BFN Accelerate 2022 Cohort
BFN Accelerate is a cohort-based accelerator program at the University of Toronto built for startups led by Black founders.
Through a competitive selection process, 11 startup companies with at least one Black-identifying founder from the University of Toronto community were chosen to participate in the inaugural 2022 BFN Accelerate Program.
BFN Accelerate’s structured program delivers education and workshops tailored to Black entrepreneurs, including workshops/sessions with an emphasis on market and customer research, MVP product development, competitor analysis, beta testing, revenue generation and product-market fit. Plus, members of BFN Accelerate gain access to weekly Entrepreneur and Investor “in-residence” office hours, dedicated mentorship and dedicated co-working space for teams.
Meet the 2022 cohort
AfterData AI
Co-founder: Anu Oladele
AfterData AI enables organizations to become literate about their own data by helping them to access, connect and explore existing datasets in easy and interactive ways. The underlying technology helps leverage meta data collected through usage of the platform, to enrich and support AI and ML solutions for their customers.
Aworie Health
Founder: Rae Massop
Aworie Canada is committed to providing convenient, affordable and accessible mental health services that enable marginalized Canadians thrive in their community. Through feasible sliding-scale rates and a personalized approach, they enable access to mental health services regardless of ethnicity, age, gender, sex and/or ability.
Blair + Jack
Founder: Bimpe Ayeni
Blair + Jack provides clean, cruelty-free, physician-formulated skincare products that help men treat common skincare problems and unlock the power of putting their best faces forward. They simplify the process of getting physician-formulated skincare delivered to your home without a prescription
Elev
Founder: Kevin Mpunga
Elev helps students easily find their Home away from home and live a stress-free tenancy. By understanding the students’ needs, Elev provides innovative solutions that automate the end-to-end process of matching students with homes, roommates, lease agreements, rental payments and home maintenance.
Fyyne
Founder: Jeffrey Fasegha
Fyyne is a mobile first platform that allows beauty professionals commercialize their skills, by simplifying the entire booking process from discovery to payment. Their one stop app for beauty services enable artists to provide services and receive payments from existing and new customers.
HDAX Therapeutics
Co-founder: Tobi Olaoye
HDAX Therapeutics is a drug discovery startup developing targeted therapeutics to tackle unmet healthcare needs in brain cancers and CNS disorders. Their small molecule inhibitors target HDAC6 in brain cancers / neurodegenerative disorders, more effectively and safely than existing alternatives
NobelHub
Founder: Melisa Ellis
Nobel-Hub connects startups and existing businesses with the most essential services they need to grow and scale their ventures. Initially focused on the Black community, it is a one-stop-shop that offers essential services such as legal, accounting, marketing, technology development and business planning.
NORM
Founder: Chevon Riley
NORM (Natural Organic Matters) helps Canadians live a healthier life and encourages the continued protection of the environment through its organic skincare product line. Their products emphasize transparency, sustainability, and general kindness towards our planet and those that inhabit it.
Reeddi
Founder: Olugbenga Olubanjo
Reeddi innovatively provides clean and reliable energy at a price point that emerging economies can afford. They are a climate-tech company securely bridging the energy accessibility gap, with limitless and sustainable solutions.
Woo Your Boo
Co-founders: La Vance Dotson and Colleen Dotson
The Woo Your Boo app bridges the communication gap between couples through love languages that are linked with novel dates and experiences. It makes “working” on your relationship fun, and was established to combat society’s deteriorating level with meaningful and healthy relationships
Yuko AI
Founder: Jean Marie Uwabeza
Yuko AI provides an artificial intelligence powered, accurate, and efficient software solution which helps clinics communicate, triage and manage skin health issues more effectively online. With the Yuko AI software, dermatologists can serve more patients and increase their revenue in the same amount of time.
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