We Did It! Celebrating Our 100 Mandate Milestone 🎉
What an incredible evening! On September 12th, we came together at CIBC Square to celebrate something truly extraordinary – the successful launch of over 100 Black-owned businesses in STEM through the Nobellum ecosystem.
The energy in the room was electric as we gathered our founders, partners, coaches, and community champions for an intimate celebration that felt both reflective and forward-looking. This was about honoring every entrepreneur who took that leap of faith, every mentor who provided guidance, and every partner who believed in our vision.
The highlight of our evening was hearing directly from our founders who shared their journeys from idea to impact. Their stories reminded us why we do this work – each business represents not just economic opportunity, but innovation that's solving real problems and creating meaningful change in their communities. We also took time to recognize our incredible coaches and mentors with special acknowledgments for their unwavering support and dedication to our entrepreneurs.
None of this would have been possible without our incredible partner ecosystem. A huge thank you to University of Toronto as our mandate partner, and to our major sponsors CIBC, SBCCI, RBC, and TD for their continued belief in Black entrepreneurship. Our event partners – BDC, Deloitte, Baylis Medical, Meridian, and BMO – along with community partners BKR Capital, BOF, Firehood, and LAUFT, have created the collaborative foundation that makes our work possible. This truly takes a village!
One of the most exciting moments of the evening was sharing our vision for the next five years. We're not just stopping at 100 – we're scaling up with Nobellum Accelerator 2.0, supported by FFBC, and we have ambitious plans to continue growing our impact across the Canadian innovation ecosystem. The future is bright, and we're just getting started!
Looking Back, Moving Forward
Reaching 100+ businesses isn't just about hitting a milestone – it's about the ripple effect we're creating. Each business in our ecosystem is contributing to job creation, driving innovation, and inspiring the next generation of Black entrepreneurs. We're not just changing individual lives; we're transforming the entire landscape of Canadian innovation.
Thank You to Our Incredible Team
The success of this celebration – and everything we've achieved – is thanks to our amazing team. Special shoutout to Rodas Sbhatleab for seamless coordination, and every team member who made this evening unforgettable.
Want to be part of our growing ecosystem? Join our membership to stay tuned for updates on Nobellum Accelerator 2.0 and other exciting opportunities to join our mission of driving Black innovation in STEM.
