Providing tangible support for the Black community has been one of the requests from Black founders and ventures we have interacted with on a large scale in BC since the launch of Innovation UBC’s Black Advisory Hub on the West Coast last February. The University of British Columbia is pleased to partner with the Casa Foundation to launch the Black Advisory Hub, a national program to support Black entrepreneurs to start and grow their businesses. As UBC’s entrepreneurship hub, Innovation UBC provides students, researchers, faculty and staff with the resources, network and programming they need to propel their innovations through venture creation.
Showcasing Innovation UBC’s ventures is one of the ways we provide support and opportunities for Black founders. As Western Canada’s biggest expo of African and Caribbean products and culture, AfroWorld was the perfect venue to showcase our ventures. This year, Innovation UBC was pleased to offer this opportunity to Black founders in our programs, providing the unique opportunity to sponsor them to showcase their business at the exhibition. Ayissi Nyemba of EmkaoFoods and Paschal Okwundi of Binta Financial were able to join the over 60 black businesses at the exhibition held at the Vancouver Convention Centre on June 1-2, to build partnerships, engage clients, sell their products and connect with the wider Black community of entrepreneurs in Canada.
Paschal’s immigrant rent reporting captured many members at the exhibition including Minister Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada (PACIFICAN). Ayissi was highlighted by Global News TV as she shared the story of how she created an impact for cocoa farmers through her cocoa processing business and unique products that serve diverse groups.
The Black Advisory Hub, as a way of increasing student participation, brought on 3 UBC students – Seth Asabre, Debbie Adejumo and Rachel Naa Borley Apler-Doku – who were inspired by the community of Black entrepreneurs. We are calling on all Black student groups in UBC to engage with Innovation UBC and the Black Advisory Hub to help forge entrepreneurial pathways in research, arts, or business. Entrepreneurship is a great way to empower the Black population in UBC.
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