PROGRAMMING

vancoUver

july 04

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.

time

9:00 AM - 12:20 PM

speakers

Pitch Finalists

HACKATHON

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.

time

10:45 AM - 12:45 PM

speakers

Agapi Gessesse ☾ (CILAR), KPMG Representative, Lovable Team

face introduction & ecosystem welcome

A moment to gather, set the tone, and officially open Melamoon Vancouver.

time

1:30 PM - 1:35 PM

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.

time

1:35 PM - 2:35 PM

moderator

Danielle Pinnock

fireside chat: the realness

Join us for an unfiltered and deeply honest fireside chat moderated by FACE Co-founder and CEO, Tiffany Callender, featuring entrepreneur Maureen Simon from Maureen Simon Foods.

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.