BEKH Eastern Hub Leads the Charge in Crafting Canada’s First Black Entrepreneurship Development Strategy
The Eastern Hub of the Black Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub, also known as the Atlantic BEKH (ABEKH), is taking the lead on a major step for Black entrepreneurship in Canada— crafting the nation’s first Black Entrepreneurship Development Strategy (BEDS).
Kicking off 2025 with a clear focus on coordination and community input, ABEKH has been actively engaging Black entrepreneurs, researchers, and ecosystem partners through events like their hybrid Development Strategy session in January which was attended by almost eighty community leaders across the nation and February’s visioning session at the BEKH Capstone Conference in the capital. Grounded in data from BEKH’s own research and other national reports, the initiative aims to define shared priorities across seven key pillars—ranging from access to capital to community representation—while advancing a unified vision of Black economic empowerment that is driven from the ground up.
This early work signals a broader shift in how strategy is being developed for and by the Black entrepreneurship ecosystem in Canada. Rather than waiting for an external push, ABEKH is building momentum through a series of consultations and visioning exercises that invite stakeholders from across sectors in the Black entrepreneurship ecosystem to weigh in on what a national Black entrepreneurship strategy should look like—and how it should serve the community.
In January, nearly eighty community leaders from across the country gathered—both virtually and in person—for the “Crafting a Black Entrepreneurship and Development Strategy” hybrid event, which laid the groundwork for collaborative input. That momentum continued into February at the BEKH Capstone Conference, where a dedicated visioning session invited participants to think critically about the road ahead. With the initial funding for the Black Entrepreneurship Program coming to a close, a promise for renewal on the horizon, and the culmination of several of BEKH’s largest research projects, the ecosystem is at a pivotal junction. Community leaders are now being challenged to define priorities for the next four years and answer key questions: How do we trade with each other and create value chains that harness our internal assets? How do we build collective capacity that allows Black businesses to scale? And how do we, as a community, want to show up in the wider Canadian business landscape?
Most recently, in March, ABEKH presented the emerging strategy at a convening of organizations funded through the Black Entrepreneurship Program. This gathering offered an opportunity to share progress and spark alignment among key players working to support Black entrepreneurship across the country.
The Black Entrepreneurship Development Strategy (BEDS) will be grounded in data drawn not only from BEKH’s national research projects but also from a range of independent reports, offering a more comprehensive picture of the realities facing Black entrepreneurs in Canada. These insights will inform strategic and operational priorities across seven key pillars:
Access to Capital and Financial Resources,
Capacity Building and Skills Development,
Policy Advocacy and Ecosystem Support,
Networking and Collaboration,
Market Access and Business Growth,
Community Engagement and Representation,
and Monitoring, Evaluation, and Research.
“Collectively, these three programs—The Black Entrepreneurship Loan Fund, The National Ecosystem Fund and The Black Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub—imply the existence of a national strategy for Black entrepreneurship development in Canada,” said Dr. Harvey Millar, ABEKH lead. “However, we are not aware of the existence of a formally articulated and communicated national strategy. We believe that we can leverage the knowledge and awareness gained through BEKH, the enhanced capacity of ecosystem partners, and the enthusiasm of Black entrepreneurs to forge a collective future that is driven from the ground up, and not top-down.”
ABEKH’s approach is rooted in a deep commitment to inclusion, ensuring that the perspectives of Black entrepreneurs, ecosystem partners, researchers, and other community leaders are at the heart of the strategy’s design. More than simply addressing gaps in policy, the strategy is about articulating a vision that speaks to the full economic potential of Black communities across Canada.
The Eastern Hub is now inviting all interested parties—entrepreneurs, community builders, researchers, funders, and advocates— to help shape his next chapter for Black entrepreneurship in Canada. Those looking to contribute to the development of BEDS can reach out directly at atlanticbekh@gmail.com.
