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From Idea To Reality: Overcoming Startup Obstacles

By: The Youth Village

About this event

Join us for our first event of the year, “From Idea to Reality: Overcoming Startup Obstacles,” on Wednesday, April 12th, 2023, from 6-7pm ET. This must-attend online event will provide an all-Black space for both young and mature, aspiring and established entrepreneurs to come together.

At this event, you’ll hear from a lineup of successful Black founders who will share their candid experiences and insights on how to turn startup ideas into a successful reality, as well as tips on overcoming the obstacles that arise along the way.

This is a great opportunity to learn, meet our speakers:

Keynote speaker

This is a great opportunity to learn, meet our speakers:

Tosin Ajibola

Ajibola Oluwatosin is a computer scientist with a Bachelor of Science degree from Babcock University Nigeria and a recent graduate of the University of New Brunswick, Canada. He specializes in IT service delivery, end-to-end automation, settlement, financial technology, education, and telecommunication. Tosin is passionate about community service and providing early childhood education. He advocates for young entrepreneurs and professionals in business and corporate environments. He is also an avid basketball fan and hopes to get more involved in sports.

Edo Odozor

Edo Odozor is a 2x entrepreneur with 5+ years of experience in entrepreneurship, consulting, and business. She is the founder of Undercover Consulting as well as Gia Health, a platform that helps families manage and coordinate their in-home elder care using AI. Edo is passionate about health and wellness and using corporations as a vehicle for social good.

Mark Donaldson

Mark Donaldson is the Founder and CEO of Quantuity Analytics Inc., an AI, ML, and TinyML intelligent edge IoT technology startup that helps the commercial transportation trucking industry. With over 25 years of technology experience, he delivers end-to-end solutions worldwide. Mark is a TEDx speaker and volunteers at DMZ Startup Incubator to mentor young entrepreneurs. He’s passionate about electronics engineering technology, artificial intelligence, and embedded machine learning.

Neshaszda Wright

Nesha Wright is a wealth of knowledge and experience in photography and entrepreneurship. She is a successful veteran, award-winning photographer, content creator, author, speaker, wife, and mom. She is an award-winning photographer, creative, and speaker; featured in publications such as USA Today, The ShadeRoom, BuzzFeed, and more! Her expertise has led her to create digital products such as her “iPhone Photography Masterclass” and global travels to capture memorable moments. Nesha’s ultimate goal is to create a platform using her opportunities to empower others.

Whether you’re a seasoned entrepreneur or just starting out, this event has something for everyone. Don’t miss out on an evening of inspiration, learning, and fun!

RSVP now and secure your spot.

Thanks to the generous support of the Government of Canada through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), this online event is free.

*As a bonus, the first 20 people to register will be entered into a draw to win a prize to support their entrepreneurial work.

 

We can’t wait to see you there!

The Youth Village Team

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ABOUT

Enrique Robert

MSPH

Originally trained human rights Lawyer in his homeland El Salvador. Enrique has lived and work in Canada for over thirty years, his academic formation has been useful in his role as a community development worker. Enrique has worked as a housing worker providing support to homeless and people described as “hardest to house”, he has managed a shelter for the homeless and worked in many social service organizations. 

Enrique has over twenty years of experience as an Executive Director of non-profit multiservice organisations. Including the Open Door Centre, Peterborough Social Planning Council and Birchmount Bluffs Neighbourhood Centre. 

Enrique is a member of the United Way of Greater Toronto Speakers Bureau, as well of Passages to Canada, Dominion Institute. Enrique has been peer reviewer with the Ontario Trillium Foundation, and the Toronto Urban Health Fund. Enrique has presented workshops on Community Development and Non Profit Board Governance, anti racism and anti oppression work. 

Your generosity plays a crucial role in the success of The Youth Village.

By donating, you help us provide valuable mentorship, education, and opportunities for intergenerational conversations among Black entrepreneurs. Your contribution directly impacts the lives of our youth, empowering them to reach their full potential as global citizens. No matter the amount, your support makes a lasting difference. Donate today and be part of our mission to uplift and empower the Black community.

Creating Black Legacies

Research has shown that projects undertaken between young entrepreneurs and more experienced entrepreneurs have a greater probability of success. Research has also shown that funding for Black intergenerational projects is not well received in the marketplace.

Our Goal

Create a fund of over $5 million CAD to finance intergenerational projects between Black Youth and Black mature entrepreneurs.

Our Research

The responses from more than 300 black entrepreneurs from across Canada revealed that systemic racism, access to capital and the lack of a business network represent the main barriers to the growth and sustainability of Black-led and/or owned businesses.

The Challenge

Access to capital is the greatest barrier for Black entrepreneurs: Access to funding, financing, capital or sales was the top stated challenge by a significant margin. 75% say that if they needed to find $10,000 to support your business, it would be difficult for them to do so.

Source

Access to capital is the greatest barrier for Black entrepreneurs: Access to funding, financing, capital or sales was the top stated challenge by a significant margin. 75% say that if they needed to find $10,000 to support your business, it would be difficult for them to do so.

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