$189M Says Black Entrepreneurs Deserve More Than Just “Inspiration”
If access to capital is the lifeblood of business, then Black entrepreneurs have been running marathons with asthma—without an inhaler—while everyone else got a head start and a scooter.
So when Ottawa recently announced a five-year, $189-million renewal of the Black Entrepreneurship Program (BEP), my first thought was: Finally.
Not “finally” as in “now all problems are solved.” But “finally” as in “someone actually put serious money behind a problem we’ve been talking in circles about for years.”
Let’s Talk About the Fine Print
The BEP isn’t just a press release with pretty photos and zero follow-through. It’s real capital, real advisory support, and real mentorship—targeted exclusively at Black business owners across Canada. And yes, eligibility is clear: you must identify as Black and have majority Black ownership to qualify.
Cue the usual suspects screaming about “exclusion.” But here’s a newsflash: equity is not exclusion. If you’ve never had to wonder whether a loan officer saw your skin tone before your business plan, maybe sit this one out.
What’s Actually in the $189M?
Glad you asked.
- Accessible loans delivered through partners like the Business Development Bank of Canada.
- Funding for community organizations (through the Ecosystem Fund) to scale mentoring, training, and business planning.
- Research and data collection to track what’s working, what’s not, and what keeps getting in the way for Black entrepreneurs.
In other words: it’s not just a money drop. It’s an ecosystem play—designed to support Black entrepreneurs from idea to exit.
This Isn’t New, It’s Just Finally Funded
If you’ve been paying attention, you know Black entrepreneurs have been over-indexing on hustle and under-indexing on capital for decades. What they haven’t lacked is talent. Or ideas. Or grit.
What they have lacked is access: to capital, to networks, to mentors, to decision-makers who don’t look through them in the boardroom.
This program is one (well-funded) attempt to change that. And it matters. Because if talent is evenly distributed, but opportunity isn’t, we’re not dealing with a meritocracy—we’re dealing with a rigged game.
And Before You Ask…
Yes, private-sector players are getting in on the action too. Impact funds focused on Black-led companies are popping up to operate alongside the BEP, which means more money, more partnerships, and more doors opening.
Also: shoutout to the advocacy groups and community orgs who’ve been screaming into the policy void for years. This renewal wouldn’t have happened without their receipts, resilience, and refusal to let this become another forgotten pilot project.
TL;DR
- $189M over 5 years for Black entrepreneurs.
- Loans, grants, mentorship, data collection—aka a real support ecosystem.
- You must identify as Black and have majority Black ownership to qualify.
- It’s not about exclusion. It’s about fixing decades of exclusion.
- Private and public sectors are (finally) rowing in the same direction.
So if you’re a Black entrepreneur in Canada: run, don’t walk. The door’s open wider than it’s ever been.
And if you’re not? Support the people walking through it. Invest. Collaborate. Mentor. Step aside when needed. Because real inclusion means everyone doesn’t need to fight twice as hard to get half as far.
Written by The Media King – Will Walker | @WNWalker
www.WNWalker.com
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