Black Pitch Contest

Q: START YOUR APPLICATION HERE!

document.documentElement.lang = navigator.language;

ELEVATE YOUR VISION

APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN

WHAT IS THE BLACK PITCH CONTEST?

Empower, Elevate, Invest:The Future of Our Community

The Black Pitch Contest is a program operated by the Black Entrepreneurs and Businesses of Canada (BEBC) Society and in collaboration with the Black Opportunity Fund (BOF).

This opportunity welcomes Black businesses from across the country to pitch their brilliant idea to win up to $50K in prizing and more! Winners will be announced at this year’s in-person Pitch Competition in May 2025.

Our annual pitch competition serves as a powerful platform for Black entrepreneurs to showcase their visionary ideas, gain invaluable mentorship, and secure crucial funding to propel their ventures forward.

Left to right: Walid Baba Moussa, Evans Eugene Osei, Craig Wellington, Andrea Chambers, Mwenda Dyck, Djalil Baba Moussa, Nanette Sene, Stéphane Beaulne

Receive up to $50,000 CAD worth of prizing, tools, resources and more to spark and accelerate your growth!

This year we are introducing 3 streams:

As an applicant, you will:

Showcase Your Visionary Idea

Elevate your key value proposition. Define what goals you wish to achieve.

Gain Brand Exposure

Get recognized nationally by your peers, potential investors, collaborators and more!

Invest in
Yourself

Connect with like minded entrepreneurs and business owners. Apply for the Black Business Awards!

As a finalist, you will receive:

A Paid Trip to Vancouver, BC

Pitch your idea live to a panel of judges, meet fellow entrepreneurs, sponsors, investors and more!

1-on-1 Mentoring
and Coaching

Learn from industry experts. Receive free tools, resources and opportunities to reach more customers.

Funding Opportunities

Win cash prizes to help your business thrive. Network and connect with people looking for suppliers just like YOU!

PITCH COMPETITION TIMELINE

February 28, 2025

Applications Close

March 17, 2025

Public Voting Closes

March 24, 2025

Top 27 Finalists Announced

March 31, 2025

Top 18 Finalists Announced

April 8, 2025

Top 9 Finalists Announced

Preparations for Live Pitches with Mentors

May 17, 2025

Live Pitch Competition

In-Person in Vancouver, BC

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

A legal resident of Canada
Any age or gender in any industry
Open to registering as a Canadian business
The founder or majority shareholder(s) must self-identify as Black
Must be passionate about the idea they are pitching
The applicant must understand that funding is taxable (business taxes as reported income)
If named as a Finalist, applicants must be available to attend our in-person Pitch Competition in May 2025
Upon application, you’ll become a member of the BEBC Society and be added to our growing list of +2900 Black Businesses in Canada! Best of luck!

ARE YOU READY TO APPLY?

Video tips and guidelines:

Pitch your brilliant idea by submitting a video entry
An autobiography
The idea you’re passionate about
An explanation of how the issue/idea impacts your community
Examples of how you can bring your idea to life!
Keep it brief!
Videos should be approximately 2 minutes long and no longer than 5 minutes!

Media and form requirements:

Video: upload your video directly after submitting your form (bigger files will have longer processing times)
Headshot(s): please share high quality photos of founder(s) – these should be half body with no parts cut off!
Logos: if able, please share logo variations
All application fields and waivers must be completed and signed!

START YOUR APPLICATION HERE!

Final Due Date: February 28, 2025 at 11:59pm PST

Grand Prize Winners

Awarded Finalists

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

Left to right: Nanette Sene, Paul Brassard, Mwenda Dyck

If you are interested in becoming a sponsor, you’re not just supporting a contest, you’re investing in the future of Canadian business and contributing to the economic empowerment of the Black community. As a sponsor, your support will greatly impact this transformative initiative and be the catalyst for growth, innovation, and success within Canada’s Black business ecosystem.

BLACK PITCH CONTEST

ELEVATE YOUR VISION

APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN