What to know
- Melamoon, hosted by FACE (Federation of African Canadian Economics), is Canada’s largest Black-focused no-equity pitch competition, designed specifically to boost Black entrepreneurship and investment in communities that have historically faced barriers to capital and visibility.
- The Toronto preliminary was the last of five regional qualifiers, with 10 local founders advancing to the national Top 50 semi-finalists. These Toronto entrepreneurs now have a shot at being named to the Top 5, who will compete for $200,000 in non-dilutive capital at the BLAXPO x Melamoon event, October 16-17 at Steam Whistle Brewing.
- The event is more than a competition—it’s a platform for Black founders to network with investors, government officials, and ecosystem leaders and to share their innovative products and services with a national audience.
- Melamoon’s impact goes beyond funding: finalists say the competition brings vital recognition, mentorship, and community, helping to fuel the next generation of Black-led businesses across Canada.
Canada’s largest Black-focused no-equity pitch competition just named the Top 10 regional finalists at the Toronto preliminary, putting these standout founders one step closer to a finalist spot at a $200,000 non-dilutive capital at BLAXPO x Melamoon this October.
The Federation of African Canadian Economics (FACE) hosted Melamoon on August 14, bringing together Black founders, government officials, investors, and ecosystem leaders for a day focused on entrepreneurship, visibility, and access to capital.
Beyond the $200,000 in funding, this initiative puts Black founders at the forefront of the Canadian economy and community, and Black business owners who ranked in the top 10 share what this honour means to them, culturally, personally, and financially.
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Following stops in Montreal, Halifax, Vancouver, and Edmonton, Melamoon made its mark in Toronto as the final city qualifier before the grand finale in Toronto on Oct. 16-17 at Steam Whistle Brewing.
Tiffany Callender, FACE CEO and co-founder, explained that events like this, which shine a light on Black businesses, are crucial in this ever-changing world.
“We need all hands on deck right now for Canada to continue to thrive in the global economy,” Callender told Now Toronto. “Black Canadians contribute greatly to Canada’s economy, and we’re stronger together.”
By bringing together small and medium-sized businesses, events like Melamoon allow Canadians to see Black businesses shine, glow, and get the support they need, Callender explained, calling them the lifeline of Canada’s economy.
As Melamoon celebrates its second year, Callender shared the importance of observing how talent has emerged.
“Toronto is the largest and most dense community of Black Canadians across this country. It is the melting pot of many Black communities,” she said.
Melamoon also gives Black entrepreneurs the tools to have access to capital.
“If we invest in Toronto’s Black entrepreneurship community, we are investing in Toronto; we are strengthening our neighbourhoods,” Callender shared.
Last Friday, Melamoon selected 10 finalists in the preliminary round, and they shared what this means to them as Black business owners.
Eugenia Dadzie, Metacycler Bioinnovations Inc.
Metacycler Bioinnovations Inc.’s owner, Eugenia Dadzie, is creating cost-effective bioplastics that will later produce a wide range of useful plastic materials. Her goal: to prevent heavy plastic pollution, as she experienced back in her home country of Ghana.
“I grew up in Ghana, where you know plastic pollution was heavy, and that’s what drew me to do research in bioplastics production,” Dadzie told Now Toronto.
She shared that the opportunity Melamoon is giving her allows her to spread visibility and earn support for such an initiative, especially at a Black-focused event.
“I think it’s encouraging because it’s so helpful to see others in that space that look like me and are on a similar journey,” Dadzie said. “That motivation, being in a room of brilliant minds, all striving for the same goal, it’s just something else.
Especially as a student and an entrepreneur, Dadzie recognizes the impact of this opportunity.
“Funding is the key that unlocks what ventures need to break into the markets that they’re in,” she said.
Julie-Ann Selman – Infirnaa
Nurse clinician Julie-Ann Selman has drawn on her nursing background to found Infirnaa, an initiative to help nurses across Canada through a virtual platform that trains nurses with immersive simulations, seamless internship management and tailored exam preparation.
For her, putting her business out there and being recognized by Melamoon motivates her to keep going despite long shifts.
“I’m still a nurse. I’m working nights and doing my business during the day… But I enjoy the struggle of it, every single day, and I continue to keep going,” she said.
