BIZ Panel Series

​About the Event

​A high-energy two-hour block curated by the Black Innovation Zone (BIZ), bringing together founders, investors, and ecosystem partners driving inclusive innovation across Canada. Expect practical insights, actionable strategies, and bold conversations

​Elevate Festival Context

​​Elevate Festival 2025 brings together 15,000 startups, investors, and ecosystem builders from October 7–9 in Toronto. The Black Innovation Zone adds impact through:

• ​​A designated space for Black Entrepreneurs at Saint Lawrence Centre for the Arts- Jane Mallet Theatre lobby

• ​​​Stage recognition for partners and founders

• ​​​Networking opportunities aligned with the Black Entrepreneurship Prize

​Agenda

• ​11:00 AM – What is the Black Innovation Zone? (Part 1)
  Hear from Melisa Ellis (Nobellum), Chris Thompson (Federation of Black Canadians), and Efosa Obano (Black Founders Network) on the mission, vision, and ecosystem powering the Black Innovation Zone   

• ​11:15 AM – What is the Black Innovation Zone? (Part 2)
  Featuring Miraaj Yousif (Black Opportunity Fund), Tomi Oyende (Black Business Ventures Association), and Katerina Msafari (Tribe Network) as they share how their organizations are helping build a stronger, more connected innovation ecosystem with the BIZ.  

• ​11:30 AM – The Future of AI and Tech
  Moderated by Claudette Hutchinson, with panelists Gifty Gyimah, Liberty White, and Jonathon Bloomfield, exploring how Black innovators are leveraging AI to shape the future.

• ​12:00 PM –  Tips and Tricks as a Leader, I Wish I Knew
  Join Chris Thompson (Federation of Black Canadians), Mo Ekijumi (SkillHat), and Devon Harnarain (Caribbean Canadian Association of Waterloo Region – CCAWR) for an engaging and interactive workshop where they share practical leadership insights, lessons learned, and the key skills every leader wishes they had known earlier in their journey.

• ​12:30 PM – Supporting Black Founders at Every Stage (BFN)
  Moderated by Efosa Obano (Black Founders Network), this session spotlights founders and programs from across the BFN ecosystem — BFN Smart Start featuring Sarra Ali (Diaminate), Rey Lambie (Founder Athlete), Fatima Abdillahi (Agentflow), and Leslie Wodu (Jefferey); BFN Accelerate & BCAP featuring Tony Colley (B12Give) and Stephen Adindu (The Career Accelerator); and BFN Scale featuring Cynthia Ene (Corol).  

• ​1:00 PM – City of Brampton Showcase
  Join Councillor Singh Toor, Nick Noel (Brampton Angels), Zainab Williams (Fund Evolve), and Melisa Ellis for a dynamic discussion on the state of Black entrepreneurship in Canada. The panel will explore key barriers and opportunities faced by Black founders.  

• ​2:00 PM – Black Innovation Zone Open Mic
  Founders in the audience take the stage to pitch their business on the spot.  

• ​3:00 PM – 5:00 PM – Networking
  Meet and connect with founders, partners, and community leaders featuring City of Brampton, TiE Toronto, SkillHat, Federation of Black Canadians, CCAWR, Nobellum.

​Why Attend

• ​Learn from founders building bold, scalable ventures

• ​Gain real strategies for protecting and monetizing innovation

• ​Hear from investors and ecosystem leaders on funding and collaboration opportunities

• ​Connect directly with national partners advancing inclusive entrepreneurship

​What’s Next

​Stay with us for the next session in the BIZ Zone:

​Coming Up at Elevate

​The Black Innovation Zone is just getting started. More events are happening throughout Elevate Festival, including: