Training Report

By Lydia Phillip, Training & Communications Manager

BBI and Volta Launch Program to Support Black and Indigenous Founders

In partnership with Volta and Ulnooweg, we’ve launched “Boost”, a brand new program for Black and Indigenous founders in Nova Scotia. This program is made possible with the support of ACOA. Scheduled to start mid-March and led by experts in the industry, Boost is a fourmonth program designed to support the growth and development of Black and Indigenous entrepreneurs in Atlantic Canada. The program will take Black and Indigenous founders through workshops and skills development training to help them build their business ideas and achieve their operational goals. The program will select five to 10 individuals to join, participants will have access to a working lab in Volta’s co-working space and receive an honorarium for their participation. Ideal program participants include individuals with an early stage business idea or professional development goal who may need assistance moving the project forward; preference will be given to those with a tech-enabled startup idea - though no technical experience is required. Boost participants must be willing and eager to learn and apply new skills from industry experts, be able to commit to a 16-week term to build out their idea, and be based in Atlantic Canada. Applications for the program are now open, closing on February 21st, 2021 at 11:59PM (AST). If you’re interested in applying, visit www.voltaeffect.com/boost. Applicants will be contacted for an interview, and those selected to participate in the Boost Program will be contacted on or before March 1, 2021 to enroll. The program will begin on Monday, March 15, 2020. Some of the workshops will include subjects such as: • Leab Business Model Canvas • Leadership • Branding • MVP prototyping • Design thinking test solution • Customer discovery • Adapting to employment trends and COVID-19 • And more!

Black and Indigenous-owned businesses contribute significantly to Canada’s economy. We’re excited to announce this partnership with Volta, Mitacs, and ACOA. Launching a program of this caliber will provide significant opportunities in the entrepreneurial sector. We truly believe that increasing the participation of BIPOC founders in the startup ecosystem will strengthen the business community not only in our province, but globally.”

– Matthew James Martel, Black Business Initiative Chief Operating Officer

Have a business idea?

Every Thursday between 2pm-3pm, drop in to the BBI office to chat with one of our knowledgeable Entrepreneurial Engagement Managers and learn about how BBI can assist you at any stage of your business. Thursdays don’t work for you? Not a problem! Give us a call at 902-426-8683 and plan a visit!

THE B L A C K B U S I N E S S I N I T I A TIVE J O I N U S I N C E L E B R A T I N G O U R

F O L L O W U S F O R S P E C I A L E V E N T S , P R O G R A M S , A N D U P D A T E S !