The Power of Community in Black Entrepreneurship

Quick Market

Quick Market is an on-demand grocery delivery service that users can access from their mobile phones. They provide visibility and awareness to ethnic Groceries and allow customers to place orders online and get delivered anywhere in Ottawa and Gatineau. Recently, they were awarded with a $4000 grant at the Black Career Conference Pitch Competition this January.

Founded by Kokouvi Assigno

HapplyAI

HapplyAI is a startup that is revolutionizing the way entrepreneurs find, apply & qualify for opportunities by leveraging artificial intelligence. The platform empowers business owners by maximizing approvals & minimizing refusals. This January the HapplyAI team won the first place prize of $10,000 at the Black Career Pitch Competition.

Founded by Thierry Lindor

Anutio

Anutio is an AI-powered career guidance platform that removes the barriers faced by individuals in accessing information and tools for career growth and success. Their mission is to equip each individual with the tools to discover and build a joyful and fulfilling career for themselves, and then help others do the same. They recently won fourth place at the Black Career Conference this January. 

Founded by Ehi Agbonlahor

Nebula

Introducing Team Nebula: With a passion for bringing clean drinking water to communities in need, Team Nebula has created a groundbreaking atmospheric water converter. Their hard work paid off at the 2023 RBC Innovation Challenge, where they took 2nd place and won a $25,000 prize. Comprised of students from diverse disciplines, the team includes Mary Daka, a Mastercard Foundation Scholar from Zambia and a 4th-year civil engineering student at the University of Toronto, who stands out as a Black founder. We are honoured to introduce Team Nebula and celebrate Mary as a driving force for positive change.

Founded by Mary Daka

Aworie Health

Founder: Rae Massop

Aworie Canada is committed to providing convenient, affordable and accessible mental health services that enable marginalized Canadians to thrive in their community.

We last saw Rae and Aworie Health at the BFN Accelerate graduation, since then Rae has continued moving onwards and upwards and was recently awarded the AAGEF Entrepreneur Challenge Jury Award 2022.  

Elev

Founder: Kevin Mpunga

Elev helps students easily find their home away from home and live a stress-free tenancy.

Kevin was the winner of the BFN People’s choice award which came along with a $10,000 grant. His continued efforts and dedication to Elev have resulted in him recently winning 2nd place and $6,000 at the Black Career Conference Pitch Competition this January. 

Fyyne

Founder: Jeffrey Fasegha

Fyyne is a mobile-first platform that allows beauty professionals to commercialize their skills, by simplifying the entire booking process from discovery to payment.

Since graduating from BFN Accelerate, Jeffery has been working closely with Techstars London in refining (or re-fyyning?) Fyyne with the goal to go to market in 2023!

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.

Since graduating from BFN, HDAX has continued to dream big. They are now supported by FACIT (a business accelerator and investor established by the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research) and were recently represented at the 20203 Biotech Seen Showcase!

Nobellum

Founder: Melisa Ellis

Nobellum connects startups and existing businesses with the most essential services they need to grow and scale their ventures.

Since graduating from BFN Accelerate Nobellum and Melisa have been taking on bigger projects and making an even bigger difference to the black community with her UofT partnership to launch 100 Black-owned businesses in STEM.  

Reeddi

Founder: Olugbenga Olubanjo

Reeddi innovatively provides clean and reliable energy at a price point that emerging economies can afford.

Since winning the $15,000 BFN Top Venture Award, they have been doing bigger and better things, from continuing to provide over 1500 households/businesses with access to reliable and affordable electricity to being featured in the recent Bloomberg Quicktake/GameChanger series. Watch here.