Mercatus
Elevate and Connect Entrepreneurs of Color
Mercatus ELEVATES the unique and universal narratives of entrepreneurs of color in Portland and CONNECTS the city and region with local talents, businesses, services and products that come from the ethnically diverse entrepreneurs.
ANNUAL EVENTS
Join a community that CONNECTS. Mercatus offers mixers, workshops, and early access to markets like My People’s Market
MERCATUS BUSINESS MEMBERS
The Mercatus Business Directory Members. Find what you are looking for: caterers, salon, graphic designers AND MORE!
STORIES THAT ELEVATE
The Story Collective shares the unique and diverse histories, cultures, and experiences of entrepreneurs of color.
FEATURED FROM THE STORY COLLECTIVE
Amaree & Reese
With an established customer base, Regory rebranded her jewelry line as Amaree & Reese in 2011 and began showcasing minimalist metal designs. “When [Amaree] was born, I thought, ‘Man, I’m at work five days a week, eight hours a day. The only time I get to see her is on the weekend,’” explains Regory. “I wanted to create something for myself where I could make an income and have a little bit of time [and] freedom.”
After she tried hosting home parties for a jewelry company and decided she disliked the format, Regory says her husband was the first to push her to consider designing a line of her own. Once she overcame her hesitation, Regory spent hours carefully studying YouTube videos. Armed with a pair of ordinary craft scissors and a fresh piece of sheet metal one evening, Regory began cutting and assembling her new designs. She was hooked.
CONNECT AT MERCATUS EVENTS
Your Business Story
Meet with professional storytellers and marketing professionals to amplify your message and increase your business reach.
Mercatus Mixer
Mercatus annual event. Connect with other POC business owners, learn about the latest business resources, and pick up your copy of the Mercatus Magazine.
My Peoples Market
Held twice a year in partnership with Travel Portland, My People’s Market is the marketplace of the future featuring Mercatus businesses.
Member Events
Support other Mercatus businesses and connect with other members. Attend and share your business events on the Mercatus calendar
WE ALL CRAVE VARIETY, BUT WHEN WE SPEAK OF A THRIVING INCLUSIVE ENTREPRENEURIAL ECOSYSTEM WHAT DO WE SEE?
Too often such matters are considered and presented in a cultural vacuum or reduced to tokenism & outliers. Most of the time when we hear about vibrant bootstrapping entrepreneurs in Portland, Oregon it’s the dominant culture sharing their stories and aspirations in isolation of the “other.” Rarely do we see the ethnically diverse entrepreneurs in the city sharing their anthems, struggles, and best practices together. More than ever, that is what we require to remain competitive and reflect the shifting demographics of a new & emerging tapestry of entrepreneurs.