watch CANADIAN Founders pitch to win $100K, $50K,
or one of two $25K cash prizes — no equity, no catch.black founders.
real capital.
no strings.
PRESENTED BY:
FACE COALITION
☾
IN COLLABORATION WITH:
BLAXPO
☽
PRESENTED BY: FACE COALITION ☾ IN COLLABORATION WITH: BLAXPO ☽
ABOUT MELAMOON
Melamoon is more than a pitch competition.
It is a capital-powered launchpad designed to spotlight, support, and scale bold ideas rooted in culture, innovation, and community. Backed by FACE Coalition and presented in collaboration with BLAXPO, Melamoon was created to help Black founders gain visibility, build meaningful connections, access mentorship, and open doors to long-term opportunities.
Now entering its second edition, Melamoon continues to grow into a national platform celebrating Black entrepreneurship across Canada.
The 2026 tour officially kicked off in Montréal during BLAXPO and will continue travelling across the country through a series of curated city stops designed to build momentum, share knowledge, foster collaboration, and create direct access to new opportunities for Black entrepreneurs and innovators.
"Melamoon is a national blueprint for what's possible when Black ambition is met with real investment, ecosystem support, and cultural intention."
Tiffany Callender, CEO and Co-Founder, FACE Coalition
2026 melamoon stopsPRE-LIM KICK-OFF
(in collaboration with BLAXPO)
MONTREAL
PRE-LIM
halifax
PRE-LIM
PRE-LIM
PRE-LIM
may 23june 13vancouver
july 04edmonton
july 18toronto
GRAND FINALE
(in collaboration with BLAXPO)
august 07october 16-17toronto
Melamoon uses the power of pitch competitions to help entrepreneurs gain visibility, build confidence, and connect with mentors, partners, and opportunities across Canada.
Melamoon exists to celebrate and support the innovation, creativity, and potential of Black entrepreneurs.
City Stops
mtl
MAY 23
pre-lim Kick offDays
Hours
Minutes
Seconds
ADDITIONAL CITIES ACROSS CANADA TO BE ANNOUNCED
Each stop is an opportunity to connect, learn, and apply. Selected founders will pitch live in their city, with top founders advancing to one final stage.
TOR
OCT 16-17
finale
Melamoon is about more than funding. It is about shared power, collective growth, and building an ecosystem where Black entrepreneurs can lead on their own terms.
This October in Toronto, 50 founders from across the country will be selected to join a national cohort, gaining access to mentorship, investor exposure, and the opportunity to pitch for non-dilutive cash prizes.
No equity taken.Business must be at least 51% owned and operated by individuals who identify as Black or of African descent
Founder and business must be based in Canada
Business operating for less than 10 years
Annual revenue under $1,000,000
Eligibility Criteria
Has not raised more than $1,000,000 in dilutive capital
Operating in consumer products and services, healthcare, media and entertainment, technology, or AI
No direct affiliation with large corporations, investment funds, or government entities
Founders and immediate family members cannot be employed by FACE
All eligibility decisions are made at the discretion of FACE
The Prizes
$200,000 in non-dilutive cash prizes1st place$100,000
2nd place$50,000
3rd place$25,000
audience choice award$25,000
THE phases
FACE and BLAXPO are partnering to provide capital and training to Canadian based entrepreneurs who are growing early-stage businesses in consumer products & services, healthcare, media & entertainment, technology, and AI to help close the opportunity and wealth gap and to position diverse founders to excel, uninterrupted.
Our goal is to fund bold ideas, and to help reduce barriers to accessing capital.
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Each city opens a dedicated 48-hour application window. Founders apply through one city, creating focused, high-intent cohorts across the country.
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Selected founders are invited to a virtual pitch round where ideas, traction, and founder readiness are evaluated.
Top founders advance to the next stage.
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Top founders pitch live at their city’s MELAMOON stop.
Each event features a curated pitch format with multiple rooms and judges, designed to surface the strongest ideas in an intimate, high-quality setting.
From each city, 10 founders are selected to move forward.
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50 founders from across Canada are selected to join the Melamoon cohort.
Participants gain access to visibility, mentorship, and ecosystem connections as they prepare for the final stage.
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Cohort founders submit additional materials, including detailed decks and business insights.
A smaller group is selected to pitch on the main stage in Toronto.
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Location: Toronto (Venue TBD)
Date: October 16 to 17The journey culminates at BLAXPO Toronto.
Finalists pitch live for non-dilutive cash prizes across multiple categories, gaining national visibility and access to capital.
MEET the visionaries
FACE
Founded in 2021, The Federation of African Canadian Economics (FACE) is a national and bilingual Black-led non-profit organization aimed at providing Black entrepreneurs in Canada with access to critical capital investments, working capital, and additional business resources for their success.
With the Government of Canada and the Business Development Bank of Canada as key partners and funders, FACE administers the Black Entrepreneurship Loan Fund (BELF) — a $160 million fund from which 591 loans (valued at over CAD 50 million) have been disbursed to over 500 Black-owned businesses across Canada as of May, 2025.
BLAXPO
BLAXPO is an economic and cultural platform designed to expand access, visibility, and opportunity for Black professionals, founders, and emerging talent.
We connect community to capital, insight, and infrastructure through curated experiences, strategic partnerships, and programming that reflects the realities of a rapidly evolving economy. From students navigating entry into the workforce to founders scaling ventures, BLAXPO creates pathways that support long-term participation, not just momentary exposure.
Grounded in cultural fluency and built for a digital-first future, BLAXPO exists to ensure that Black talent is not only seen, but sustainably supported.
