Kevin Johnson's Black Capital invests in new Black streaming service Mansa

Black Capital VC, the venture capital fund of former Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson, is a major investor in Mansa.com. This site offers free streaming and showcases Black cultures from around world.

After a year-long beta test, Los Angeles streaming site Mansa emerged from stealth mode.

In a press release, actor and Mansa cofounder David Oyelowo said that 'Black Culture is at the forefront' of global culture. "Yet, at the same time only the tip has been cultivated. We're here now to show the true breadth of and depth of this culture for a worldwide audience."

Oyelowo has been nominated for Emmy Awards and Golden Globes. Other co-founders include actor and director Nate Parker; actor Chike Okonkwo; and tech entrepreneur Zak Tanjelof, who is also a film financier and a film financier.

Mansa has raised $8 million, with backing from MaC Venture Capital. Additional funding came from WndrCo and Galaxy Investment Partners of Mike Novogratz, Base Ventures, Dubin & Co., Rainmaker Films, Robert F. Smith, Dubin & Co.

Mansa offers free advertising-supported content online, on Roku, Amazon Fire TV and other devices such as iOS, Android and Samsung.

Black Capital VC, James Norman, managing director of Black Operator Ventures, and Wemimo Abbey co-founder Esusu are also investors.

Johnson, a former NBA All-Star who served as Sacramento Mayor from 2008 to 2016 has had business and non-profit interests in Sacramento’s Oak Park neighbourhood, where he was raised, for many years.

Johnson's Sacramento venture fund, Black Capital, was launched last year. According to its website, it makes early-stage and seed investments with the goal of investing more than half to Black founders. It invested in an education technology firm last year.