Black Entrepreneurship Alliance

A big shout out to our Investment Bootcamp Cohort 1 Alumni Cheick OUÉDRAOGO, founder of Maraboo for getting into BK-XL! 💜💜💜 Wishing you continued success in your entrepreneurial journey. If you want to learn more about Maraboo. Check out https://mara.boo/

We had a BLAST at Startupfest 2024 in Montreal! 🚀 The YSpace team had a great time at Startupfest, Canada’s original startup conference dedicated to providing entrepreneurs with remarkable opportunities. We had an amazing time connecting with the startup communities that are paving the way in the #techentrepreneurship sector. Here’s our breakdown: ⭐️ We attended the IMpact Investor event, an amazing opportunity we received from Spring's Davina MacPhail. ⭐️ Attended our longtime partner YES Employment Entrepreneurship 's ELLEvate Demo Day where the Women Entrepreneurs cohort wowed us with their pitches! ⭐️ Networked at our ELLA sponsor Desjardins Happy Hour where we chatted with Mirela Pirlea, Lead Partnerships Innovation and Entrepreneurship for Ontario - Atlantic - West Canada, and Emily Smiley, Director at DMZ. ⭐️ Enjoyed the ImpactFest Breakfast hosted by CIVIC and BDC, where we kickstarted the day in the best way possible – by discussing future opportunities with attendees! ⭐️ Watched our YSpace startups achieve major wins! Aruna Revolution did an amazing job pitching at our partner BDC's stage and the Startup Showcase stage. Our startups Kiwi Charge and Onecliq.io | Marketing Co-Worker / AI Content Tool also made the finals for the Black entrepreneur prize! ⭐️ The event was a great chance to see our startups and community partners while forging new connections that support our continuous passion to support startups. We already have our calendars marked for next year’s Startupfest! #YSpace #YorkU #YRtech #Entrepreneurship #StartupLife Black Entrepreneurship Alliance and The Firehood

Mark your calendars for Wednesday, July 24th at 6 PM and tune in to our Instagram Live event: ‘Innovations in Mental Health: Personal Journeys to Technological Solutions’! 🙌🏿 Inspired by International Self-care Day, the event will explore the intersection of personal challenges, societal issues, and innovation in mental health and wellness technology. 💡 The live features a discussion moderated by BEA Program Coordinator Kanishia Mensah, and a stellar lineup of speakers: Chijindu Ukagwu - founder of mhapy (Mental Health Accountability Project), a chatbot that performs mental health assessments and connects the user with support. Chijindu is passionate about the intersections of technology and healthcare. Ehi Agbonlahor - founder of Anutio, an AI-powered career guidance platform that removes barriers individuals face in accessing information and tools for success. Ehi is passionate about supporting early-stage entrepreneurs in taking their business ideas to implement an MVP. Shay L. - founder of Follow-Up Solutions, a CRM dedicated to fueling business growth by streamlining operations and implementing smart automation. She is passionate about breaking the stigma surrounding mental health and empowering individuals to lead more fulfilling lives. The event will dive into the founders’ unique platforms, and how their innovations are breaking barriers surrounding mental health and wellness within racialized communities. Don't miss out! Be sure to follow us on Instagram @thebea.co (or visit the link below) to be part of the conversation. We’re changing the narrative around self-care, one step at a time. 👊🏿 https://lnkd.in/ggzMu26j #SelfCareDay #MentalHealthAwareness #BEACommunity #Wellness

👩🏿🍳We’re calling all chefs to the kitchen! Are you a Black entrepreneur looking to take your food venture from recipe to retail? Our Product Feasibility Bootcamp (fall cohort) is just for you! Join us for an exclusive 8-week virtual boot camp, designed to teach you the ins and outs of launching a food or beverage product, and introducing it to the public! Boot camp trainees can expect: - A guided introduction to the food & beverage industry  - Tips on how to build a value proposition & customer persona  - Food regulatory and compliance training  - How to pitch your product and much more! You don’t want to miss it! Registration is now OPEN and applications are due August 25th. This year’s fall cohort begins on October 10th and concludes on November 28th. Ideal applicants will have an idea for consumer packaged goods (CPG) products in the food & beverage industry. Check out the link below to secure your space! We’ll catch you in the kitchen. 🍽️ https://lnkd.in/gdBPpD97 #BlackEntrepreneur #ProductFeasibility #FoodIndustry #BEACommunity #CPGindustry

