Today, the Honourable Evan Solomon, Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), announced a combined non-repayable investment of nearly $15 million to support nine organizations in southern Ontario to expand entrepreneurship training, mentorship, business advisory services, technology adoption supports and market access opportunities for Black entrepreneurs and business owners across the region.
Recipient Name |
Project |
FedDev Ontario Funding Contribution |
|---|---|---|
To scale an integrated entrepreneurship initiative that strengthens the Black entrepreneurship ecosystem by expanding training, access to small business funding, and regional support services. Incorporated in 2018 and based in Brampton, the Afro-Caribbean Business Network (ACBN) is a Black-led, not-for-profit organization dedicated to strengthening the business capacity, capital readiness, and long-term growth of Black entrepreneurs and Black-owned businesses across southern Ontario. |
$2,030,000 |
|
To strengthen the Black healthcare entrepreneurship ecosystem by expanding access to business training, mentorship, digital adoption supports, and pathways to business ownership for Black healthcare professionals. Incorporated in 2015, Aspire for Higher is a not-for-profit in Ontario that advances health, economic prosperity, and long-term sustainability through education, entrepreneurship, workforce development, and community-driven programming. Aspire for Higher serves communities of all backgrounds, with a deep-rooted and continued commitment to strengthening outcomes in Black and other underserved communities. |
$2,800,000 |
|
To deliver the HERizon Entrepreneurship Accelerator Program to provide Black women entrepreneurs with mentorship, business advisory services, skills-based training, and networking opportunities to strengthen business readiness, expand market opportunities, and support long-term business growth. Incorporated in 2020, Oakville-based Black Mentorship Inc. is a Black-led, national not-for-profit registered charitable organization dedicated to strengthening economic participation, leadership, and entrepreneurship within Black communities across Canada. |
$1,195,776 |
|
To launch the Black AI Venture Accelerator (BAIVA), a structured venture development program that will empower Black entrepreneurs across southern Ontario to build, scale, and commercialize AI-enabled ventures, strengthening artificial intelligence adoption, competitiveness, and inclusive growth in Canada's AI economy. Launched in 2018 and incorporated in 2021, BlackTECH Hub is a Black-led not-for-profit organization based in Mississauga and a community of more than 10,000+ members, with a mission to advance economic inclusion, entrepreneurship, and digital competitiveness for Black entrepreneurs, professionals, and Black-owned businesses in southern Ontario. |
$1,200,000 |
|
To expand the LiftOff Black Entrepreneurship Program to support Black entrepreneurs through training, business incubation, mentorship, and investment-readiness programming to strengthen market readiness, improve access to growth opportunities, and help build and scale sustainable businesses. Incorporated in 1977, The Caribbean Canadian Association of Waterloo Region is a Black-led, not-for-profit organization in Kitchener dedicated to advancing economic empowerment, community development, and inclusive growth. |
$2,300,000 |
|
Durham Region Association of Black Professionals and Entrepreneurs Inc. |
To establish and deliver its Growth Space initiative as a regional backbone model that integrates training, mentorship, ecosystem navigation, and partner coordination for Black entrepreneurs, business owners, and youth. Incorporated in 2018, Durham Region Association of Black Professionals and Entrepreneurs Inc. is a Black-led not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing the economic empowerment of Black Canadians in Durham Region through entrepreneurship, leadership development, mentorship, and inclusive economic development supports. |
$2,200,000 |
To deliver the CanBlack STEM Project to provide Black STEM-focused businesses with commercialization support, mentorship, and market access opportunities to strengthen growth, competitiveness, and innovation outcomes. Incorporated in 2020, Nobellum Enterprise is a not-for-profit female-led social enterprise located in Toronto, founded to address equity gaps in entrepreneurship and innovation for Black communities. |
$1,200,000 |
|
To deliver entrepreneurship supports, including business advisory services, cybersecurity, trade readiness, investment capital procurement, and scale-up support to improve sustainability, business growth, and competitiveness of Black‑owned enterprises. Incorporated in 2019, the Organization for Economic Development and Diplomacy is a Black-led not-for-profit organization in Windsor that focuses on advancing inclusive economic development through diplomacy, leadership development, and workforce training for underrepresented communities, particularly Black youth and young professionals. |
$800,000 |
|
To deliver a structured, cohort-based accelerator offering intensive entrepreneurship training, one-on-one mentorship and business advisory services, AI-enabled learning and diagnostic tools, mental health and wellness supports, ecosystem navigation, and market access opportunities to early stage Black entrepreneurs. Incorporated in 2023, The Change Maker Innovation Hub is a Black-led, not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing economic empowerment, entrepreneurship, and inclusive innovation for Black founders in Ottawa and across Ontario. |
$1,175,000 |
