As the cleantech industry gains momentum globally, one program at Sheridan College is ensuring that Black entrepreneurs are integral to shaping this landscape. Black Founders in Clean Technology (BFIC), a first-of-its-kind certificate program, launched its second cohort this fall, building on the success of its initial 2023 cohort. The program has collectively supported 35 participants, all guided by Black instructors and industry experts. adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
A joint effort between the Afro Caribbean Business Network (ACBN) and Sheridan’s EDGE Entrepreneurship Hub, with support from the Pilon School of Business (PSB) and Continuing and Professional Studies (CAPS), Black Founders in Clean Technology empowers Black founders to develop innovative solutions, navigate industry challenges, and build lasting networks within the cleantech ecosystem. Developed in response to a 2022 labour market study by ACBN and PSB that highlighted the underrepresentation of Black entrepreneurs in the sector, the program equips participants with the tools to excel in the green economy while addressing critical representation gaps.
The in-person program components of the program are hosted at Sheridan’s EDGE Entrepreneurship Hub, located at the Davis campus in Brampton. “Black Founders in Clean Technology is designed to integrate African and Black ways of learning, sharing, and building community, the philosophies of Ubuntu – I am because you are – and other Afrocentric and non-traditional approaches to learning,” says Sheridan Professor and BFIC Course Instructor Shereen Ashman. “We deliver the program in a learning environment that honours the cultural and personal experiences of Black students and work to build their business networks through connection with Black industry experts in the cleantech sector.”
Participants gain experience evaluating market potential, refining their business concepts, and crafting compelling value propositions to succeed in cleantech. Reflecting on her experience, participant Renee Smith, co-founder of Hussey Logistics, emphasizes the importance of BFIC’s supportive community. “One of the things I loved about this program was being in the sessions with other Black entrepreneurs,” Smith shares. “Being around my community made a huge difference in my getting a lot from this program. I didn’t realize how the logistics industry impacts the environment, so building a cleantech company is going to give us an edge in our industry. I recommend any Black entrepreneur be part of this program.”
