In 2020 we initiated a $5000 bursary and mentorship opportunity in an effort to reduce barriers to success for Black, Indigenous and people of colour entrepreneurs. Soon after, we realized there was an opportunity to support even more BIPOC businesses so in 2021, the Empower Incubator was founded. An incubator program for BIPOC entrepreneurs that offers community, quarterly educational virtual events, and opportunities to apply for private funding. To learn more, click
here. This year with your help, we were able to raise nearly $15,000 and accept 9 new members into the program! Without further ado, introducing the 2023 Empowerfull Incubator cohort...
MEET RANDA OF COLLECTIVE WILL
Collective Will is a Secondhand & Vintage shop located in Gastown, Vancouver. We want to inspire a new generation of shoppers to re-think the way retail consumption is structured and love what has already been created.
Follow @shopcollectivewill on Instagram
MEET CIARA OF TÉKENI TURTLE CREATIONS
https://www.ciarajean.ca/tekeni
Tékeni Turtle Creations was founded in 2022 by Ciara Jean Beaton - a mixed Kanyen’kehà:ka woman with a dream of sharing the beauty of wearable Indigenous art with the community around her. Inspired by nature, dreams and sweet powwow memories from childhood, beading has truly been medicine for every part of her…and each pair of earrings contains the same intention of healing just for you.
MEET BILQEES OF HELIUS ORGINALS
https://heliusoriginals.com
Helius Originals is a Canadian luxury smoke barware company that creates products from Canadian reclaimed lumber. We aim to create circular economy products that target materials that account for 20.7 percent, or 30.3 million tonnes of waste between Canada and the USA, from our landfills annually while using this revenue to employ people facing severe barriers to employment.
MEET MIRANDA OF SHORTLISTED
At Shortlisted, we believe short(er) women should never feel overlooked. We create effortless clothes that make life easy + elevate women 5'4 and under.
MEET EUGINE OF DAY BY DAY
DAY BY DAY is an apparel & lifestyle brand centred on building a lifestyle of well-being, by making goods of comfort for everybody on their wellness journey.
MEET VIVIAN OF NAETAL SKINCARE
Naetal is a clean skincare line made for mamas, babies and anyone with skin sensitivity. Made from simple and natural ingredients, our soothing colloidal oatmeal and calendula formulation not only helps with daily hydration but also eases skin irritations such as rashes and eczema.
MEET NADINE OF MAYANA GENEVIÈRE
https://www.mayanageneviere.com
Mayana Genevière is a BIPOC Women-owned social enterprise that creates innovative patented undergarments using sustainable materials, made ethically in our own factory in Toronto. Designed to support women through the vulnerable stages of life’s many changes, we specialize in fuller cup and wireless support from postpartum to menopause and everything in between. We offer a personalized community experience to support a woman’s physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing through events that centre uncesoring bodies, birth and breastfeeding.
Meet Wendy of June Adaptive
JuneAdaptive.com helps people who live with disabilities find easy-dressing contemporary clothing. From people frustrated by inaccessible buttons and zippers to people recovering from medical treatments, people having trouble getting dressed can find fashion solutions at JuneAdaptive.com
MEET JENA OF JENA TANG
Jena Tang is an ethical, slow clothing label based on wardrobe essentials that celebrate, empower and give back to women with 10% of our profits donated to organizations like the Canadian Women's Foundation to help move women forward.
