PI: I was looking at your photo and profile on EBANMAN you look pretty familiar to me.
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We are consumers we’re not just a statistic.
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I had the booth set up, and a gentleman came out and said, “So when will you start the testing process?” And I said, “What do you mean the testing process?” He said, “Oh, I thought you were here for HIV awareness or something.” And I said, “No, I own a Black Gay app for professional black gay men, and here’s my product, here’s the information.” And as I walked him through the app experience, I could see an appreciation and the eye-opening experience that “Wow, we can have something other than just testing.” I think we often marginalize ourselves, within the community, in terms of statistics, in terms of stigma and other services we can’t envision. I participated in an event during Pride here in Chicago. That’s why I always specify for professionals. But when we reach out to black gay men face to face, or even from an online experience, they instantly say, “Oh, is this a dating app?” or “Is this a hookup app?” or “What is this about?” They instantly shun something that has the name Black Gay associated with it. Essentially, what we wanted to do was create something outside of that. They state that they’re tired of dating apps.
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What do I mean by that? You see so many black gay men complaining about having a safe space on other social media channels. TL: Our biggest obstacle is getting the public attention for the product. PI: Tell me about some obstacles you have faced as you brought Ebanman to the marketplace. I decided to focus on the brand as a lifestyle including social, personal and professional lifestyle needs. Then I realized there was no central hub where everyone could socialize. The concept initially evolved from hosting First Friday events in Chicago to expanding to an online platform. Where could I find that group or that tribe? Since I could not find that tribe, I decided to create one.
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I started trying to figure out how to correct the gaps and connect with other professional black gay men on a career, social, and personal level. As you get older, the gap in our lack of resources grows bigger and our circle of friend came become smaller. Most individuals may or may not know, within the gay community, especially the black gay community, you become “dated” after 30. TL: Essentially, I came up with this idea or concept about six or seven years ago due to gaps in my personal life. PI: What was your purpose for starting such a platform? The app allows individuals the opportunity to socialize and network similar to the experience of LinkedIn and Facebook but with additional resources Įbanman will be the on-the-go resource app for professional black gay men. Our community app is a lifestyle resource and networking platform. Ebanman offers a visibility platform on our social channels and our website,. I wanted to talk to you about your app and brand to get more information. PI: I came across Ebanman on LinkedIn or Twitter and was quite impressed. My goal is utilize my expertise for an underserved niche market by providing a concierge style service experience for professional Black gay men. I took all of my past experience and used it to serve my customer better. My background is in account management within various industries from customer service, telecom, education, retail and industrial. I’ve always wanted to create a completely homegrown product and remain here. It’s always interesting how some of us here in Chicago, creative individuals who think from a global perspective, sometimes have to leave Chicago to make it big. Growing up in Chicago was definitely an eye-opening experience. I have lived on the south side of Chicago my entire life. Tom Logan TL: I am the youngest of three brothers, born and raised in Chicago on the south side. PrideIndex PI: Let’s start with some background information on yourself. Here’s what Logan shared about barriers to marketplace entry, what he’s doing to overcome them, and long-term goals. This month the company is launching Ebanman app 2.0, the first app curated for professional Black gay men. Where could I find that group or that tribe? Since I could not find that tribe, I decided to create one,” he said. “I started figuring out how to correct that gap and connect with other professional black gay men from a career, social, and personal standpoint. Logan, a Chicago native, founded the company seven years ago after noticing a lack of resources for the Black LGBTQ community. According to its website, the firm’s name is derived from the West African Adinkra name EBAN which symbolizes a fence for love, safety, and security. 3.Today, I am speaking with Tom Logan , CEO and founder of EBANMAN Inc., a lifestyle brand dedicated to enhancing the lives of Black gay men.