PROGRAMMING
AUGUST 14TORONTO
Melamoon Pitching Competition
Experience 20 finalists pitching live for a chance to represent Western Canada. Ten founders will advance to the next stage of the competition.
Discover bold ideas, ambitious ventures, and the next generation of standout Black entrepreneurs—driven by passion, vision, and transformative potential.
time9:00 AM - 12:45 PM
speakersPitch Finalists
Invitation-Only Breakfast with Ecosystem Partners
A private networking breakfast for program partners to gather, set the tone, and officially open Melamoon Edmonton.
time9:00 AM - 10:15 AM
HACKATHON - PERSONAL LAPTOP REQUIRED
build your business plan: An ai workshop for black entrepreneurs
Spend an afternoon with CILAR, KPMG, and Lovable learning how to use AI to run your business smarter—and walk away with tools you can use immediately.
A hands-on session where you will build your own AI-powered Chief of Staff using Claude, and create a simple, functional app for your business using Lovable—no technical experience required.
You’ll leave with:A custom AI assistant tailored to your business needs
A working operational tool built for your business
Lovable build credits to keep developing
Connections with a community of fellow entrepreneurs
This is not about learning AI theory—it’s about putting AI to work on your business.
PANEL
State of our union: black entrepreneurship program 2.0
The federal government has renewed the Black Entrepreneurship Program—so now what?
In this town hall moderated by Dani Pinnock, leaders from the three pillars of the BEP—ecosystem support, financing, and the knowledge hub—share their mandates, outline available services, and answer questions live from the floor.
time1:45 PM - 2:45 PM
moderatorpanelistsAbdoulaye Barry ☾ Africa Center
Deborah Allotey ☾ BEKH
Dipo Alli ☾ Black Business Ventures Association
Ibukun Orefuja ☾ Black Business Edmonton
Ikenna Onuorah ☾ The Nod
Popoola Akande ☾ Canadian Imperial Advantage
PANEL
fireside chat: the realness
Join us for an unfiltered and deeply honest fireside chat moderated by FACE Co-founder and CEO, Tiffany Callender, featuring Samuel Kasumu, Former Special Adviser in Downing Street with African Heritage.
This candid panel goes beyond the highlight reel to unpack the realities of building and sustaining a business—exploring the grit, resilience, and hard truths behind the journey. Expect raw insights, real stories, and practical lessons on what it truly takes to start, grow, and maintain success.
time3:00 PM - 3:45 PM
moderatorTiffany Callender ☾ FACE Co-Founder and CEO
panelistsSamuel Kasumu ☾ Former Special Adviser in Downing Street with African Heritage
Melamoon regional finalists announcement
Discover the top 10 regional winners advancing in the competition for $200,000 in non-dilutive funding.
A milestone moment celebrating excellence, ambition, and impact.
time4:00 PM - 4:45 PM
cocktail reception
Connect, celebrate, and engage with regional finalists while networking with the Western ecosystem of Black entrepreneurship.
time4:45 PM - 7:00 PM
our sponsors
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Register for the Toronto Pre-lim on August 14, 2026!
Register for FREE and join us to support Black founders, discover innovative businesses, and connect with the entrepreneurial ecosystem across Eastern Canada.
