# BOMESI opens fifth accelerator cohort for Black media

> The Black media collective expands its flagship program to include creators alongside publishers, reflecting shifts in the media landscape.
- Title: BOMESI opens fifth accelerator cohort for Black media · Adweek
- Summary: The Black media collective expands its flagship program to include creators alongside publishers, reflecting shifts in the media landscape. BOMESI is…
- Keywords: bomesi, black media collective, accelerator program, black-owned companies, media publishers, content creators, journalism funding, press forward, general motors, applications open, opens, fifth
- Source: Adweek — https://adweek.com/media/bomesi-accelerator-cohort-black-creators-publishers
- Author: Mark Stenberg
- Published: 2026-09-22T09:02:07+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: bomesi, black media collective, accelerator program, black-owned companies, media publishers, content creators, journalism funding, press forward, general motors, applications open
## BOMESI opens fifth accelerator cohort
The Black media collective opened applications Sept. 15 for its flagship Accelerator program, accepting 11 companies total through Oct. 1.
## New mix of publishers and creators
The fifth cohort will include five publishers, five creators, and one creator-in-residence, a shift from previous years that focused primarily on publishers.
## Why publishers and creators need each other
Publishers bring infrastructure, authority, and journalistic integrity, while creators bring audience, distribution, and influence. Together they strengthen the media ecosystem.

> The publisher, they have the infrastructure, the authority, the journalistic integrity, and the facts and reporting, which we need in this society. The creators have the audience, the distribution, and the influence, but they don't always understand the ethics of journalism.
## Twenty-five thousand in support per company
Each selected company receives a $10,000 cash grant plus $15,000 in services including travel, a matched financial advisor, and marketing support.
## Mentorship and hands-on instruction included
The roughly 12-week program offers mentorship, instruction in advertising technology, and facilitated meetings with media buyers and brands, funded by General Motors and Press Forward.
## Strong track record across four cohorts
BOMESI has graduated 32 companies, facilitated over $2 million in direct ad revenue from brands like Amazon and Walmart, and distributed $675,000 in grants with only one failure.
## Key takeaway

BOMESI is balancing publishers and creators in its accelerator because they need each other: publishers bring journalistic integrity, creators bring audience and distribution.