MelaninCon debuts Champagne Reign in Washington, DC

MelaninCon launched Champagne Reign on June 28 at Realm Rooftop Bar and Lounge in Shaw, drawing hundreds of Black founders, creatives and civic leaders for a pitch competition, panel discussion and networking event. The gathering spotlighted Black innovation, wealth-building and civic engagement while positioning the event as a potential new Washington tradition.

Why it matters: - Champagne Reign brought Black founders, investors, civic leaders and community builders into one room in Washington, D.C. for a live showcase of business talent and collective action. - The event linked entrepreneurship, civic dialogue and community investment, framing Black economic progress as both a business issue and a community one. - The sold-out turnout suggests demand for more visible, relationship-driven spaces for Black professional development in the city.

What happened: - MelaninCon hosted the inaugural Champagne Reign on Sunday, June 28, 2026, at Realm Rooftop Bar and Lounge in the Shaw neighborhood of Washington, D.C. - Hundreds of Black entrepreneurs, creatives and community leaders attended the afternoon event. - The program combined a live startup pitch competition, a discussion on the state of Black America and a rooftop celebration. - Diamond Heeralall, founder of The Diamond Standard Co., hosted the event. - DJ Jus Jamz and DJ Davy J The Virgo provided music.

The details: - The ECHO Pulse Pitch Competition featured three Washington, D.C.-based Black technology founders. - Keith Chaney, founder of Peadbo, won the competition's top honor. - Peadbo is a platform that helps individuals build personal advisory boards through mentorship and artificial intelligence. - Dr. Donnisha Davis, CEO and co-founder of FlixMate, also competed. - FlixMate is an entertainment discovery platform. - Phifer Turner, founder of GoalExecution, rounded out the field. - GoalExecution is a shared goals and accountability platform. - Judges included Janine Brunson Johnson of D.C. United and Audi Field, I Shi Patterson Stuart, vice president of operations and administration at the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington, and Johnny Bailey of ShineHard Network. - The State of Us panel was moderated by Fahn Darkor, co-founder of Souled Out Dates. - Panelists included Constance Carter, founder and CEO of Catalyst Real Estate Professionals; former Tennessee State Senator Katrina Robinson; and Stephon Braithwaite Martin, co-founder and vice president of business growth and strategy at The Connect. - Carter addressed Black wealth creation and financial empowerment. - Robinson emphasized civic participation and the power of the Black vote. - Braithwaite Martin discussed intentional community building. - The discussion focused on economic advancement, political participation and collective responsibility as pillars for Black progress. - Gerren Price, president and CEO of the DowntownDC Business Improvement District, called the inaugural event a possible new Washington tradition. - The event was supported in part by The Stacie Selise Group, the Leadership Partner. - A Celebration of Us, Inc. produced the event. - More than twenty community partners supported Champagne Reign, including Broccoli City, Black Menswear, The Black Excellence Society and Win With Black Men. - The event used the message: "We built the table. Now we toast at it." - A Celebration of Us, Inc. is a Washington, D.C.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit focused on Black professional development, entrepreneurship and community empowerment.

Between the lines: - Champagne Reign positioned networking as an engine for capital, opportunity and civic influence, not just social connection. - The pitch competition and panel format created a bridge between startup visibility and broader conversations about Black advancement. - Donovan Woodberry framed the event as proof of what can happen when Black communities invest in one another instead of waiting for outside permission.

What's next: - Donovan Woodberry said the June 28 gathering was only the beginning. - MelaninCon and A Celebration of Us are signaling plans to build on the event's momentum and relationships. - Community leaders are now positioning Champagne Reign as a potential recurring fixture in Washington, D.C.

The bottom line: - Champagne Reign was less a one-day celebration than a public test case for Black-led community wealth, entrepreneurship and civic power in Washington.