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About Blueprint

Blueprint: Backing BIPOC Businesses™ is a mentorship and grant program designed to support the advancement of Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour (BIPOC) business owners across Canada.

For a second year, 100 business owners will be selected to take part in a comprehensive mentorship program designed to provide the tools, resources and community to help BIPOC entrepreneurs thrive - plus, participants get a $10,000 CAD grant to help take their business to the next level.

Blueprint is powered by the DMZ, in consultation with BIPOC-focused community organizations across Canada. The Blueprint mentorship program is made possible by a grant from the American Express Foundation. Additionally, American Express Canada is contributing $1,000,000 in grants to be disbursed to the 100 selected participants.

Daniel Smith, Owner, OnlyTheStrong (Personal Training Facility)
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Blueprint participants get access to

  • A 15-week curated mentorship and training program, delivered virtually, by subject matter experts and mentors
  • Tailored programing to help participants with industry-specific challenges and offer tailored insights on proven strategies for success in their sectors
  • A community network of Blueprint participants from across Canada connected through small group training and social events
  • Online resources and learning materials designed to support the BIPOC small business community
  • A $10,000 grant to help unlock the next stage of their business growth

Meet the 2022 Participants

We're proud to introduce our 100 selected participants in the second cohort of the Blueprint program. Thank you to all of the businesses that applied.

  • Accretion Bridge
  • Airdropd.io
  • Alizé Publishing
  • Amb.AI
  • Apricotton
  • Arabically
  • ARENA Studio Limited
  • artterra
  • Atlas Design Co.
  • Azetta Design Studio
  • Be One to Give
  • Beko Foods
  • Brighter Side Music Academy
  • Cardamom & Co.
  • Chachalate
  • Chez Fran Enterprises
  • Chorefree Living
  • Classic Juice Co.
  • Clavis Studio
  • Club Enhergy
  • Coffrica Coffee Company
  • Curovate
  • DIBBZZ Inc.
  • East 2 West Servers
  • Easy Math for Kids
  • Elexio Boutique
  • Essential Recruit
  • Everyday Joy Home Decor
  • Fierce Music Group
  • Fifth Element Marketing
  • Frenzy Brands
  • FreshNest
  • From Invisible to Visible
  • Fyyne
  • Gladys Caribbean Kitchen
  • Gloria's International Grocery Store
  • Grant-Nicholson Law Professional Corporation
  • Happly
  • Helius Originals
  • Hello Hair
  • Holistick
  • HOSTCLASS
  • Hourglass Workout
  • Humpty Dumpty Books and Music
  • Inwit
  • Jitto
  • Joy+
  • June Adaptive
  • Keen Scientific Services
  • Keevo
  • Layered Butter
  • Leadertree
  • Legin Knits
  • Lineage Arts Limited
  • Loless Blue Beauty
  • Marlow
  • Marshay Organic
  • Mercury Events
  • MODASTY
  • Monday Girl
  • Mutoal Future
  • My Power
  • Nation's Dental
  • Pampered Pets Ultrasonic
  • ParkSide Therapy
  • PhaseByte Gaming
  • Racialized Women's Group
  • reGEN media
  • Road Aider
  • Royaltea Coffee
  • Sabbskin
  • Sade Baron
  • saiwa
  • SALT Leisure Wear
  • Sarko Beauty
  • Savyn Tech
  • SCOOTY
  • Seaina AI
  • SHIFTER Agency
  • Smooth Health Food Prep & Delivery
  • SNCD
  • Solarium Express
  • Spinning Forward
  • Stacey Martin Lifestyle
  • SwiftBel
  • Tall Size
  • Tawnshi Charcuterie
  • Tejahnburnett Design Corp
  • The Community Company
  • Ubuntu FX
  • Unika Swim
  • Wells Luxury Travel
  • Wing Kxng
  • WondrInn
  • Worksimply
  • Woven Worldwide
  • YUTE
  • ZaNiheza
  • ᐋᓃᓐ aaniin
  • 13373321 Canada Corp

How it works

1

CHECK ELIGIBILITY

Check the FAQs to make sure your business is eligible

2

APPLICATION PERIOD

Submit your application by July 26th, 2022 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time.

3

APPLICATION REVIEW

Program applications under review.

4

GRANTS AWARDED

Selected participants will receive a grant letter by August 16th, 2022.

5

MENTORSHIP PROGRAM STARTS

Mentorship program begins August 30th 2022 and runs until December 9th, 2022.

Eligibility

To be eligible for Blueprint, an applicant must:

  • Identify as a member of the BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour) community
  • Be a Canadian citizen, a Permanent resident of Canada, or Hold Current and Valid Authorization under the Canadian Immigration and Refugee Protection Act
  • Be a founder, owner, or hold a senior position within a privately held, for-profit company, where the company is at least 50% owned by BIPOC owners or founders
  • Have a business incorporated in Canada, where the business is primarily operated and managed in Canada, with a maximum of $500,000 CAD in annual revenue
  • Your business must be currently active in the Canadian market or have been previously active in the Canadian market (i.e. made sales and/or have an existing customer base
  • Speak English or French fluently
  • 2021 selected Blueprint participants are not eligible to re-apply to the program in 2022

For more information on eligibility, including excluded industries, and the selection process, please refer to the FAQ.

Applications closed

Community

Blueprint: Backing BIPOC Businesses is powered by the DMZ with programming developed in consultation with BIPOC-focused community and business organizations across Canada.

ACBN
CILAR SOCIAL WIDE

Blueprint Information Toolkit

Want to help spread the word about Blueprint? Download the toolkit to access resources and program information to share with your network, or on your own channels.

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