Comfort Foodies @comforthfx
‘’Comfort is more than just a business to me. It’s a concept born from my love for food and having the ability to share that passion with others through delicious, comforting meals. As an entrepreneur, I see it as an opportunity to be an influence by making a positive impact on people’s lives by inspiring and providing them with food made with love. Being an entrepreneur means embracing challenges and taking risks while constantly learning and evolving. My advice to any aspiring entrepreneurs out there or people currently in the process of launching their business would be to follow your passion, cultivate a supportive network, remain resilient when faced with challenges and above all, NEVER STOP BELIEVING IN YOURSELF! Remember, your success is the result of perseverance and determination.’’
Black Lantic @blacklantic
“When I started speaking out about my Blackness and the struggles I felt with my identity, I never expected to find someone who also felt the same way let alone start a business centered around these stories. While I always loved storytelling and wanted to be a writer my entire teen years, I knew nothing about being an entrepreneur, starting a business and also felt that being a business owner required capital I did not have. In the 3 years BlackLantic has existed, working to share stories of Black people across the East Coast, we have met so many amazing and inspiring people, gotten opportunities I never expected, and I have learned so much about what it takes to run a business. While it is life consuming, and often exhausting, being so passionate about our work means I never feel that this is a ‘job’ or futile. I believe in our mission to Uplift the East, and that through our work we can share stories to dismantle racism, dispel stereotypes that harmfully perpetrate Black people and try to make the world a little bit safer. Thank you BBI for this grant and helping us with our mission.’’
Pilotx @pilotx.ca
“Pilot X isn’t just a business to me; it’s a blend of my passions: technology, community empowerment, and creative problem-solving. If you’re thinking about starting your own venture, my advice is simple: identify a problem. Most successful businesses begin with someone recognizing a problem, either in their own life or within their community. Starting a business isn’t a smooth ride; there are bumps along the way. But it’s the passion that fuels your journey, making every challenge worth facing.”
Gáamai Hair
“Gáamai Hair aims to address environmental and health concerns inherent in the synthetic hair industry through sustainable hair extension products – reimagining sustainability and circular models within the market. Through Gáamai Hair and its branching initiatives, the start-up bridges environmentalism and cultural celebration, advocating for inclusive sustainability practices rooted in community engagement and empowerment.
My advice to anyone starting a business would be to develop a love and appreciation for the process. It may be a difficult one to embrace however, move with the understanding that often the purest blessings and gifts are the ones that elicit a personal shift in perspective. A necessary change to sustain whatever it is you are building. Thus, with every conversation, roadblock, solution, grant and connection – you are learning and developing into the person prepared to sustain what you are building. My grandparents would always say “Small, small can fill buckets.” All of your moves however small – contribute to filling your cup that will eventually overflow with your blessings.”
Mauya The Fine Arts Tribe @mauya_theabstract
“Mauya The Fine Arts Tribe is about more than just organizing events—our purpose is to create vibrant communities and promote holistic wellness through art. At Mauya, we’re dedicated to blending creativity, community engagement, and social impact in everything we do. Our goal is to integrate elements of social consciousness, cultural celebration, education, and personal expression into each of our curated experiences. As a business, we thrive on embracing creativity, taking calculated risks, and continuously adapting to our environment. Our advice to aspiring entrepreneurs is to stay true to your vision, seek out supportive mentors and peers, and maintain consistency in your efforts. It’s not always easy, but the journey is incredibly rewarding.”
Baha Blends @bahablendsbeverages
“Baha Blends is dedicated to bringing the vibrant culture and flavours of the Bahamas to Nova Scotia through delicious and refreshing beverages. This grant will help us achieve our mission of sharing Bahamian culture while serving our community. My advice for those considering starting a business would be to take that leap of faith and begin. You may have some answers initially, but taking the first step is crucial. Perfecting your vision comes with action and determination.”
Qtress Beauty Suppies @qtressbeautysupplies
“Beyond my business offering a convenient solution to people of colour and beyond, it provides a means to practice self-love and compassion by learning to take care of yourself. I love interacting with people and helping them feel confident and beautiful! Self-confidence is something I severely lacked growing up and sometimes still struggle and I wish I could prevent others from this experience. By helping others learn to love themselves through my business, I am also healing my inner child.
Hair, beauty and care is not a “one size fits all”. You are allowed to personalize these things in a way that works for you, and I hope to spread this message through my business. Lastly, I am grateful to be able to contribute to social causes like food insecurity through my business. This creates additional internal motivation to ensure that everything runs smoothly as I know my efficiency results in doing good in the community.”
My Man Barber @my_man_barber
“Being a barber and opening a barbershop is something special that I never thought in my life doing. It means a lot to me how important it is in helping me develop myself, connect with people, being a therapist kind of for clients, impact lives with a haircut that boosts confidence and happiness.
Entrepreneur is dedication, commitment, sacrifice, discipline, mindset, plan, take action, solutions. Anybody can be an entrepreneur, but not anybody willing to do those things to be entrepreneur. It’s a mentality that push me to go forward, not settle for average
My advice I can share with my personal experience is, if someone really wants to open a business or become an entrepreneur, make sure to have a plan, a short- and long-term goal, a vision. Don’t plan to fail, fail to plan. It’s a marathon, not a sprint, it takes times to see results, PATIENCE is really important and don’t be afraid to start if you don’t have all answers now, it will come.”
Pawgy
“Being an entrepreneur really hinges on having a deep passion for making a mark on your community or the wider society. My tip would be to embrace what makes you unique and think about how that can make a real difference in the lives of people around you.”
Fem Entity @fem.entity
“Fem Entity isn’t just a business venture; it’s a beacon of sisterhood and femininity, a sanctuary where women lift each other up, prioritizing wellness every step of the way. For us, success isn’t just about the bottom line; it’s about nurturing a community where women thrive. As entrepreneurs, we embrace risk with unwavering determination, knowing that every challenge is an opportunity for growth. We encourage fellow feminine entrepreneurs to be kind to themselves, recognizing that the journey is as important as the destination. Entrepreneurship, to us, is about listening to our intuition, innovating with empathy, and crafting solutions that resonate with the needs of society. It’s about embracing our unique rhythms and trusting in our ability to make a meaningful impact, one step at a time.”