Afro-Caribbean Business Network | Fireside Chat with Clement Esene, Founder and Executive Director, BIPOC Foundation | Friday, October 23, 2026 | Online
Talent is spread evenly across every community. However, access to money, advice and networks is not. For many Black, Indigenous and People of Colour entrepreneurs, that gap decides whether a good idea becomes a thriving business or quietly disappears.
For this reason, financial inclusion for BIPOC entrepreneurs matters so much. Put simply, financial inclusion means everyone has fair access to the capital, banking, advice and tools they need to build. Without it, even the strongest founders are held back.
So on Friday, October 23, the Afro-Caribbean Business Network continues the Black Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Conference 2026 with a virtual fireside chat featuring Clement Esene, Founder and Executive Director of the BIPOC Foundation, on economic empowerment, financial inclusion and sustainable growth for underrepresented entrepreneurs.
Who Is Clement Esene?
To begin with, Clement is originally from Nigeria. More than a decade ago, he arrived in Canada as an international student to pursue post-graduate education, and in 2020 he moved to Lethbridge, Alberta with his family. Since then, he has become a highly visible community leader.
Along the way, he co-founded two organizations: the BIPOC Foundation and Daniola Corporation. In addition, he serves as Vice-President of the Association of Nigerians in Lethbridge and as a member of the Lethbridge Police Commission. Throughout his work, his goal has remained clear: advance racial and gender equality by giving early-stage entrepreneurs the tools, resources and services they need.
Inside the BIPOC Foundation
Currently based in Lethbridge and serving Western Canada and beyond, the BIPOC Foundation was established in 2020 and officially launched in 2022 with support from PrairiesCan. Above all, its mission is to empower BIPOC-led entrepreneurs and founders to scale their businesses.
To do that, the foundation also offers a wide range of programs:
- Accelerator and business advisory services to help founders grow
- IP Program to help entrepreneurs protect their ideas
- LIFT Program and SuccessMap business planning services
- Code and AI Club to build digital skills
- BIPOC Activation Grant, offering micro-grants across four categories
In fact, from 2022 to 2024 alone, the foundation reports advancing 200 businesses.
Why This Conversation Matters for the Black Community
1. Financial exclusion is expensive
Too often, when founders cannot access fair credit, they turn to personal savings, credit cards or high-interest lenders. Consequently, they carry more risk and grow more slowly. Financial inclusion changes that equation. (Our Day 19 spotlight explains how small business microloans in Canada offer a fairer path.)
2. Small grants can unlock big momentum
For example, a micro-grant can pay for a website, a trademark or the first batch of inventory. Although the amount may be small, the impact can be huge, especially for early-stage founders with no other options.
3. Protecting ideas protects wealth
Unfortunately, many Black and racialized founders do not protect their intellectual property. As a result, they risk losing the value of their best ideas. That is why the BIPOC Foundation’s IP Program is a reminder that ownership includes ideas, not just businesses.
4. Capital is one of the Four Strikes
At ACBN, we name the Four Strikes™ that hold Black entrepreneurs back, and the fourth is systemic barriers to capital, credit and networks. Fortunately, organizations across the Prairies, like the BIPOC Foundation and the Black Business Ventures Association, and across Ontario, like ACBN, are working to break it.
5. Sustainable growth follows a path
Of course, financial inclusion works best with preparation. This is where ACBN’s 3C Framework™ comes in: Clarity → Connection → Capital. First, get clear on your plan and your numbers. Next, connect with advisors, peers and funders. Finally, access capital, from micro-grants and microloans to larger loans, at the right time for your business.
Ready for fair access to capital? ACBN’s Growth Pathway program walks you through the 3C Framework™ with coaching, community and a direct route to funding, including microloans of $1,000 to $10,000. We are welcoming 100 entrepreneurs into the program.
What You Will Walk Away With
- What financial inclusion means and why it matters for BIPOC founders
- How micro-grants, advisory and IP support help businesses grow
- Lessons from building community as a newcomer to Canada
- Strategies for sustainable, long-term business growth
- A live Q&A with a founder and community leader from Alberta
Frequently Asked Questions
What is financial inclusion?
In simple terms, financial inclusion means that individuals and businesses have fair access to useful, affordable financial products and services, such as banking, credit, savings and advice.
Where can BIPOC entrepreneurs find grants in Canada?
For instance, options include community organizations like the BIPOC Foundation, which offers micro-grants, along with government programs and corporate grant competitions. In Ontario, ACBN helps Black entrepreneurs find funding and become loan-ready.
I missed the live session. Can I watch the replay?
Yes. Replays of BEEConference sessions will be shared on the ACBN YouTube channel.
Join Us on Day 23
Day 23 continues a full month of workshops through October as part of the Black Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Conference 2026. So if you have ever felt shut out of the financial system, this conversation is for you.
Fireside Chat with Clement Esene | BEEConference Day 23
Friday, October 23, 2026 | Online
Can’t make it live? Subscribe to our YouTube channel so you never miss a replay, workshop or conversation: youtube.com/@acbn_canada
Connect. Build. Grow.
