October 28 – 30, 2024
3rd Annual Federal BlackEntrepreneurshipEcosystem Conference
Building Sustainable Ecosystems for Future Growth
Team Building
Strengthening Communication
Strategic Direction
Leadership Development
Hosted by the Afro Caribbean Business Network (ACBN) and funded by the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario, this event is designed to empower organizations and enhance their organizational capacity to support Black entrepreneurs.
Who should attend:
- Organizational leaders funded by the Black Entrepreneurship Program (BEP)
- Any Black-led organizations that support Black businesses and entrepreneurs
- Entrepreneurs
2024 CONFERENCE DAYSMonday, Oct 28 | Tuesday, Oct 29 | Wednesday, Oct 30
Sponsors
What to Expect for the Three Days :
Monday Oct 28th – Celebratory Day, Ecosystem Overview
Open to the Public
We welcome all entrepreneurs, community members and organizational leaders to join us to,
Celebrate: Join government officials, entrepreneurs, and community members to start the event with inspiring stories and celebrations.
Network: Meet and connect with ecosystem leaders and fellow entrepreneurs.
This is a FREE Event, we will provide drinks and refreshments
Full Admission: Monday, Oct 28th, Tuesday, October 29th, Wednesday, Oct 30th
Open to all Organizational Leaders
We welcome all organizational leaders (funded and non-funded) to join us all three days to celebrate, network and get two full-days of capacity building where they can,
Deep Dive: Engage in focused sessions on capacity building, leadership development, and strategic planning.
Collaborate: Work together to overcome challenges and amplify our collective impact.
Get Showcased: Organizations are encouraged to bring printed assets (flyers, business cards, pop up banners, etc.) to give away to fellow entrepreneurs.
A booth will be available for all organizations that request it.
This is a FREE Event, we will provide drinks and refreshments!
Agenda:
OCT 28 - ECOSYSTEM OVERVIEW
Topics:
- Introduction of the Ecosystem members
- Clear understanding of the current state of the ecosystem
- Success stories
- Needs and Opportunities
9:00AM - 7:00PM
OCT 29 - DATA COLLECTION: COMMITTING TO SHARING AGGREGATED DATA
Topics:
- Capacity Building with FedDev member and politicians
- Data Collection and Program Innovations
- Aggregated data and mapping (revenues, jobs, gender, industry)
- What does the strategic alignment ecosystem look like?
- What value we bring to the ecosystem (capabilities statement)
- Future forward and alignment plans (wider industry vs the ecosystem)
9:00AM - 7:00PM
OCT 30 - RENEWAL OF BEP / DIVERSIFIED FUNDING
Topics:
- Funding Relationships, strategies, and management.
- How we measure success
- Key funding strategies to execute in our organizations
- Plans to unite going forward
9:00AM - 7:00PM
Join us to examine the progress of the Black Entrepreneurship Ecosystem as we collaborate to improve and amplify each aspect of our business community.
Why You Should Attend:
Black Entrepreneurship Program:
Many Black entrepreneurs received funding from FEDDev to support the startup and growth of their businesses. We will be sharing some of the many success stories and collaborations, as well as examine current challenges and potential funding opportunities for the Black entrepreneur community.
Unlock New Opportunities:
Imagine connecting with the top minds in Black entrepreneurship, sharing insights, and discovering new strategies that can propel your organization forward.
Learn from the Best:
Our sessions are packed with actionable insights on key organizational strategies, from leadership development to new technology implementation. You’ll walk away with practical knowledge you can apply immediately.
Build Lasting Connections:
Network with ecosystem leaders, fellow entrepreneurs, community members and government. These connections can open doors to new partnerships, collaborations, and opportunities.
Join us and be part of a community that’s dedicated to unity, growth, innovation, and mutual support.