Afro-Caribbean Business Network | Fireside Chat with Nerissa Allen, Co-Founder and CEO, Black Business Association of BC | Saturday, October 17, 2026 | Online
Starting a business is hard. Growing it past the kitchen table, the pop-up market or the first few loyal customers is harder still. For many Black entrepreneurs, that next step is where things stall.
That is why learning how to scale a Black-owned business is one of the most valuable conversations in this conference. After all, scale is where jobs are created, wealth is built and a business becomes something you can pass on.
So on Saturday, October 17, the Afro-Caribbean Business Network continues the Black Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Conference 2026 with a virtual fireside chat featuring Nerissa Allen, Co-Founder and CEO of the Black Business Association of BC (BBABC), on how Black entrepreneurs can grow, scale, access new opportunities and build generational wealth.
Who Is Nerissa Allen?
Nerissa grew up in Vancouver as one of the few Black students in her class. At 11, she moved to Barbados, an experience that built her confidence and sense of belonging. Later, she earned a science degree in biology and spent 20 years at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, specializing in regulatory compliance.
Alongside her government career, she also ran a wellness clinic with her husband, so she knows the entrepreneur’s journey firsthand. In addition, she has led the Barbados Cultural Association of British Columbia. In 2026, she was recognized as a Women of the Year Diversity and Inclusion Champion.
If you want to build generational wealth, you have to own, and ownership comes with entrepreneurship. (Nerissa Allen)
Inside the Black Business Association of BC
Nerissa co-founded BBABC in 2020 with Clavia Alleyne, during the pandemic, after seeing that British Columbia lacked dedicated support for Black entrepreneurs. Since then, the association has supported more than 2,000 businesses and secured $2.7 million in funding from Pacific Economic Development Canada.
Notably, BBABC focuses on getting Black-owned products onto real shelves and into real markets:
- UEL Marketplace: retail space on Granville Island for Black-owned brands
- Retail Readiness Accelerator: a program that prepares businesses for national distribution
- Afro World Expo: the Pacific Northwest’s largest Black-owned business showcase
As a result, BBABC members have accessed opportunities with national retail chains and international markets.
Why This Conversation Matters for the Black Community
1. Ownership is the path to wealth
As Nerissa puts it, generational wealth requires ownership. Income from a job pays the bills, but owning a growing business builds assets that can support a family for decades. Therefore, helping Black businesses scale is one of the most direct ways to close the wealth gap.
2. Retail readiness is a skill you can learn
Of course, getting into a major retailer requires more than a great product. Specifically, it takes proper packaging, pricing, compliance, inventory and financing. Nerissa’s background in regulatory compliance, combined with BBABC’s accelerator, shows that these steps can be learned and mastered.
3. Small teams need systems to scale
At ACBN, we name the Four Strikes™ that hold Black entrepreneurs back. The first is small teams: most Black-owned businesses have fewer than five employees. To grow without burning out, founders need systems, partners and capital. Otherwise, the owner becomes the ceiling.
4. Scaling needs capital, and capital needs readiness
After all, inventory, equipment and staff all cost money before they make money. This is where ACBN’s 3C Framework™ comes in: Clarity → Connection → Capital. First, get clear on your numbers and what growth will cost. Next, connect with buyers, partners and lenders. Finally, access the capital that funds your next stage.
Ready to scale? ACBN’s Growth Pathway program walks you through the 3C Framework™ with coaching, community and a direct route to funding. We are welcoming 100 entrepreneurs into the program.
5. Coast to coast, we rise together
Ultimately, BBABC in the West and ACBN in Ontario share the same mission. When Black business associations across Canada learn from each other, every founder benefits. That is exactly what this national conference is built to do, from Charles Buchanan in Calgary to Fiyin Obayan in Saskatchewan.
What You Will Walk Away With
- How to prepare your products for retail and national distribution
- How to access new markets, in Canada and beyond
- What it takes to scale a business without burning out
- How ownership builds generational wealth
- A live Q&A with one of Western Canada’s leading Black business advocates
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I scale a Black-owned business?
Start by making sure your business is profitable and your systems can handle more volume. Next, prepare for larger buyers with proper packaging, pricing and compliance. Finally, secure the capital you need for inventory and staff, and build partnerships that open new markets.
How do I get my product into retail stores?
Generally, retailers want consistent supply, competitive pricing, proper labelling and proof of demand. Programs like BBABC’s Retail Readiness Accelerator, and coaching through ACBN’s Growth Pathway, can help you prepare.
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 17
Day 17 continues a full month of workshops through October as part of the Black Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Conference 2026. So if your business is ready for its next level, this conversation is for you.
Fireside Chat with Nerissa Allen | BEEConference Day 17
Saturday, October 17, 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.
