At Uber, we believe that everyone has the right to move freely. And to us, moving freely means the ability for everyone – regardless of race, gender, culture and ethnicity – to rise, thrive and move with greatness. This Black History Month, we’re proud to celebrate those who move with greatness and to support Black enterprise. 

As Black-owned restaurants are disproportionately impacted by the ongoing pandemic, Uber Eats is committed to supporting these and all local restaurants that our communities know and love. With same-day payouts, $0 fee on all pickup orders, and periods of $0 delivery, driving business towards independent restaurants has always been and remains a priority. And, with the help of a feature that allows users to contribute directly to local restaurants, users have contributed more than $20 million to their favorite local restaurants (not just those that are Black-owned) along with a $3 million match from Uber in the form of a donation to the National Restaurant Association’s Employee Relief Fund. 

Taking it one step further, we’re proud to team up with award-winning chef, restaurateur, cookbook author and food activist Marcus Samuelsson to provide financial support and mentorship to Black-owned restaurants through the Black Businesses Matter Matching Fund (BBMMF). For every order placed from a Black-owned restaurant during the month of February, Uber Eats will donate $1 to the BBMMF, up to $250,000. In order to amplify our commitment, Uber Eats will make an additional one-time $250,000 contribution to the BBMMF. Marcus Samuelsson, alongside other renowned Black chefs, tastemakers and local small business organizations around the US will nominate and select Black-owned businesses on the Uber Eats platform to receive $5,000 grants from the BBMMF. 

On February 25, all Black-owned restaurants on Uber Eats are invited to attend a virtual community conversation with Marcus to discuss the challenges brought by the COVID-19 crisis along with thoughts and advice on recovery. And, to celebrate the powerful history and creativity behind Black food, Uber Eats is proud to present a new digital film series made in collaboration with Marcus and four phenomenal chefs and restaurateurs: Leticia Skai Young, Nina Compton, Rodney Scott, and Kwame Onwuachi. We hope the films not only inspire thoughtful eating but also expose people to the many stories yet to be told from Black restaurant owners.

“The Black Businesses Matter Matching Fund will give grants to talented and hard-working Black-owned restaurants, which have been both disproportionately affected by the pandemic and historically under-capitalized due to systemic racism,” said Marcus Samuelsson. “I’m thrilled to team up with Uber Eats to drive business and provide much needed support for these incredible Black-owned businesses.”

Uber Eats is also excited to launch our first nationwide Black Restaurant Week on February 7-14 (just in time for Valentine’s Day!) in more than 50 cities across the country. Participating restaurants will feature curated menus at the top of their feeds to help eaters find beloved cuisines in their neighborhood.

Providing Black-owned businesses with the opportunities to learn from industry experts like Marcus, offering access to financial resources through the BBMMF, and finding new ways to highlight Black-owned restaurants is crucial to the recovery and success of the restaurants that serve as the foundation of our communities.