The Black Innovation Zone (BIZ) hosted Startupfest 2025 with a focus on visibility and investment for Black-led startups in Canada’s growing tech ecosystem. BIZ is a national initiative that supports Black tech entrepreneurs through funding, mentorship, and exposure across Canada’s innovation economy. Held annually in Montreal, the BIZ space remains the only dedicated zone for Black founders at the festival, offering them a platform to pitch, connect with investors, and build momentum.
$60,000 in Grants Awarded to Black-Led Startups
This year, the Black Innovation Zone awarded a total of $60,000 in funding to four standout startups. The 2025 grant recipients were:
- ElleLogic AI — A Toronto-based healthtech company using machine learning to optimise hospital workflow and reduce clinician burnout.
- CELLECT Laboratories — A biotech startup focused on sustainable alternatives to plastic using cell-based material innovation.
- BeBlended — A digital marketplace tailored to Black hairstylists and clients across Canada, focused on convenience and cultural alignment.
- Kare Chemical Technologies — A clean chemistry company developing green formulations for industrial and consumer use.
Each company was selected through a competitive pitch process that evaluated business readiness, innovation, and potential impact. The grants are intended to support early-stage growth, product development, and market entry.
Supporting Growth Beyond the Fest
The Black Innovation Zone bridges the resource gap many Black entrepreneurs face in traditional tech spaces through workshops, investor matchups, and peer networking.
BIZ also partnered with platforms like the DMZ, Black Founders Network, and the Business Development Bank of Canada to offer ongoing support and visibility to alumni. Many founders from past editions have gone on to secure larger rounds of funding, scale their companies, and gain international exposure.
A Catalyst for Canada’s Inclusive Tech Future
For Black-led startups, BIZ offers exposure and a space that affirms identity while unlocking opportunity. Its presence at Canada’s largest startup gathering signals a growing recognition that equity in tech requires structural support.
“Black founders don’t lack talent, they lack access,” said Nadine Spencer, a lead organiser of the Black Innovation Zone. “What we’re doing at Startupfest is showing what happens when access, capital, and intention meet.”
