When AfroToronto first spoke with Nobellum founder Melisa Ellis in 2022, the goal sounded both urgent and audacious: to launch 100 Black-owned businesses in STEM by 2025, while building an ecosystem that keeps dollars circulating within the community. Three years later, the milestone is real. The headline Melisa wants you to remember is simple and powerful: “It’s possible.” The story behind that phrase serves as a blueprint for how Black innovators, in Toronto and across the diaspora, can claim a space in an industrial revolution defined by AI, automation, clean tech, and digital transformation.
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- Written by: Meres J. Weche
- Parent Category: Articles
- Category: Business and Innovation
Kava, a Black-owned streamer from Inkblot and Filmhouse, launches globally with premium Nollywood titles and a filmmaker-led vision for authentic African stories.
Kava arrives with a clear promise, and a name that spells it out: Keep African Voices Alive. Co-founded by Nollywood heavyweights Inkblot Studios and Filmhouse Group, the platform is designed as a premium, filmmaker-led home for African storytelling. AfroToronto spoke with Kava’s co-CEOs, Chinaza Onuzo (Inkblot Studios) and Kene Okwuosa (Filmhouse Group), about why this moment matters, how the service will roll out globally, and what it means for creators and audiences across the continent and the diaspora.
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- Written by: AfroToronto Team
- Parent Category: Articles
- Category: Business and Innovation
Melamoon empowers Black Canadian founders with capital, mentorship, and visibility in a two-day Toronto event backed by FACE and Black Ambition.
As Canada’s startup scene continues to evolve, a powerful new initiative is setting a bold precedent for inclusive innovation. Enter Melamoon, a dynamic two-day experience designed to uplift Black founders with real capital, holistic support, and culturally rooted community engagement. Taking place September 26–27, 2025, at Toronto’s Globe and Mail Centre, Melamoon launches as a national call to action that urges Canada’s business community to see, fund, and believe in Black entrepreneurial excellence—far beyond the bounds of a traditional pitch competition.
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- Written by: AfroToronto Team
- Parent Category: Articles
- Category: Business and Innovation
Stage One applications are now open for the 2025 Black Men in Business program, a national six-week initiative supporting Black entrepreneurs across Canada.
Canada’s leading initiative for Black male entrepreneurs is officially back. The 2025 edition of Black Men in Business, an impactful national program designed to empower early-stage founders and small business owners, is now open for Stage One applications.
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- Written by: Meres J. Weche
- Parent Category: Articles
- Category: Business and Innovation
As DEI programs face growing political backlash, Uber’s evolving stance offers a revealing case study. This article revisits a pivotal conversation with Tony West to explore what’s changed since 2021.
Five years ago, on May 25th, 2020, the murder of George Floyd ignited a global awakening about racial justice. Corporations made ambitious promises—many publicly committing to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in ways we had never witnessed before.
In 2021, I sat down with Tony West, Uber’s Senior Vice President and Chief Legal Officer, to discuss the company's commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). At the time, West emphasized Uber's dedication to fostering an inclusive workplace and supporting underrepresented communities. He spoke passionately about the company's initiatives to increase diversity within its workforce and leadership, and to ensure equitable treatment for all employees and riders.
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- Written by: News Editor
- Parent Category: Articles
- Category: Business and Innovation
The Conestoga Entrepreneur Collective (CEC) recently released their Five Year Impact Report showcasing the success of Black entrepreneurs in Waterloo Region. The CEC delivers unique programming and support to entrepreneurs in the community and is working in partnership with LiftOff, a community-based ecosystem of Black entrepreneurs in Waterloo Region and Wellington County, to specifically support Black entrepreneurs.
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- Written by: Meres J. Weche
- Parent Category: Articles
- Category: Business and Innovation
Regina Gwynn is a driven entrepreneur, and the force behind the Black Women Talk Tech movement. In this interview with AfroToronto.com, she shares her personal journey and the inspiration behind her groundbreaking work, highlighting the highs and lows of entrepreneurship. She then discusses the challenges women of colour face in the tech industry, emphasizing the need to build diverse and inclusive communities for support and advocacy.
