Pinterest and Shopify are teaming up to empower entrepreneurs

Pinterest and Shopify are back to equip Black-owned small businesses with the resources they need to not only survive, but thrive. The social media platform and leading e-commerce brand’s incubator program will work together to help small businesses, independent publishers and boutique agencies of creators from historically marginalized communities.

Pinterest’s incubator program, launched in 2021, has supported more than 150 content producers from underrepresented communities, helping participants from around the world extend their path to success, according to a post on Pinterest’s corporate blog.

Currently, the initiative is expanding to include additional groups, including independent publishers and boutique creator agencies, which have the opportunity to take advantage of the offer. The program will provide content producers with the necessary resources “to optimize organic content and grow on the platform.”

“We know there is a need for simple, scalable solutions that support the growth of underrepresented content producers, such as small businesses that are often under-resourced,” Constance Knight, director of content partnerships at Pinterest, said in a statement. “This program is designed to help content producers learn to optimize their inspiring organic content on Pinterest and ultimately help them unlock greater opportunities for their business.”

With $1.5 billion in weekly savings on Pinterest, the program will open up a huge opportunity for content producers to take their ideas and products to the next level, casting a net to an audience of over half a billion people who consistently “search, save and shop on the platform.”

Participants will learn how to use organic content, thereby increasing the value of their brand. This includes learning how to connect

their Shopify storefront to their Pinterest business account, with the e-commerce platform acting as an industry expert during the program and assisting in the process of selecting the final trade audiences and offering its industry expertise through a training session.

“Shopify is committed to supporting the success of entrepreneurs from underrepresented communities through Shopify Build Black and Build Native,” Brandon Davenport, director of Equitable Commerce at Shopify, said in a statement. “By working with the Pinterest Integration Fund, sellers can increase their success by reaching engaged audiences on a platform optimized for shoppers.”

Recipients will also receive individual educational resources and training, mentorship, monetary stipends in the form of cash and advertising credits, and a one-year paid subscription to content planning platforms such as Tailwind.

To learn more about how to apply, click here.