George Brown Polytechnic has formalized a partnership with the Black Entrepreneurship Alliance through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) announced February 5, 2026, at the BEA's annual Demo Day. The agreement positions George Brown's research and innovation capacity and work-integrated learning programs as direct resources for Black entrepreneurs while creating new opportunities for students to engage with early-stage ventures.
Closing infrastructure gaps for Black founders
The partnership addresses systemic barriers in Canada's entrepreneurial ecosystem by providing Black-led startups with access to George Brown's spaces and technical expertise.
"By connecting our entrepreneurs to labs and technical expertise, we are giving Black-led startups the tools they need to compete on a global scale," said Olusegun Villasa, Manager of the BEA. "We are moving beyond just conversation and actually building the infrastructure that will power Black excellence across Ontario and abroad for years to come."
Dr. Krista Holmes, Associate Vice-President of Research & Innovation at George Brown, emphasized the partnership's alignment with broader economic needs. "Startups and small business culture are the heart of innovation in Canada, and what the ecosystem needs now is a generation of dynamic founders who can thrive in spite of economic volatility," she said.
Holmes noted that the BEA's equity-driven approach, focusing on founder mental health, team building, human capital, and organizational resilience, represents "exactly the kind of foundational social and economic change we champion across George Brown's research, innovation and entrepreneurship programs."
"This MOU will help build a lasting connection between our organizations, generating opportunity and contributing to the ways we celebrate Black excellence and prioritize justice, equity, and collective well-being," she continued.
Hands-on learning in real ventures
Students will access work-integrated learning placements within BEA's startup network, contributing to business development and working alongside founders addressing real-world challenges. George Brown will also provide technical advisory support and lab resources to the BEA's SME Innovator Accelerator, enabling students to apply classroom learning while supporting entrepreneurs in testing and refining solutions.
Co-designed training and micro-credentials
The two organizations will develop micro-credentials and workforce training programs specifically tailored to Black and racialized entrepreneurs. This curriculum co-design approach ensures that training reflects actual industry needs, creates equitable entry points into entrepreneurship, and connects learners to George Brown's broader academic pathways.
Regional and international expansion
Both institutions will jointly promote programming, share networks, and identify high-potential entrepreneurs for the BEA's culturally responsive supports. The partnership also includes plans to explore international initiatives, including programs to welcome global students and founders to Toronto and York Region.
The MOU outlines potential collaboration on leveraging Intellectual Property Ontario funding to support Black-led and racialized-led startups, building on the BEA's established work with the Black Ecosystem Fund 1.0 and the Regional Innovation Ecosystem Fund.
