Amex Blueprint

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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.

Applications closed

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.

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.

Access Now

In the News

Check out some of the news coverage on Blueprint from last year!

eTalk: Fred VanVleet and American Express Canada launch Blueprint: Backing BIPOC Businesses powered by the DMZ

CP24: Fred VanVleet supporting BIPOC-owned businesses

Toronto Star: How BIPOC business owners in Mississauga, Brampton, Calendon can apply for grants from American Express

National Post: New mentorship and grant program from American Express Canada aims to address disproportionate barriers for BIPOC business owners

Yahoo Sports Canada: Raptors' VanVleet looks to skip the 'mumbo jumbo' with mentorship initiative for Canadian BIPOC business owners

For questions relating to the Blueprint mentorship and grant program, please contact amexblueprint@torontomu.ca.