Ready to Go From Idea To Industry - Leading Startup
Join the Black Seed Accelerator program for Black-led tech and tech-enabled startups and turn your idea into paying clients in 12 weeks.
Closing date August 8th
Next program workshop: September 13th - November 29th, 2022
Validate Your Idea
Connect With Coaches
Find Funding
Most Black entrepreneurs in Canada only have access to startup loans rather than non-repayable funding.
Our program presents a significant opportunity to invest in underrepresented Black tech founders and startups and drives significant economic outcomes.
Introducing
The Black Seed Accelerator Program
The Black Seed Accelerator program gives you the roadmap to success for your tech-enabled startup
HERE'S WHAT IS INSIDE
BBVA ACCELERATOR PLAYBOOK
The Black Seed Accelerator uses this Playbook to DESIGN, TEST and PITCH your tech-enabled startup
PROBLEM DISCOVERY
Design your business models
Identify and prioritize risk assumptions
Communicate and idea clearly with stakeholders
SOLUTION DESIGN
Test whether and idea is worth pursuing
Stress-test using small and fast experiments
Test customer interviews to learn from customers' responses
FIRST CUSTOMER
Practice pitches to customers
Build a company-wide dashboard
Operate and make decisions under conditions of extreme uncertainty
FUNDING SUPPORT
Get recommendations for suitable grants
Get support to apply for grants
Meet and establish relationship with interested investors
Bonus
Bi-weekly coaching calls
Homework & Assignments
1-1 Sessions with coaches
Pop-up workshops from Black Founders
Office hours with BBVA Director
Closing date August 8th
Join a Cohort of Black-led Tech Startups for a 12-week program
Our Black Seed Accelerator program allows you to leverage our expertise and network to grow your idea from vision to a scalable startup
What We're Looking for
Founder Composition
A Black led founder and preference for a team with a founder and co-founder
Early Stage
Just starting your business within the past 18 months.
Prairie-base
Startup should be based in Alberta, Saskatchewan or Manitoba
Tech-Driven or Tech-Enabled
A company or startup where technology is the core part of the solution
Program Features
100% Online
Access 100% virtual online curriculum, mentorship and networks
Early-Stage
Focusing on early-stage companies, registered by Black-led tech founders with global market potential
Equity Free
We do not require any equity from your startup. We value your time and commitment
Meet Your Coaches
We’ve made sure to create a program where cohorts are supported by industry experts in the ecosystem
Your Business Can Both Survive and Thrive For Years To Come
Join The Black Seed Accelerator Program with these 3 simple steps
STEP 1
Join the cohort
Join the Black Seed Accelerator program at no cost to you, and you do not have to give up equity.
STEP 2
Learn the Playbooks
Eliminate the frustration and confusion of not knowing what to do next.
STEP 3
Grow Your Business
Create a business that investors are thrilled to invest in and turn your vision into reality.
The Program
Frequently Asked Questions
We work in 3 phases to access your application.
Phase 1: Submit your application online.
Phase 2: Shortlisted teams will participate in a virtual interview.
Phase 3: Selected candidates will be notified ahead of the program start date.
By August 22nd (The program start date is on September 13th ).
We’re focused on the Prairie region because there are currently no existing programs for Black tech founders in this region.
Yes.
English.
We recommend that you allocate 15-20 hours a week to get the most out of the accelerator.
Although this is a live program, startup teams are expected to complete biweekly sprint activities and course modules for their startups and will held accountable by their coaches at a biweekly meeting.
Ideally, we’d prefer that you have a co-founder or another person working with the founder and part of the program. If you already have a multi-disciplinary team of 3-5 people and would like to work together on the same company project, you can participate as a team.
We’re looking for early stage companies, either registered or planned to be registered, with an MVP or initial MVP, with early traction or no traction yet, by underrepresented founders with global market potential.
Our goal is to have more black founders start and succeed in their technology business. We do this by connecting the black community to the resources available in the technology ecosystem.
At the end of the program founders are expected to have their first paying customers and confidence about their business idea. In addition, founders will understand the next steps or actions required for them to grow and scale their business. They will also be equipped with the knowledge on how to access local resources ( financial, mentorship and partnerships) required for them to grow their startup.