Black Founders Network

Join us for Impact³, BEA's 3rd Year Anniversary and Business & Leadership Essentials Certificate Program Graduation Event, where we celebrate three years of exponential growth, leadership, and innovation. This special evening will bring together our vibrant community of Black entrepreneurs, innovators, leaders, and go-getters to reflect on our shared journey and the multiplied impact we’ve made. The event will feature the graduation of our 4th cohort from the Business and Leadership Essentials Certificate Program, proudly presented by TD, in partnership with Schulich ExecEd. We'll also be graduating our first cohort of the Black Entrepreneur Empowered, in partnership with the City of Toronto, Toronto Employment and Social Services. Join us as we look ahead to the future and continue to build on our mission to break down barriers and create lasting opportunities through initiatives like our Innovation Hub project and upcoming transformative events. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with fellow changemakers, celebrate our collective achievements, and look forward to what’s next. Together, we’re creating Impact³—three times the power, three times the growth, and three times the success. Stay tuned for more details on location and program highlights. Where: Hotel X Toronto, 111 Princes' Blvd, Toronto, ON M6K 3C3 When: November 28, 2024 (6 to 10pm) RSVP: https://lu.ma/l7dl7xjs Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario | Agence fédérale de ... Black Creek Community Health Centre YSpace York University #BlackExcellence #BlackEntrepreneurs #FutureLeaders #BusinessGraduation #CommunityImpact #BuiltForImpact #CelebratingSuccess #InnovationHub #BlackSuccess #TorontoEvents

Meet Amina Dan-Sule, CPA, the visionary behind Zakar Photobooth, who’s redefining event experiences with luxury, high-quality, interactive photo booths. From unforgettable weddings to high-profile corporate events, Amina’s "WOW experience" approach blends creativity and professionalism, turning every moment into a cherished memory. Want to learn more about Amina’s journey and how Zakar Photobooth is creating new business opportunities? Read the full article!

Join us at the Obsidi® BFUTR 2024 Summit for our second workshop, “Upskilling for Impact: Connecting Black Founders & the Best Black Talent” on November 7 in collaboration with DMZ. Discover how our BCAP program is creating pathways for Black talent and Black-led businesses to excel and grow within the community. Whether you’re a founder searching for top-tier talent or a professional ready to upskill and find meaningful opportunities in the Black entrepreneurship ecosystem, this workshop is crafted for you.   Guiding us will be an incredible panel of founders and talent: Jonathon Bloomfield, OCT, Rita-Maria Oladokun, Alastair O., Odosa Obasuyi, and Jamelia Allen—each bringing invaluable insights on upskilling and community impact. Make sure to register today! https://lnkd.in/dmGrHdQs

Two years ago, every investor we spoke to was worried about the potential rising costs of GenAI. Today, that idea feels almost... ironic. The recent State of AI 2024 Report shows that it’s becoming cheaper to run AI models with every new release. Check out Google’s Gemini 1.5 Flash. Since May 2024, the cost of input tokens dropped from $0.35 to $0.04, and output tokens dropped from $1.05 to $0.15 — making it 86% cheaper to run these models. And it’s not just Google… Sam Altman of OpenAI says we’re moving “towards intelligence too cheap to meter” (too cheap to charge for). So what does this mean? ⚡ As AI models become cheaper to run, the possibilities for innovative applications expand exponentially. 💡 This changes the rules of the game for builders and innovators. Y Combinator has been preaching this for over a year. We’re on the verge of an unprecedented ‘unlock’ in human ingenuity. Sci-fi-level tools and products are closer than we think — and the opportunity to turn them into reality is within our grasp *today.* Our team is betting on this future every day, and we’re seeing the promise of what’s possible. 🧠 There's never been a better time for bold ideas. 💪 Never a better time to take risks to build what was previously unimaginable. So, to my fellow founders: How does this impact what you’re building right now? What are you building today that was impossible yesterday? What are you building today that will unlock what’s possible tomorrow? I want to hear your thoughts and questions in the comments below, and tag an ambitious founder that’s building something CRAzy. Source: https://www.stateof.ai/ #GenAI #GoogleGemini #StateofAIReport #TechStartups #OneCliq #GoogleForStartups Google Google for Startups Iran Karimian Alice Kawka OneCliq.io Black Founders Network YSpace, York University Black Entrepreneurship Alliance Antler Treefrog Accelerator

Picture this: juggling classes, exams, and community work while barely scraping by for basics like food and rent. For so many Canadian students, that’s the daily grind. In fact, 65% say they’re financially unstable, and almost half are stretched thin just covering essentials. Through the TD Scholarship for Community Leadership we’re all about supporting young leaders who live and breathe community. This scholarship program provides 20 students up to $70,000 each for tuition and living expenses, plus summer work opportunities at TD or impactful nonprofits making positive social change in their communities. We’re working to break down obstacles so that young people can continue to make an impact and access education. Know someone who’s all about community? Or maybe it’s you! Applications for the 2024 Scholarship for Community Leadership are open until November 13th. Pass it on! https://lnkd.in/gFAFB2zE

Calling all aspiring Black entrepreneurs! Ready to bring your startup idea to life? Join our “Concept to Consumer” workshop on November 7 at the Obsidi® BFUTR 2024 Summit, in collaboration with DMZ and led by facilitator Yinka Adesesan! Learn how to turn your concept into an MVP with expert tips and strategies from experienced Black founders, Ehi Agbonlahor, Jonathon Bloomfield, OCT, Yvonne Osagie, MBET, Brenda A. and more! Don’t miss out—register today! https://lnkd.in/dmGrHdQs

From Neuroscience to Studio Arts, Chubi Shaibu's journey is a powerful reminder of how important it is to pursue your passion, no matter the obstacles. Through Medidontcry, she’s helping young Black artists turn their creative dreams into reality by offering mentorship, opportunities, and a supportive community. Read more to learn about Chubi’s inspiring story and the impact of Medidontcry.

What a wonderful night! 🎉 One of the personal highlights for me was listening to one of the judges’ feedback on the importance of actual sales, which truly resonated. I am beyond proud to announce that CropMind Inc. is the 1st Place Winner of the Innovate Calgary Rural Tech Competition! 🏆 The event was held on October 17th at the Garry W. Harris Canada Games Centre in Red Deer, and we were given the incredible opportunity to pitch our vision in front of an audience of community leaders, growers, investors, and policymakers. My appreciation to the second-place winner and third-place winner for their incredible pitches and innovative ideas. It’s inspiring to be among such talented entrepreneurs! Trigger Tracker Tech FeedXchange @drawafence @Anandibotanical We’re also thrilled to have won two free pitch coaching sessions, which will undoubtedly help us further refine our approach and continue growing. This recognition means so much to our team, and it’s a huge step forward in our mission to democratize agriculture data through innovative tech solutions. Thank you to everyone who supported us, and we look forward to continuing our journey! Appreciate fellow cofounders #innovation #agriculture #tech #ruraldevelopment #pitchcompetition #cropmind #communityimpact #growth

Meet Nuru Health – your personalized, culturally aware mental wellness companion. Founded by Isdora Msigwa,M.Eng, Nuru Health is transforming mental healthcare by empowering users to build healthy habits and providing culturally competent support for lasting change. Curious to learn more? Read more see how Nuru Health is redefining mental wellness.

The BDC Seed Venture Fund is growing in Toronto! Come join the team leading investments in world-class Canadian entrepreneurs across the country. Please apply directly using the link below. https://lnkd.in/gjg_h2FS Saif Hashmi, Daniel Nieto, Sarah McCullough, CFA, Angus Fudge, Rainee Mistry