The Southwestern Ontario Black Entrepreneurship Network brings together a consortium of partners led by Empowerment Squared to offer a dynamic resource for Black business owners, entrepreneurs, and nonprofit leaders in the greater Hamilton and Windsor areas.
For any inquiries please contact info@swoben.ca.
Enrol as a Participant
If you are a Black entrepreneur, or aspiring Black entrepreneur, and you would like to join SWOBEN and access its program, services, and offerings:
Apply to become a Mentor
If you are an experienced professional who would like to support Black entrepreneurs as part of SWOBEN’s managed mentorship program:
Apply to become an Advisor
If you are an experienced professional who would like to deliver your professional services to Black entrepreneurs as part of SWOBEN’s business advisory services offering:
Programs
BLACK BUSINESS
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
The Black Business Development Program is a flagship program of the Southwestern Ontario Black Entrepreneurship Network. The Program offers Black entrepreneurs a hybrid wraparound 4 month experience which includes business skills training, personalized assessments of existing business activities and concepts, matching with professional services, mentorship, and opportunities for businesses to be profiled.
Entrepreneurs must apply and be accepted into the program. Application information will be posted in the near future.
Program Dates:
The Black Business Development Program will be offered two times in 2023 and two times in 2024:
Cohort 1: February – May 2023
Cohort 2: August – November 2023
Cohort 3: February – May 2024
Cohort 4: August – November 2024
Seminars and Workshops
The Network will offer individual seminars, both in person and online, with open and free registration on topics such as bookkeeping and financial skills, marketing, digital literacy, addressing racism in business, and more. A full list of seminars will be listed on this website.
Business Advisory Services
SWOBEN members are able to access hands-on individualized business advisory services from experts to help with the development of their business plans, accessing capital, optimizing operations, marketing activities, human resources needs, and more. Members will access professional advisors after reviewing their needs with Network coordinators.
If you would like to read more about SWOBEN’s business advisory program, click here.
Networking Events
Empowerment Squared, partners and the Southwestern Ontario Black Entrepreneurship Network are committed to building community to build entrepreneurship. Networking events will be held in Hamilton, in Windsor, and online. Events and networking activities will be listed on this website.
Mentorship
The Southwestern Ontario Black Entrepreneurship Network will offer a managed mentorship program to connect aspiring and emerging entrepreneurs with experienced mentors to offer guidance and support. If you are interested in becoming a mentor with the Network, please contact us.
If you would like to read more about SWOBEN’s mentorship program, click here.
Lead Partners
FedDev Ontario
The lead funder for the Southwestern Ontario Black Entrepreneurship Network is FedDev Ontario. FedDev Ontario delivers programs and services to support innovation and economic growth in southern Ontario. This Network is funded through the Government of Canada’s Black Entrepreneurship Program (BEP).
WEtech Alliance
WEtech Alliance is the Network’s lead implementing partner in the Windsor-Essex region, in collaboration with members of the Windsor-Essex Black Entrepreneur Network Advisory Committee. WEtech Alliance’s mission is to help grow tech companies of all stages and champion innovation in Windsor-Essex and Chatham-Kent.