Venture Unveiled: Alternative Pathways to Funding
For many founders, the road to success doesn’t always come with a venture capital boost, and that’s okay. This intimate event is for those who may not fit the traditional VC mould or find themselves in spaces that aren’t easily venture-hackable. Whether you’re cash strapped but dream fueled, this is your opportunity to explore creative alternatives and forge your own path.
We’ll discuss the diverse ways founders can grow and thrive outside the conventional funding ecosystem, offering practical insights, strategies, and connections to help you succeed. While VCs play an essential role in the startup world, this event highlights the many routes to success — and yours is just as valid.
Meet Our Panel
Yvonne Osagie, Founder MedMelanin - Moderator
Yvonne is the Founder & CEO of Med Melanin. Deeply moved by the challenges faced by women of color in healthcare, particularly in instances of misdiagnosis and unequal treatment, led her to speak with over 300 patients. Her passion for health equity led to the creation of Med Melanin. With over 6 years of experience in partnerships, sales and program management as well as 5 years in healthcare she is dedicated to using this experience to foster an environment where every woman feels safe when navigating their healthcare journey. Yvonne holds a Masters of Business, Entrepreneurship and Technology from University of Waterloo and a BSc Honors in Neuroscience & Mental Health with a double minor in ASL & business from Carleton University.
Adelin Brunal, Futurepreneur
Adelin Brunal is a Business Development Manager at Futurpreneur Canada. He is responsible for promoting the Black Entrepreneur Startup Program (BESP) in Ontario, the Prairies, and the Northern territories. He works closely with entrepreneurs, mentors, and partner organizations to support and empower young Black entrepreneurs in launching successful businesses. Adelin is also an entrepreneur himself, having founded a Property Management company and a Holistic Life Coaching business.
Dwayne Forde, Mantle
With over 20 years in engineering, Dwayne has championed full-stack solutions primarily in startups, covering sectors from finance to entertainment. Their expertise extends to managing vast cloud infrastructure projects for top banks and government agencies. As a seasoned leader, Dwayne has directed teams of 180+ across multiple locations. An esteemed speaker, their insights have illuminated platforms like TEDx Silicon North. Celebrated for introducing innovative patterns in new tech domains, Dwayne remains a trusted figure in the industry. Previously, Dwayne was a Senior Director of Engineering at VMware & Pivotal via the acquisition of Xtreme Labs.
Brad Cheuk, BDC
Brad Cheuk is a Senior Account Manager with the Tech Team at the BDC. He is an ongoing business partner for SME’s in the tech sector, assisting challenges related to financing and advisory needs. The tech group has supported hundreds of projects, particularly in the areas of software development, data management, hardware, and digital media. Before joining BDC, he was an Associate at Saltagen Ventures where he helped bridge the gap between North American tech startups and investors in Asia. Prior to that, he was a Venture Manager for the Space Stream with the Creative Destruction Lab.
About BEA
The Black Entrepreneurship Alliance (BEA) is a Black-led nonprofit business incubator that exists to amplify and advance the next generation of Black entrepreneurs, professionals, and youth. Co-created by the Black Creek Community Health Centre in partnership with York University’s YSpace, the BEA provides Black entrepreneurs with access to fully funded programs, partnerships, and resources to launch and scale successful ventures and careers.
About Yspace
YSpace is York University’s pan-university entrepreneurship and innovation hub supporting startups and entrepreneurs from a variety of sectors and communities. Our programming spans across scaling innovative technologies through customer and investor capital to scaling agri-food businesses into mass retail to diversity-focused initiatives like ELLA for women-led businesses and Black Entrepreneurship Alliance (BEA) for Black-led businesses. We are also home to two physical hubs in the City of Markham and the Town of Georgina.