Today we’d like to introduce you to Channing Bell.
Hi Channing , thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My journey into tech began with a technology entrepreneurship program at Cal State San Bernardino, designed for STEM majors from historically Black colleges and universities. That program is where I discovered my passion for product development and marketing technology.
Later, working as a product manager at a tech company, an idea started forming: what if there was a dedicated space for Black professionals to connect, celebrate achievements, and support one another? I kept noticing that this kind of community was missing, and with everything happening in the US around attacks on DEI and a general lack of celebration of Black achievement, it felt even more necessary to create that space.
That idea became BlackListed, a social networking app where people can share milestones and job updates, and shop directly from Black-owned businesses. Today, the app has grown to over 16,000 users, and BlackListed was selected by Google for its We Are Play global campaign, recognizing the product’s community impact and product-led growth execution.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has definitely not been a smooth road. Entrepreneurship rarely is, but my 10+ years of experience in product management made the bumps far more manageable than they might have been otherwise.
I bootstrapped BlackListed entirely on my own. I made a deliberate choice not to pursue outside investors because I wanted to retain complete control over the product and its direction. But self-funding comes with its own set of challenges: you have to do more with less, which forces you to make sharper, more deliberate product decisions. There were also the inevitable development hurdles along the way but you adjust, you problem-solve, and you push through.
At the end of the day, the real test was whether users found genuine value in what I built. Seeing that they did made every challenge along the way worth it.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about BlackListed ?
BlackListed is an app founded in 2024 with a mission to empower the Black community by expanding professional networks and building generational wealth. Our goal is to foster a supportive community where knowledge, resources, and opportunities intersect, bringing mentorship, networking, and commerce together under one roof.
What sets us apart is that we’re not just a networking app or just a marketplace, we’re both. Users can celebrate career milestones, share job updates, connect with other professionals, and shop directly from Black-owned businesses, all in one place. We also give Black-owned businesses a free two-week trial to sell their products on the platform, lowering the barrier to entry for entrepreneurs who are just getting started.
The app is completely free to download on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
What I’m most proud of, brand-wise, isn’t a feature or a number, it’s the community itself. The feedback I receive most often is that this is exactly the kind of space people have been looking for: somewhere they can show up fully, be celebrated, and find real support. That’s the heart of what BlackListed is, and it’s what I want readers to walk away knowing.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
My advice is that there will be bumps in the road, and things won’t always go exactly as planned. That’s part of the process, not a sign you’re doing it wrong. Keep pushing forward and learn from every setback. I like to say you don’t fail, you learn.
If I could go back and tell myself anything when I was starting out, it would be to trust that mindset even more in the early days, to see every obstacle not as proof you’re on the wrong path, but as information that’s shaping you into the founder you’re becoming.
Pricing:
- The app is free to download.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://theblacklistedapp.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joinblacklisted/
