Collaboration Launches With New WOTVS Live Chat Series featuring Pronghorn’s Black Women Founders and Leaders
APRIL 16, 2024 (ATLANTA, GA) – Pronghorn, a standalone company committed to developing a template for how to effectively diversify any industry for any underrepresented group, starting with the spirits industry and the Black community has unveiled its official collaboration with Women of the Vine & Spirits (WOTVS) and Diverse Powered Brands (DPB) – two companies dedicated to boldly pushing the wine, beer and spirits industry toward a more diverse, equitable and inclusive era.
The strategic collaboration between all three companies fuses each company’s unique business approaches to equity, opportunity and accessibility to create new, innovative ways to affect change in the industry. The combined B2B resources from WOTVS and DPB with Pronghorn’s B2C capabilities forges a unique 360 approach that more holistically tackles diversity in the spirits category.
In commemoration of this collaboration, Pronghorn is providing annual WOTVS Corporate Memberships to nine women-led spirits brands and sponsoring annual subscriptions for its entire portfolio of 23 brands in the Diverse Powered Brands B2B platform. Pronghorn is contributing to WOTVS’ resources with an all-new WOTVS Live Chat series featuring Black women owners and leaders from Pronghorn’s portfolio of spirits brands. The WOTVS Live Chat series will begin in May and run through the rest of the year. Featured speakers include Abisola Whiskey’s Abisola Abidemi, Red Hazel Whiskey’s TK Burtin, Anteel Tequila’s Nayana Ferguson, and Ego Tequila’s Rikki Kelly. Over a third of Pronghorn’s portfolio is led by women, and the company seeks to ensure it maintains this balance in leadership. The debut underscores Pronghorn’s commitment to their own women founders and all female-founded brands to come.
“We couldn’t be more proud to partner with Women of the Vine & Spirits and Diverse Powered Brands during such a monumental time of amplifying the voices of our Black and Women founded and led brands,” said Erin J. Hall, Co-Founder of Pronghorn. “Combining forces with those who are inspired to create change in the spirits industry will garner an even stronger support system for those who have already faced systemic inequities.”
“We continue to be inspired by the achievements and impact that Pronghorn has had on the industry,” said Deborah Brenner, Founder & CEO of Women of the Vine & Spirits and Diverse Powered Brands. “Pronghorn’s commitment to cultivating the next generation of Black entrepreneurs, leaders and founders in the spirits industry is so aligned with the Women of the Vine & Spirits and Diverse Powered Brands shared mission of equity and inclusion. We are thrilled to collaborate with Pronghorn and to work more closely with their portfolio brands.”
Pronghorn’s executives and brand founders will share their expert advice on how industry leaders can tackle some of the most pressing issues in addressing systemic inequities. The discussion will address pillars of WOTVS, DE&I and include Pronghorn’s revolutionary approach to effectively diversify any industry for any underrepresented group, starting with the Black community.
Today’s announcement propels forward Pronghorn’s goal of generating $2.4 billion in economic value for the Black community through 57 investments in Black-owned spirits brands, and the placement of 1,800 Black employees in the industry by 2032.
ABOUT PRONGHORN:
Pronghorn has developed a blueprint for how to effectively diversify any industry that has underrepresented its prominent consumer audience. Pronghorn is starting with a focus on cultivating the next generation of Black entrepreneurs, executive leaders, and founders within the spirits industry by granting economic and career development resources. Through the company’s modern and disruptive efforts, the commercial-forward solution is grounded in the ethos that diversity is good for business. The company was co-founded by spirits industry veterans Dia Simms, Erin J. Hall, and Dan Sanborn. Global beverage alcohol leader, Diageo announced its partnership backing Pronghorn in 2021. $200M is being committed based on achievement of key milestones within the ten-year plan. The pronghorn is the fastest North American land mammal and can endure speeds for miles. Inspired by our namesake, Pronghorn believes creating real change is a marathon, not a sprint. For more information and to shop Black-owned spirits brands, visit: www.pronghorn.co.
ABOUT WOMEN OF THE VINE & SPIRITS
Women of the Vine & Spirits (WOTVS) is the only global membership organization dedicated to empowering and advancing women across every industry sector and all three-tiers of the beverage alcohol industry. Women of the Vine & Spirits is an organization for members to connect through our global and diverse network and collaborate across all industry sectors. Providing members with resources and opportunities to thrive is the cornerstone of our organization’s success. We offer steadfast support to equip women at every position in the field with membership benefits that include education, training, mentorship, entrepreneurship, and networking as well as tools, services, and resources for personal and professional development. We use storytelling to cast a light on experiences common to women and highlight the successful career paths of the women currently driving our industry to a more inclusive and equitable future. Together, we are a committed community, taking action, and making a positive impact on the beverage alcohol industry, through business development & innovation (BDI), worldwide. For more information, please visit womenofthevine.com.
ABOUT DIVERSE POWERED BRANDS
Diverse Powered Brands is the premier centralized B2B global digital catalog connecting diverse suppliers, buyers, supplier diversity managers, wholesalers, and investors across the entire beverage alcohol and hospitality industry. Diverse Powered Brands – the industry’s trusted resource – provides a seamless, easy, and informative way to discover diverse suppliers across all beverage alcohol and non-alcohol categories, all on one platform. To learn more and sign-up visit diversepoweredbrands.com
