Published in partnership with Futurpreneur's Black Entrepreneur Startup Program

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When Oris Eddu set out to build Breathe Live Explore, she had a vision. The artistry was there: bold, color-rich textile pieces that brought warmth and identity into everyday spaces. What she needed was the structure to bring it to life.

"Futurpreneur's Black Entrepreneur Startup Program gave me structured support at a time when I was building with vision but needed guidance," says Oris, a Vancouver-based artist and designer. "The mentorship and access to funding helped me move from ideas to execution with more clarity and confidence."

Oris's story is one of hundreds. Across Canada, Black entrepreneurs are building something remarkable, and for five years, BESP has been in their corner.

What is BESP?

Launched in March 2021 by Futurpreneur, the Black Entrepreneur Startup Program was built with a clear and urgent purpose: to give Black entrepreneurs across Canada equitable access to the capital, mentorship, resources, and networks they need to succeed.

The program offers collateral-free loan financing of up to $75,000 alongside one-on-one mentorship, a combination designed to address the systemic barriers that have historically made entrepreneurship harder for Black founders to access and sustain.

The Black Entrepreneur Startup Program is funded by RBC, with additional loan financing from BDC. These partnerships have been instrumental in enabling the program to operate at scale and reach entrepreneurs in every corner of the country.

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Five Years of Impact

The numbers tell a powerful story.

Since launching in March 2021, BESP has supported over 600 Black-led businesses, disbursed more than $20.5 million in loan financing, and built a community where 50% of supported businesses are women-led.

But what do those numbers actually represent? They represent storefronts opened, products shipped, teams hired, and communities served. They represent first-generation business owners who had a vision and found a program that believed in them enough to invest.

For Canada's startup ecosystem, these figures matter beyond the balance sheet. Black entrepreneurs have long been underrepresented in access to capital and formal business support. BESP is helping close that gap not just by providing funding, but by signaling that diverse founders belong at the table.

Beyond the Loan: Community, Mentorship, and Networks

Funding is a starting point. What sustains a business is something harder to quantify guidance, connection, and the confidence that comes from being truly seen.

"Having support that understands the unique challenges Black founders face has made a meaningful difference," says Oris. It's a sentiment echoed across the BESP community.

The program's mentorship model pairs entrepreneurs with mentors who understand both the business landscape and the specific realities Black founders navigate. That kind of tailored support, rooted in lived experience changes the quality of the advice and the depth of the relationship.

BESP also connects entrepreneurs to a broader ecosystem of opportunity through three key initiatives:

Growth (Follow-on Financing): For entrepreneurs who've already launched with BESP support, the Growth program offers up to $40,000 in additional follow-on financing to help scale their businesses further. Available to entrepreneurs 24 to 48 months after their initial loan, it's designed to fuel the next chapter of growth at a stage when access to capital remains one of the biggest hurdles Black founders face.

G20 Young Entrepreneurs' Alliance (G20 YEA): Futurpreneur is a founding member of the G20 YEA, a global network of over 500,000 young entrepreneurs. Each year, ahead of the G20 Leaders' Summit, Futurpreneur selects a diverse Canadian delegation to represent the country on the world stage, sharing ideas and helping shape global entrepreneurship policy. For Black entrepreneurs, it's an opportunity to enter international conversations, build cross-border connections, and explore growth beyond Canadian borders.

Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW): As Canada's official host of Global Entrepreneurship Week, Futurpreneur leads an annual November celebration of entrepreneurship that spans over 180 countries. Through workshops, events, and community activations from coast to coast, GEW brings together entrepreneurs, mentors, and ecosystem partners to connect, learn, and amplify the stories of founders across Canada, including those from the BESP community.

These aren't just networking opportunities. They're pathways to capital, partnerships, and markets that can take a business from local to national and beyond.

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Why This Matters for Vancouver's Startup Ecosystem

Vancouver is a city of builders. It's a city where bold ideas find their footing, where diverse communities bring energy and innovation to the startup ecosystem. And it's a city where programs like BESP are making their presence felt.

Entrepreneurs like Oris Eddu are proof that when the right support exists, Vancouver's Black founders don't just participate in the startup ecosystem they enrich it. Her advice to aspiring entrepreneurs speaks to the culture BESP works to foster: "Start before you feel ready. Build with what you have, stay rooted in your vision, and seek community and mentorship early."

At Vancouver Startup Week, we believe that a thriving startup ecosystem is an inclusive one. Spotlighting the work of BESP isn't just about celebrating a milestone it's about making visible the kind of support infrastructure that allows all founders to succeed.

Looking Ahead

Five years in, BESP's impact is undeniable. But for the team behind the program, this is just the beginning.

"Five years in, what stands out to me the most isn't the numbers, it's the people. Every entrepreneur who came to us and left feeling not just funded, but truly heard and supported. That's the community we've built together, and that's exactly what will carry us into the next five years."
- Tamara Chanoine, Director, Black Entrepreneur Startup Program

The next chapter will bring new entrepreneurs, new challenges, and new opportunities to expand what's possible for Black founders across Canada. If the first five years are any indication, that future is in good hands.

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Get Involved

Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, a seasoned founder, or someone who believes in building a more inclusive economy there's a place for you in this community.

• Learn more about BESP and apply: futurpreneur.ca/en/offering/black-entrepreneur-startup
• Join us at Vancouver Startup Week 2026: vanstartupweek.ca

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Frequently Asked Questions

Who is eligible for the Black Entrepreneur Startup Program? To be eligible, you must self-identify as Black, be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident aged 18 to 39, and be looking to launch a business or have been operating for less than two years. The business must also be majority Black-owned.

How do I apply? Start by visiting futurpreneur.ca/en/offering/black-entrepreneur-startup and signing up to connect with a dedicated team member. If your business plan and 24-month cash flow are ready, you can submit your full application directly through the Futurpreneur portal.

What kind of mentorship does BESP provide? BESP offers up to two years of free one-on-one mentorship from experienced mentors with lived experience. Mentors help entrepreneurs with everything from business planning to navigating the unique challenges Black founders face.

How does BESP differ from Futurpreneur's core startup program? BESP is specifically designed for young Black entrepreneurs, with a team that brings its own lived experience to the support they provide. Beyond financing, BESP offers access to a Canada-wide network of Black entrepreneurs, tailored resources, and follow-on financing opportunities after two years.

The Black Entrepreneur Startup Program is funded by RBC, with additional loan financing from BDC.