Do you have trouble communicating confidently in professional settings? We’ve got you covered. 👊🏿 Join us on July 22nd at 6 PM for Confident Communication - an exclusive virtual event as part of our Executives in Residence series, presented by TD 🙌🏿 Hosted by VP of Education in Toastmasters Mthabisi Mhlanga, CPA, CSPO, this event is designed to help you build confidence in networking spaces, pitch your business idea, and master the art of public speaking! Our expert speaker will share their insights and personal experiences, offering actionable advice, and provide attendees with practical tools and strategies to boost confidence and take charge in professional social settings! Don't miss out on this amazing opportunity! Visit the link below to register today, and take the first step toward becoming a more confident professional! 💪🏿 https://lu.ma/u5b82igm A bit of background on our host 🗣️: Mthabisi Mhlanga was born and raised in Zimbabwe and is a dynamic public speaking coach on a mission to cultivate generations of confident storytellers. Serving as the VP of Education in Toastmasters, his journey includes reaching the quarterfinals of the World Championship of Public Speaking in 2022 and clinching the top spot among Toronto’s motivational speakers. Mthabisi delivers powerful keynote speeches and interactive workshops that empower individuals and corporate teams to become more confident communicators. #Futureready #TDReadyCommitment #BEACommunity #PublicSpeaking #Blackentrepreneur #Blackprofessional

🇨🇦 Mark your calendars for September 29-30 as Roadmap to Billions comes to Canada! ❌ Don’t miss out on the chance to connect with industry pioneers! ✅ Secure your tickets with 50% off using promo code EARLYBIRD50 (only available until July 16!) at https://hubs.ly/Q02FB_s00!!

If you’re seeking support on how to scale into the retail sector, this segment is exactly what you need! Join us on Wednesday, July 10th for our upcoming Lunch and Learn: Pricing Your Product Right Across Channels. 🙌🏿 For a product-based business, it is crucial to thoroughly comprehend how to navigate the retail sector to maintain steady sales growth in your company. Hosted by business and finance expert Ron Monteiro, CPA, CMA, this session will provide attendees with a better understanding of how to develop the right pricing strategy to optimize profits in an omnichannel environment. With a background in finance and over 18 years of progressive experience within the fast-paced Consumer Packaged Goods industry, Ron has aided numerous professionals and entrepreneurs in improving their financial comprehension and leadership skills! 🎉 What are you waiting for? Visit the link below NOW to secure your spot! From analyzing unit economics to exploring margin considerations across different channels, this session will be packed with everything you need to help you thrive as a retailer. 🚀 We’ll see you there! https://lu.ma/hrd6z1ho #BlackEntrepreneurs #Retail #Products #Scale #LunchAndLearn #Entrepreneurship

It’s time to find your focus and develop your leadership skills! 🗣️ Presented by TD, our Business and Leadership Essentials Certificate Program in partnership with Schulich ExecEd by Schulich School of Business is now accepting applications! Tailored for Black professionals and entrepreneurs, this free 2-month program focuses on developing crucial business and leadership skills essential for success in today’s competitive landscape. What to Expect: 💬Participate in interactive online sessions to improve your business knowledge and leadership style. 🫱🏿🫲🏽Gain support from a committed business coach throughout the duration of the program. 🏆Receive an encrypted digital credential from Schulich ExecEd Centre to help boost your resume! 🗓️ Program Details: Applications are open from July to August 2024 on a rolling basis. The program itself runs from September to November 2024. During this process, interviews will be conducted to assess your fit using the BEA criteria scoring card. All successful candidates will automatically join the BEA Learning Community! Don’t miss this opportunity! Apply now and tap into your highest potential! Visit the link below to start your application today! 🙌🏾 #TDReadyCommitment #LeadershipDevelopment #BusinessSkills #FutureReady #Blackfounder https://lnkd.in/eW2b99cS

What's up, BEA family! Payfi (Techstars ‘23) is looking to give you an incredible opportunity to save on your rent and make your life a bit easier. We're excited to announce our new contest where you can get $500 off your rent for the next 2 months! 🎉 Here's how you can qualify: 1. Create a Payfi account 2. Use Payfi to pay your rent at least once (It's free!) 3. Make a video telling us why you need the money 4. Tag @payfica and @thebea.co in your video The video with the most interactions on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook wins! Terms and Conditions Apply Don't miss out on this fantastic opportunity to lighten your financial load and get creative! Start now and make your rent more affordable. Good luck! 🍀 #Payfi #RentDiscount #Contest #AffordableLiving #RentRelief #FinancialFreedom

Apply Apply Apply! This was an amazing opportunity last summer! Thank you Black Entrepreneurship Alliance and C-TrIBE for your support!