FUSE MEDIA AND BLACK AMBITION RENEW PARTNERSHIP TO EXPAND BUY SMALL INITIATIVE SUPPORTING MINORITY AND WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES

Los Angeles, CA — [May 20, 2026] — Fuse Media, a leading Latino-owned media company, today announced the renewal of its partnership with Black Ambition, the non-profit founded by Pharrell Williams working to close the opportunity and wealth gap through entrepreneurship, in continued support of Buy Small, Fuse Media's award-winning pro-social initiative dedicated to amplifying minority-owned, women-owned, LGBTQIA+-owned, and people with disabilities-owned small businesses.

Now in its sixth year, Buy Small gives qualifying small business owners something most can't afford on their own: real media exposure. Through the partnership, selected businesses receive free 30-second spots across Fuse Media's streaming and linear networks, social media promotion, and integration opportunities within original programming. The initiative runs year-round, with two signature tentpole moments anchoring the calendar, “Small Business Month” in May and “Small Business Saturday” in November, alongside seasonal gift guides on social media that put small business products directly in front of Fuse Media's multicultural audience.  Since inception Buy Small has given visibility to 57 minority owned ventures, gifting over 10M+ TV ad impressions.

"We reach tens of millions of multicultural viewers every month, and that reach comes with a responsibility. Buy Small is how we put that platform to work for the entrepreneurs who look like our audience, share their values, and are building businesses in their communities. Partnering with Black Ambition keeps us honest about that commitment" said Marc Leonard, Chief Content Officer, Fuse Media.

Selected businesses are recognized at two levels. A broader group receives social promotion and year-round visibility across Fuse Media's platforms. This year’s minor recipients include BKLYN BLEND led by Keishon Warren, Cee Cee's Closet NYC founded by Chioma Ngwudo, Rizo Radiance by Jeffery Stewart, and Bradiant led by Chisom Okwor, all of whom will receive dedicated social video promotion and digital visibility. A select group of six major recipients go further, receiving on-air spots on Fuse Media's streaming and TV channels in addition to social amplification, putting their brands in front of an audience that research consistently shows places high value on supporting minority- and independently-owned businesses. This year’s major recipients include Live Breathe Futbol founded by Ebunoluwa Olaloye, Vontelle Eyewear led by Tracy Vontélle Green, and Green Book Global founded by Lawrence Phillips.

“Participating in Fuse Media’s Buy Small program was an incredible experience for our team. The Fuse team made the process collaborative, thoughtful, and accessible, and we created a commercial that truly reflected our brand and vision. Black Ambition has continued to place us in spaces and align us with global brands to grow and amplify our business.” said Tracy Green, Co-founder of Vontelle Eyewear.

Buy Small first earned national recognition in 2022 when it won the Anthem Award for awareness categories campaign and brand, a recognition that honors purpose-driven work that makes a measurable impact. The renewal of the Black Ambition partnership deepens that commitment, pairing Fuse Media's distribution reach across a multicultural audience 84M+ with Black Ambition's mission to invest in and amplify underrepresented founders and entrepreneurs. 

This year, along with the media grant, Fuse Media’s executives will be participating in Black Ambition’s Founders workshops addressing over 150 of Black Ambition’s Prize Winner Alumni providing helpful business guidance and expertise.The featured workshop session, Compelling Brand Building and Make Your Brand a Story Worth Watching, will help founders craft engaging narratives for TV, digital, and social media; identify media opportunities for their businesses; and learn how to pitch their stories and secure media coverage across both B2C and B2B industries. Participants will also receive a practical worksheet designed to help align their media presence and brand storytelling across platforms. The workshop series is available exclusively to Black Ambition Prize Winner Alumni and 2025 cohort members.

“Our commitment at Black Ambition is to ensure our founders have the resources, relationships, visibility, and support to continue building bold companies and lasting impact. Expanding access to opportunities like Fuse Media’s Buy Small program gives our Alumni Prize Winners and future cohorts meaningful exposure, storytelling support, and direct access to media mentorship that can help elevate their brands to new audiences. Partnerships like this create real momentum for founders and reinforce what’s possible when innovative entrepreneurs are championed consistently and intentionally.” said Felecia Hatcher, CEO of Black Ambition.

For small business owners interested in being considered for Buy Small submit a brief application here: https://forms.gle/5ZRqcicdJTzWvLZe6 and visit fusemedia.com/buysmall for more information.

Buy Small is Fuse Media's award-winning, ongoing initiative supporting small businesses owned by minorities, women, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and  entrepreneurs with disabilities. Through Buy Small, Fuse Media provides qualifying businesses with free social media promotion and 30-second spots across its streaming and linear networks throughout the year. Selected businesses are also featured within Fuse Media original programming. Signature annual moments include Buy Small: Small Business Month (May) and Buy Small: Small Business Saturday (November).

Founded by Pharrell Williams in 2020, Black Ambition is a non-profit organization that empowers underrepresented innovators and entrepreneurs to excel, uninterrupted. Through funding, mentorship, strategic connections, and unparalleled cultural access, To date, Black Ambition has awarded approximately $14M to 157 innovative entrepreneurs. Black Ambition network founders have gone on to raise more than $297M collectively.Black Ambition helps founders build bold companies and lasting generational wealth. Black Ambition has been recognized by outlets such as Forbes, Essence, Real Leaders Bloomberg, and was awarded Fast Company's World Changing Ideas honor for Impact Investing.  

Fuse Media is a Latino-owned modern media company and a leader in curating entertainment, networks, and multicultural communities. We deliver diverse audiences at scale through a blend of partner and owned-and-operated channels, backed by exclusive, innovative data intelligence. Through deep expertise and a commitment to innovation, we build engaged fans and communities that reflect the full breadth of multicultural America. The Fuse Media family includes FAST channels Billboard Español TV, Complex TV, El Rey Rebel, Fluffy TV, LOL! Network, OUTflix Movies, Shades of Black, and Somos Novelas; subscription streaming service Fuse+; traditional networks Fuse and FM; and Culture Collective, a suite of partner-owned FAST channels that extends the company's reach across multicultural audiences.

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Press Contact: press@fusemedia.com