Black Seed Accelerator Program for Black tech founders

Black Seed Accelerator Program for Black tech founders

Aiming to supercharge Black tech-led startups, Black Business Ventures Association (BBVA) announced their first-ever Black Seed Accelerator Program for Black tech founders in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. The Black Seed Accelerator Program amplifies and supports the best Black-led tech startups for Black founders by Black industry experts.

About Black Seed Accelerator Program for Black tech founders

The Black Seed Accelerator is for Black founders by Black industry experts. It is a 12-week accelerator program for Black-led tech founders and startups in the Canadian Prairies (Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba). The program is for early-stage startups that are yet to gain recurring customers.

In the program, startup teams will

  • learn how to validate the key assumptions of their business,
  • develop their MVP, and
  • get their first paying customers.

This is groundbreaking for underrepresented Black founders who seek spaces where like-minded Black-led startups are getting prepared for rapid growth. This is achieved through the accelerator’s core curriculum, community and coaching so they can confidently launch their big idea to market.

To learn more about the accelerator, watch the video below.

Why Do We Need Black Seed Accelerator Program for Black tech founders?

Black-led startups fail not only because they lack money, infrastructure, or mentorship but sometimes because they lack the right support system. Also, Canada is vastly becoming home to a growing and diverse network of tech ecosystems vital for the nation’s economic growth. However, there are gaps in the participation of underrepresented Black tech founders, startups and tech-enabled businesses. So, Black Business Ventures Association is on a mission to support Black tech founders and startups

  • with opportunities to engage with and contribute to their local innovation ecosystem fully and,
  • in the process, capture target market opportunities.

BBVA believes Black-led startups and tech-enabled businesses in Canada have the potential to present massive market impact and opportunities in an industry where only 2.6 percent of the tech workforce in Canada are Black (Brookfield Institute: 2019). This is a representation and diversity problem. However, BBVA sees it as the most significant opportunity to invest in underrepresented Black tech founders.

Why Now?

Much of the interest in the accelerator program has been triggered by Canadian governments at all levels betting on technology to propel our economy forward. Also, there is  an under representation and diversity problem in the tech industry. Therefore, BBVA’s accelerator program seeks to be a catalyst in setting up Black-led tech founders. The program presents a significant opportunity to invest in underrepresented Black tech founders and startups and drive significant economic outcomes.

There is no cost for participation once applicants qualify. Moreover, they do not have to give up any equity to participate. In addition, the program is fully flexible and remote, making it easy for participants to gain accessibility and be part of a community.

For more information on the program, visit the Black Seed Accelerator web page.

If you like this article “Black Seed Accelerator Program for Black tech founders”, please share it with your friends and family. Also, subscribe to our newsletter and YouTube Channel to ensure you don’t miss any update from us.  Finally, don’t forget to join our community to connect with others. Lastly, you can also follow us on our social media pages – TwitterFacebookInstagram and LinkedIn.

About Emmanuel Oluwatosin

Co-founder & Publisher of AfricaX. He is interested in: Technology | Media | Startup | Business | Education. Emmanuel currently lives in Calgary, Canada with his family.

View all posts by Emmanuel Oluwatosin →

Start the discussion at community.africaextended.com