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.
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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
- Access to all ACBN resources and newsletter
- Connect with relevant people and resources for your business
- Monthly group mentorship meetings resources
- Weekly access to Grant Writing workshop
- 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 and company audit
- 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
Small Business Grants - Working Groups and Information Sessions
Join us as we cover the foundation of Grant Writing.
What elements are needed and how best to approach researching what grants are available.
Discussions ranging from:
– Foundational Elements of a Grant
– Budgeting
– Creating your Work Plan
– Research Tips
– Time Management
– Grants to support For Profit Companies
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
From info session to masterclasses, view all the events held by and in partnership with ACBN below. Additionally, see community events by visiting our Black Business Event Calendar by clicking the link below.
June 18, 2021 @ 2pm EST: CMHC Co-Investment Fund Info Session
Join us to learn more about the funding programs that CMHC has to help our community build our own affordable housing. The National Housing Co-Investment Fund consists of Low-cost and forgivable loans for the construction, repair and revitalization of affordable housing.
Funded projects need support from another level of government to ensure a coordination of investments.
If you own or control land and are looking to get funding to build, this session is for you!
Register here: events.acbncanada.com
Free Resources
Sheridan EDGE - Entrepreneurship Discovery and Growth Engine
EDGE and ACBN have partnered to bring you supports and tools to help your venture grow.
EDGE is where impact and entrepreneurship thrive.
We define impact entrepreneurs as those who aim to balance the triple bottom lines of people, planet and profit as they develop their ventures. This includes entrepreneurs who may be focused at this time on profit but want to expand their capacity for positive impact as their ventures become more established. It also includes social entrepreneurs for whom the primary focus of the venture is its social, cultural or environmental impact mission.
As an ACBN member can take advantage of what EDGE has to offer, including:
- Attend EDGE events on venture development, social enterprise and more – check out their event listings
- Apply for EDGE membership – learn more about their incubation programs
- Take part in initiatives or programs that are co-developed by EDGE and ACBN
- Get access to opportunities to engage Sheridan student talent to support your venture
For more information about EDGE, visit edge.sheridancollege.ca or contact edge@sheridancollege.ca.
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.
Funding Spreadsheet
Keep up to date on existing and upcoming funding opportunities for you business ranging from Investments, loans and grants.
Latest Blog Posts
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Brampton, ON
L6W 3J1