Black History Month is a time to reflect on where we’ve come from as a community, and use the lessons to guide our journey going forward. This also applies to…
Celebrating Black Founders
We believe that diversity is a driver of innovation. This Black History Month, we’re celebrating Black founders, entrepreneurs, and leaders in the U of T and Black Founders Network communities.
Featured Black-owned Startups
Fyyne
Fyyne is a social marketplace for beauty services. We build the technology that lets beauty artists commercialize their skills and we connect them with a social community of customers.
Founded by Rotman Commerce alumnus Jeffrey Fasegha
Accelerator affiliation: ICUBE UTM
Natural Organic Matters (NORM)
NORM offers a variety of skincare products for different ethnic groups, ages, genders, and purposes. By keeping the formulas simple and not complex, NORM provides customers with effective natural products at less cost than direct competitors.
Founded by Chevon Riley
Accelerator affiliation: The Hub
Reeddi
Reeddi sustainably provides clean energy at a price point that individuals and businesses operating in energy poor regions of the world can afford. Its proprietary energy generation and distribution technology system integrates smart data harvesting and analytics technology.
Founded by Olugbenga Olubanjo
Accelerator affiliation: UTEST
HDAX Therapeutics
HDAX Therapeutics focuses on developing epigenetic-targeting treatments through designing and synthesizing the next generation of life-improving medicines to tackle unmet healthcare needs in cancer and CNS disorders.
Founding team member: Tobi Olaoye, PhD candidate
Accelerator affiliation: UTEST H2i, CDL
IBUCHI
IBUCHI is a fashion forward brand merging luxury, African prints, and activewear. Fixed on details and colour, the brand speaks to an audience that is bold, confident,
and willing to stand out.
Founded by Ifeoma Amaech
Accelerator affiliation: The Hub
Rêve Morel
Rêve Morel is a traveling art exhibit that works with Canadian secondary and post-secondary schools to promote African studies through art exhibitions. The installations transform regular campus spaces into an immersive art experience.
Founded by Honma Amadi
Accelerator affiliation: The Hub
Mommy Monitor
Mommy Monitor Incorporated is a social enterprise that offers customized maternal health support and education. We do this in the form of an app, various services/programs, resources, research and a conference to ensure that maternal health is equitable, anti-racist, patient-centered and enjoyable for parents and birth workers/health care professionals.
Founded by Elsie Amoako
U of T accelerator affiliation: Health Innovation Hub (H2i) and UTEST
Blueclouds Photography
Blueclouds Photography specializes in portrait and event photography.
Founded by U of T student Enem Odeh
AfroCart
AfroCart is an online marketplace that carries around 200 African products including spices, snacks and soups. The selection includes hard-to-find ingredients like ground crayfish, African curry powders and a Cameroonian hot pepper blend.
Founded by U of T Alumni Stephen Ayeni
Accelerator affiliations: ICUBE UTM and The Entrepreneurship Hatchery
Fittedfast
Fittedfast allows you to shop your favourite local stores in Toronto in one convenient online marketplace. Fittedfast is passionate about innovation in the retail sphere by providing a simple online shopping experience where your local mall rests at your fingertips.
Founded by Keturah Osinde
Accelerator affiliation: The Hub
Envly
Envly is your digital sustainable mall. Users can easily discover, buy and sell various sustainable products with a tap of a button. With its carefully curated categories and intentional listing process, Envly removes the guesswork for our users and propels them to kickstart their sustainable living journey.
Founded by Faizah Balogun, Tolu Alebiosu and Tomiwa Olasoko
Accelerator affiliation: ICUBE
Nobellum
A network of professionals building a social enterprise to inspire socio-economic growth within Black communities. With the support of the community and partners, its mandate of supporting 100 Black-owned businesses by 2025 is just the start for the tangible change to come!
Founded by Melisa Ellis
Accelerator affiliations: The BRIDGE and The Hub at UTSC
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Black History Month Events
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Black Founders Network
The Black Founders Network (BFN) is an inclusive community for Black entrepreneurs at all stages of their journey, created to provide access to the networks, resources and inspiration to build, fund and scale impactful startups. By recognizing systemic barriers, celebrating Black excellence and providing allyship, mentorship and sponsorship for Black founders, we are building a thriving community of Black entrepreneurs from every industry and at every stage.