it was so beautiful to see all the hard hard @jhysizzlepatty has put into her space!! These videos don’t do it justice, you have to go in and see for yourself!!
We hope to see you THIS FRIDAY @theblackpantry !!Consumers and entrepreneurs are welcomed RSVP in our DMs!!!
We will have events later this month! Stay tuned !