Afro-Caribbean Business Network | Fireside Chat with Melisa Ellis, Founder and CEO of Nobellum | Saturday, October 3, 2026 | Online
Here is a number every Black entrepreneur should know: Black founders receive less than 1.5% of venture capital in Canada. In other words, the tech economy is booming, yet most of that growth capital is flowing past our community.
However, that number is not the whole story. Across the country, Black tech founders in Canada are building software, health tech, clean tech and engineering companies anyway. Even better, a growing ecosystem is helping them launch, scale and get funded.
Indeed, few people have done more to build that ecosystem than our Day 3 speaker. So on Saturday, October 3, the Afro-Caribbean Business Network continues the Black Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Conference 2026 with a virtual fireside chat featuring Melisa Ellis, Founder and CEO of Nobellum.
Who Is Melisa Ellis?
Melisa is an entrepreneur, technology leader and community builder. Before founding Nobellum, she first built her career in software engineering and project management. For example, she led the technical implementation of a multi-million-dollar robotics facility that produces digital billboard signs.
In 2020, she founded Nobellum, a female-led, not-for-profit social enterprise with a bold mission: expand access to STEM, technology and entrepreneurship for Black youth and professionals. She is also a proud University of Toronto Scarborough graduate, and that connection shaped what came next.
Along the way, her work has earned major recognition. Notably, she received the BMO Black Tech Community Builder of the Year award at the Obsidi Awards and was named Alumni of the Year by the University of Toronto Scarborough.
The 100 Mandate: From Bold Goal to Real Businesses
In 2022, Nobellum partnered with U of T Scarborough on an ambitious target: launch at least 100 Black-owned STEM businesses by 2025. At the time, many people thought the goal was too big. Instead, Nobellum passed it.
According to Nobellum, the partnership has now launched 121 Black-owned STEM businesses, engaged 9,000+ founders through programs and events, created 250+ jobs across Canada and the Caribbean and helped founders secure $5 million in investment. Meanwhile, the Government of Canada reports that Nobellum-supported companies have generated more than $30 million in revenue.
We proved that 100 Black-owned STEM businesses could be launched without government funding, and in doing so, we not only built companies but an ecosystem. (Melisa Ellis)
Now, that model is scaling. In August 2026, FedDev Ontario invested $1.2 million in Nobellum’s CanBlack STEM Project, part of a $3.6 million initiative that gives Black STEM businesses commercialization support, mentorship and market access. As Melisa put it, “we’re not starting from zero. We’re taking a model that already works.”
Fittingly, ACBN was proud to be named alongside Nobellum as one of nine organizations in that same federal announcement to strengthen Black entrepreneurship across southern Ontario. That is what an ecosystem looks like: different organizations, one shared mission.
Why This Conversation Matters for the Black Community
1. Tech is where tomorrow’s wealth is being built
After all, the fastest-growing companies in the world are technology companies. Consequently, if Black founders are locked out of tech, we are locked out of the biggest wealth-building engine of our time. That is why Nobellum’s work matters far beyond STEM.
2. Breaking out of the third strike
At ACBN, we talk about the Four Strikes™ that hold Black entrepreneurs back: small teams, difficulty attracting talent, overconcentration in professional services and systemic barriers to capital, credit and networks. In particular, the third strike limits how far our businesses can scale. Melisa’s work proves that Black founders can build scalable, IP-driven companies when they have the right support.
3. Black women belong at the front of tech
Equally important, Melisa leads a female-founded enterprise in a sector where women, and especially Black women, are still underrepresented. For every Black woman who has been told tech is “not for her,” her story is a direct answer. Better yet, it shows that technical skill and community leadership can live in the same person.
4. Capital follows readiness
Of course, venture capital gaps are real. Still, founders who are clear, connected and prepared get funded more often. This is where ACBN’s 3C Framework™ comes in: Clarity → Connection → Capital. First, get clear on your business model and numbers. Next, connect with mentors, peers and partners who open doors. Finally, pursue capital that fits your stage, from microloans to investment.
Ready to put the 3C Framework™ to work in your business? ACBN’s Growth Pathway program walks you from clarity to capital with coaching, community and a direct route to funding. We are welcoming 100 entrepreneurs into the program.
5. Bold goals change what is possible
Back in 2022, a hundred businesses sounded impossible. Today, that number has been passed. Ultimately, Melisa’s story is a reminder that our community does not need to think small. When we set ambitious targets and build together, we reach them.
What You Will Walk Away With
- How Nobellum helped launch 121 Black-owned STEM businesses
- What investors and funders look for in early-stage tech founders
- How to move a technical idea from concept to commercialization
- Where Black women and underrepresented founders can find support in tech
- A live Q&A with one of Canada’s leading Black tech ecosystem builders
Frequently Asked Questions
What support is available for Black tech founders in Canada?
Support is growing. For example, Nobellum’s programs offer mentorship, commercialization support and access to capital for Black STEM founders. In addition, ACBN’s Growth Pathway helps Black entrepreneurs in any sector become funding-ready, with microloans of $1,000 to $10,000 as a first step toward larger capital.
Why do Black founders receive so little venture capital?
Generally, research points to gaps in networks, investor representation and access to early funding. As a result, many Black founders never get the warm introductions that most venture deals depend on. That is why ecosystem organizations that build connections are so important.
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 3
Day 3 continues a full month of workshops through October as part of the Black Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Conference 2026. So whether you are building in tech or simply ready to think bigger, this conversation is for you.
Fireside Chat with Melisa Ellis | BEEConference Day 3
Saturday, October 3, 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.
