Priviliage to witness something powerful in Canada’s innovation ecosystem, this past weekend. The #BlackPitchContest, led by the Black Entrepreneurs & Businesses of Canada Society (BEBC) in collaboration with the Black Opportunity Fund, brought together high-potential founders solving real problems with real solutions. 🚀
Under the strong leadership of Craig Wellington, Jackee Kasandy, and their exceptional team, this wasn’t just another pitch event—it was a masterclass in purpose-driven entrepreneurship. The energy, clarity of vision, and traction these founders showcased was impressive.
What stood out? Every pitch focused on community impact, scalable solutions, and underserved market opportunities.
🚀 Top Winners:
Tony Colley – #Be12Give: Tackling food insecurity and waste with a tech-enabled, same-day food rescue platform (PixelPaddle and Creatrixe mentored Startup for Tech Development)
@Alleen Agada – #BeBlended: A vertical SaaS platform unlocking growth for underrepresented hairstylists.
@Mohamed Ali & Omnya El Massad – MoroApp: Transforming non-verbal patient care through a caregiver-facing healthtech app.
🎯 Other founders making enchanting noise in the space:
Yann-Sibril Saah – Graspr AI: EdTech meets AI for hyper-personalized student learning – Amazing use of AI for youth.
Olaseni Cole – Steminai: Gamified, personalized learning experiences for kids and teens.
Daniel Lewis – PEKOE: Building global tea culture while steeping social good into every cup.
Evans Osei – Work and Chill: AR-powered employee engagement that redefines workplace culture.
Christopher Frazer – Now Organic Farms: Driving circular economy models for local food systems.
Royan Thomas – Pro Era Plumbing: Reskilling and training the next gen of trades through a startup lens.
Though the ideas are early-stage, but the vision, traction, and founder-market fit were crystal clear.
Grateful to the ecosystem enablers who made this event possible:
Gajan Kulasingam, CFA, CPA, CA, (#BOF Capital), Hosna R. Kadary #BMO, Myriam FRANCISQUE, LLM (#EDC), #NRF, #SnowBall, #Futurpreneur, #Volition, #LeagueofInnovators, #BRKCapital, #Aires — thank you for backing innovation with purpose.
And deep respect to the mentors who shaped founder journeys behind the scenes:
Paul Brassard, Melanie Ewan, Michael Moll, Jackee Kasandy — your guidance & mentorship really made the difference.
At #PixelPaddle, we are proud to stand behind the next generation of entrepreneurs. As a Canadian tech company, we are committed to providing meaningful technological support and strategic collaboration to help emerging founders scale locally—while equipping them to compete in global markets.
Our approach is rooted in a “Canada First, Global Always” mindset: nurturing homegrown innovation while enabling global impact.
