Chicagoland’s Black Entrepreneurs Can Embrace Tech, AI, and Innovation—With Help from Bean Soup Media
CHICAGO—As Black-owned businesses continue to surge across Chicagoland, a powerful message from a recent op-ed rings loud and clear: equitable access to technology is no longer a luxury—it’s a necessity.
The author, Dr. Cornel Darden Jr., of the op-ed laid out an unflinching case for why tech access is the lifeblood of Black economic advancement. With a 57% rise in Black business ownership since 2017 and Chicago ranking second nationally in venture capital-backed Black startups, technology and innovation have become vital instruments of empowerment and enterprise. From blockchain art sales to AI-driven customer service, Black entrepreneurs are leveraging tech not just to launch ventures but to rewrite the rules of engagement in America’s evolving digital economy.
For small business owners on Chicago’s South and West Sides, where systemic barriers have long undercut economic progress, tech tools and platforms are leveling the playing field. And now, thanks to organizations like Bean Soup Media, entrepreneurs have an even greater chance to thrive. (Shameless plug)
Founded with a mission to serve Black-owned enterprises, Bean Soup Media offers a comprehensive, all-in-one marketing solution powered by artificial intelligence specifically for restaurants but can be easily tailored for any service oriented business. Powered by experience and relationships, it's more than just a digital service provider, it is a cultural conduit—understanding the language, rhythm, and values of the community it serves.
Black entrepreneurs don’t just need access to tech—they need culturally relevant solutions that understand their goals and challenges. Bean Soup Media fills that gap with tools that are both powerful and purposeful.
With AI-driven content creation, social media management, automated customer engagement, and branding expertise, Bean Soup Media empowers local businesses to compete with national brands. The firm helps clients craft compelling narratives, optimize search engine visibility, and design brand identities that resonate with their audience.
Bean Soup Media’s all-in-one marketing system, powered by artificial intelligence, offers a game-changing solution for Chicago’s Black-owned restaurants. With tools that automate social media content, manage online reviews, streamline email campaigns, and even generate custom menu descriptions, our platform allows restaurant owners to maintain a strong digital presence without needing a full-time marketing team. From boosting foot traffic through geo-targeted ads to increasing delivery orders with AI-optimized SEO strategies, our system helps eateries attract and retain customers, tell their unique stories, and stay competitive in a fast-moving industry—all from one easy-to-use dashboard.
Imagine a Black-owned jerk chicken spot on Chicago’s West Side—let’s call it “Taste of Kingston.” Before using Bean Soup Media’s all-in-one marketing system, the owner juggled cooking, managing staff, and trying to keep up with customer calls and marketing needs. After switching to our AI-powered platform, the business transformed. Missed phone calls were no longer a problem—AI instantly answered calls via text, taking orders and answering common questions around the clock. Within minutes, we built a sleek, mobile-friendly website showcasing their menu, location, and reviews. AI tools managed online feedback, sent weekly email promotions, and optimized the restaurant’s SEO to boost visibility. In just a month, customer inquiries doubled, delivery orders surged, and the owner finally had time to focus on what mattered most: serving great food.
But Bean Soup Media’s work goes beyond tech—it represents a cultural commitment. It aligns with the op-ed’s call for deeper public-private-academic partnerships and equitable policy. Just as the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park promises jobs on the South Side, so too must Black businesses be armed with digital tools to compete.
Bean Soup Media is not just keeping pace with innovation; it’s ensuring that Black Chicagoland isn’t left behind. As policymakers are urged to invest in STEM education and reform outdated tech regulations, firms like Bean Soup Media are already on the frontlines—pioneering a new Black tech renaissance.
In a city where entrepreneurship is not just economic—it’s cultural, spiritual, and ancestral—tech access is the bridge to self-determination. With the rise of AI, the promise is real, and the time is now. And thanks to firms like Bean Soup Media, that future is already unfolding.
