We are unifying and educating African and Caribbean entrepreneurs.
Running a business on your own can be difficult, but being part of a supportive community will make your entrepreneurship journey easier. The Afro-Caribbean Business Network (ACBN) was created to provide resources for Black business owners to build sustainable and successful businesses.
Our Partners
Our Vision
Join us for business-building workshops, led by experts in various fields and industries.
Our workshops will you give you the tools you need to scale your business up and take it to the next level.
Connect with your community through our networking opportunities. Meet like-minded business people and entrepreneurs to establish a support system, find collaboration opportunities, and increase our collective bottom line.
We’ve developed programs, compiled tools as well as resources to serve any and all entrepreneurs. Whether you’re the person who’s just starting their entrepreneurial journey, someone who’s working on their side hustle, or a seasoned business owner who wants to scale up their business; we have the right solutions for you.
We have the experts you need for all stages of your business—as well as the network you need to grow as an entrepreneur.
Join Our Newsletter
What People Say About ACBN
See Our Work in Action
Membership Benefits
Expand Your Network
Becoming an ACBN member gives you the opportunity to improve and expand your business, network with other business owners in the Black community and access the resources you need to create a sustainable company.
Make a Difference, Volunteer
We’re always looking for driven, enthusiastic business professionals who want to contribute to their community by volunteering with the Afro-Caribbean Business Network. Learn more
Stay In Touch
Do you have questions? Use the Contact Us form to send us a message or connect with us on social media.
Join ACBN Today!
Supporter Membership
- Annual access to all ACBN resources and newsletter
- Connect with relevant people and resources for your business
- Monthly group mentorship meetings resources
- Opportunities to showcase your business at ACBN Canada events
Standard Membership
- All Supporter Membership benefits PLUS…
- Business Development Coaching Twice a Year
- Operations, Marketing, Financial, and Legal Support
- Invitations to Exclusive Workshops, Conferences and Co-Working Space
- Access to the Legacy Symposium
Premium Membership
- All Standard Membership benefits PLUS …
- Monthly One-on-One Coaching with an ACBN Business Consultant
- Free Access to ALL ACBN workshops and seminars
- Free Listing on the ACBN Website
- Advertise Events on to Our Members
The Business Needs Assessment
Our Team
In 2017, Jodi-Ann Campbell, Chris-Beth Cowie, Derrick Fagan, Darren Green, Ryan Knight, Ray McMillan, and Keisha Wallace had the idea to create a business network for the Black community that would bridge the economic gap for Black entrepreneurs. From that idea came the Afro-Caribbean Business Network. ACBN’s objective is to provide Black businesses with the resources they need to start, grow and scale up. Our goal to ensure that our businesses are prosperous—and part of the fabric of Canadian business for years to come.
Our network encourages the pursuit of entrepreneurship and developing connections to help business owners stay engaged during their entrepreneurial journey and leave a lasting legacy.
Our Board Members
Nakimbe Baobab
Natalie Francis
Ray McMillan
Jillisa Brown
Christina Gwira
Keisha Wallace
Lisa Fedorova
Melissa Haughton
Upcoming Workshops
Ontario Small Business Support Grant - Information Session
Are you a small business that has been impacted by the most recent province-wide shutdown?
New Grant Available: https://www.ontario.ca/page/businesses-get-help-covid-19-costs
Let us walk you through the opportunity and provide tips on creating a winning application.
The information will took place on Thursday, January 21 from 11:00am – 12:00pm.
Empowered 4x Investment Readiness Accellerator
Building a business can be a scary and frustrating thing to do alone. There is a wealth gap in Black-owned businesses due to intrinsic and systematic extrinsic barriers. Many founders are lacking infrastructure, innovation and opportunities to creatively scale up their business.
We’ve created a 6-months intensive pre-seed business accelerator to radically elevate your business and develop the pathways to access investment and procurement opportunities.
Latest Events
Upcoming Events
Grant Writing Blueprint – Wednesday March 24 at 11am – Creating a Budget
Join us as we cover the foundation of Grant Writing. What elements are needed and how best to approach researching what grants are available.
My team helps business owners obtain grants and to take the stress of researching and applying for them off your plate, so you can focus on what you do best. Let’s go over our 4 step process and how we can use it to help your business secure grants.
Research
Almost everyday there is a new opportunity to obtain funding, put a team to work that will look for all the new grants that match your business.
Yes you may hear that there are plenty of grants but which ones are right for you? Our team works with you to understand your company so we only present the grants that you qualify for so you do not waste your time
Write
Yes it is possible for you to write grants but do you really want to? I know as a business owner you have at least 10 things you would rather be doing and another 10 that needs to be done that you do no like. We take writing the grant off your plate so you can focus elsewhere.
Follow-up
Not every grant will be successful but why it was declined is the main question. We take time to follow up with funders to understand what went wrong to ensure success in the next application.
Please check back frequently to see when we have our next event, or sign up to our mailing list to stay connect with all things ACBN.
Free Resources
Funding Spreadsheet
Keep up to date on existing and upcoming funding opportunities for you business ranging from Investments, loans and grants.
Empowered 4x Business Training and Coworking
Empowered 4x’s mission is to create spaces to empower entrepreneurs to be top performance leaders and exponentially amplify the difference they make.
In our collaborative physical and virtual spaces you will have access to our Business C.R.E.W. (Capacity Resource and Empowerment Workforce), comprised of experts in business planning, legal, funding, marketing and accounting to take your business to the next level.
Business Assessment
If you are interested in additional business supports such as marketing assistance or access to funding and financial services please take some time to fill out this Brief Assessment. A team member will follow up with you to book a discovery call.
Black Entrepreneurship Program
The Black Entrepreneurship Program (BEP) is a partnership between the Government of Canada, Black-led business organizations, and financial institutions. With an investment of up to $221 million over four years, it will help Black Canadian business owners and entrepreneurs grow their businesses and succeed now and into the future.
Learn more about the available funding for Black Entrepreneurs!
Latest Blog Posts
Black Empowerment Manifesto Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: AFRO CARIBBEAN BUSINESS NETWORK CANADA FOUNDATION (ACBN): PRESENTS: A CANADIAN BLACK EMPOWERMENT MANIFESTO (CBEM) VERSION 2.0. VOLUME 001. TORONTO, April 22, 2021: ACBN Releases its commissioned work ─A Canadian Black Empowerment Manifesto...
2021 Federal Budget for Black Entrepreneurs
Feature Image from blackenterprise.com On April 19 the Federal government introduced the 2021 Federal Budget. There have been two debriefs so far to determine what is in it for the Black community and I attended to see what was in there for Black Entrepreneurs. As I...
Sheridan College Partners with Afro Caribbean Business Network
RESEARCH TO SUPPORT BLACK ENTREPRENEURS For immediate release (Mississauga, ON) Jan. 19, 2020: The Afro-Caribbean Business Network (ACBN) and Sheridan’s Pilon School of Business (PSB) partner on a new research project. The research project aims to identify the needs...
Get in Touch
Visit Us!
Brampton, ON
L6W 3J1