But for her, the funding would allow broader outreach to hospitals and universities and provide nurses currently in the field with access to the product, too.
“I believe that my business deserves an opportunity because healthcare is something that touches everybody, not just nurses,” Selamn said. “Everyone will, unfortunately, need to be in the hospital or have healthcare, and need a healthcare provider. So, having the opportunity to represent nurses and a business that could help them is really important.”
Dickson Kwesiga, Truckfixr Fleet Inc
Founder of Truckfixr Fleet Inc., Dickson Kwesiga, shared that, beyond visibility, competing in an event highlighting Black businesses has helped him expand his network.
“We get to share ideas with like-minded people from the Black community. The challenges are similar, so we get to share the challenges and discuss the solutions with people who have gone through what we are going through,” Kwesiga told Now Toronto.
He hopes to win to have better access to capital, which will allow his business to grow faster, strengthen the product, and secure better strategic partnerships.
Abdoulfatah Youssouf & Yonis Yousuf. Next Phase BioSolutions
Co-founders of Next Phase BioSolutions, Abdoulfatah Youssouf & Yonis Yousuf, shared that winning this prize could help them scale the business.
Their business is building an operating system for zero waste meat processing by bringing the whole plant online with sensors, cameras, and voice capture to generate two new income streams: recovered byproduct sales and verified carbon credits.
“That ability to also be able to scale, and instead of working slower, like a lot of industries, they operate at speed. That’s almost a form of currency. So being able to have that funding to get up and running to match the industry is very profitable,” Yousuf said.
Co-founder Youssouf added that securing more funding will also create more local jobs.
But this competition reminded the co-founders that access to the industry and opportunities are available.
“No matter your size, colour, race, ethnicity, you deserve a shot at business, and a lot of people grow up thinking there’s a barrier to access,” Yousuf said. “Having these initiatives and these opportunities just shows you that anybody can start a business as long as you have a dream you want to achieve.”
Abdel Ali – Kiwi Charge
Robotics AI electric vehicle charging Kiwi Charge business owner Abdel Ali shared that getting guidance and mentorship is a great help when in a new business; you’re “figuring out the blueprint as you’re executing,” he explained.
So, he enjoys learning alongside other business owners.
“Thank you for supporting incredible founders solving some of the biggest problems in the world,” Ali said.
Ayoola Bello, Echelon Institute
Ayoola Bello, founder of Echelon Institute, has launched his business to map the exam framework for water and wastewater operators, with visual modules that let you see and interact with real treatment processes.
The software also has an AI Tutor that explains everything from calculating a chlorine dose to monitoring turbidity; essentially, it provides real-world work examples.
Echelon’s focus comes as Canada faces growing shortages of blue-collar workers of over 20,000 skilled trades workers annually, with broader projections indicating a massive gap over 1.4 million additional trades workers required by 2033, according to the Government of Canada.
Daniel Adewumi, Propurti Geeks Incorporated
Propurti Geeks Incorporated, led by Daniel Adewumi, helps renters and tenants alike understand how the rental market works, making the rental experience more accessible and efficient. He aims to transform property management through technology, streamlining processes for landlords and tenants alike.
Kemi Bolatito, Rolla
Whether you’re visiting family or want to send them money, without the hassle, Rolla founder Kemi Bolatito created the platform to help people pay globally and verify their identity, without borders getting in the way.
Mohamed Ali, founder of Moro Technologies Inc.
Caregivers already have lots of responsibility, so Mohamed Ali, founder of Moro Technologies Inc., has created this platform to help ensure their loved one’s cues, routines, and needs are communicated to their entire care team: family, support workers, and care centres alike.
Ali was inspired by his care for his brother, living with autism, and decided to create this platform to alleviate caregiving for individuals with any disability.
Tony Colley, B12give
Tony Colley launched B12give to bridge the gap between surplus food and food insecurity. He was inspired by his personal 3-year financial hardship and hurt when he saw a catering company he regularly worked for discard food.
So, he began redistributing this surplus food to local shelters and launched it at a larger scale.
Now, his mission drives him to develop a sustainable, circular solution for the recovery and redistribution of surplus food.
These 10 Black-owned businesses are now competing along with the 40 national finalists for Melamoon’s $200,000 non-dilutive capital prizes, and the four winners will be determined at Melamoon’s event on Oct. 16/17.
