Canadian Black Scientists Network

Professional Community Networkblackscientists.ca

Company typePrivate
Founded2021
HeadquartersToronto, Canada
Headcount101–250
GTM typeB2C
OfferingServices

Canadian Black Scientists Network firmographics

Firmographics

Name: Canadian Black Scientists Network
Legal name: Canadian Black Scientists Network
Website: https://blackscientists.ca
Company type: Private
Founded year: 2021
Operating status: Operating
Headcount range: 101–250 employees
Ownership category
akta.pro rank

Canadian Black Scientists Network industry classification

Industry

Product category: Professional Community Network
NAICS: Professional Organizations (81392), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192)
SIC: Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
akta.pro primary industry: Association & Society Conference Management (Nonprofit, Professional Bodies) (THAHACAA)
akta.pro secondary industries: Virtual/Hybrid Conference Production & Platform Management (THAHACAM), Sponsorship, Exhibitor & Partnership Management Services (THAHACAK)

Keywords

STEMM professional network
Black scientist community
Diversity in STEMM
STEMM mentorship program
Scientific conference services

Where Canadian Black Scientists Network is headquartered

Location

Headquarters

HQ city: Toronto
HQ country: Canada
HQ region: North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

Canadian Black Scientists Network business model

Business model

GTM type: B2C
Offering type: Services
Cost components: Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

Membership Fees: CBSN generates revenue through tiered membership fees based on career stage. Trainee members pay lower rates (ranging from CA$4.17 to CA$50 depending on enrollment month) while professional members pay higher rates (ranging from CA$12.50 to CA$150). Membership provides access to networking, mentorship programs, job board, and member discounts on conference registration.
Conference Registration: Revenue generated from BE-STEMM conference registration fees. Member trainee rates are CA$150, member professional CA$350, non-member trainee CA$350, and non-member professional CA$450. The conference provides full access to keynote sessions, networking events, career fair, and conference materials.
Sponsorships and Donations: CBSN receives financial support from institutional sponsors including government agencies (NSERC, CIHR, NRC), universities, and corporate sponsors at various tiers (Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze). Sponsors fund conference operations and support free student attendance.

Pricing tiers

Model	Billing	Price
Subscription	Annual	Trainee Membership - For students and postdoctoral researchers
Subscription	Annual	Professional Membership - For established STEMM professionals
Subscription	Annual	BE-STEMM Conference - Trainee Member
Subscription	Annual	BE-STEMM Conference - Professional Member
Subscription	Annual	BE-STEMM Conference - Trainee Non-Member
Subscription	Annual	BE-STEMM Conference - Professional Non-Member

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Canadian Black Scientists Network product offering

Product offering

Core offering

Canadian Black Scientists Network (CBSN) operates a paid annual membership for Black-identifying individuals in Canadian STEMM fields, bundled with access to a network directory, mentorship program, job board, and discounted conference pricing. Its flagship paid offering is the BE-STEMM Conference — a multi-day national event with tiered registration for members and non-members. The organization sustains the program through tiered Platinum/Gold/Silver/Bronze institutional sponsorships and donations from government agencies, universities, and research organizations.

Product overview

The Canadian Black Scientists Network (CBSN) operates as a membership-based community platform with multiple interconnected services focused on Elevating, making Visible, celebrating, and connecting Black Canadians in STEMM. The core offerings include the annual BE-STEMM Conference (flagship event featuring keynotes, research presentations, career fair, and awards), the CBSN Mentorship Program, Job Board, Monthly Seminar Series, and Career Chats. CBSN Membership provides the organizational framework through which members access the network directory, mentorship opportunities, and member-exclusive conference pricing. The platform also offers regional nodes and an elected allies program to extend its community reach.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

BE-STEMM Conference: Black Excellence in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medicine annual conference featuring keynotes, research presentations, career fair, networking events, and awards.
CBSN Seminar Series
CBSN Career Chats
CBSN Mentorship Program

Products and services

BE-STEMM Conference Annual national conference celebrating Black excellence in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, medicine and health, featuring keynote presentations, research sessions, a career fair, networking events, mentorship circles, and an awards gala. Registration is tiered for trainee and professional members vs. non-members.
CBSN Membership Paid annual membership for Black-identifying individuals and allies in Canadian STEMM (Trainee CA$4.17–CA$50 and Professional CA$12.50–CA$150 per year depending on enrollment month). Members gain access to the network directory, mentorship program, job board, seminar series, career chats, and discounted BE-STEMM conference registration.
CBSN Mentorship Program Mentorship matching program that connects Black-identifying individuals in STEMM (living in Canada or abroad) with mentors/mentees who can relate to their shared experiences, included as a benefit with CBSN membership.
CBSN Job Board Platform for posting and discovering job opportunities in government, academia, and internship roles within STEMM fields, available to CBSN members and to employers through the Post-a-Job feature.
CBSN Seminar Series Monthly online seminar series held on the third Wednesday of each month (4 PM ET), featuring cutting-edge STEMM research and scholarship by Black scientists. Open to CBSN members and the broader community.
CBSN Career Chats Drop-in monthly career discussions held on the second Wednesday of each month, featuring seasoned STEMM professionals sharing career insights and guidance, open to CBSN members and allies.

Quantifiable outcome

120+ abstracts presented at BE-STEMM 2025 conference
+2 more outcomes

Companies that use Canadian Black Scientists Network

Customer profile

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Canadian Black Scientists Network technology and API

Technology

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API: No
API docs
API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Canadian Black Scientists Network partnerships and signals

Strategic signal

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

Carleton UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue for BE-STEMM 2026 conference at Richcraft Hall, Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, Ontario. Partnership enables in-person conference delivery and local community engagement.
University of Toronto ScarboroughcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal host for BE-STEMM 2022 virtual conference. Prof. Maydianne Andrade served as local host and keynote facilitator.
NSERCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlatinum sponsor of BE-STEMM conferences. Dr. Danika Goosney serves as Vice-President Research Grants and Scholarships. Partnership supports research community engagement and funding opportunities.
CIHRcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlatinum sponsor supporting health research community. Participates in career fair and supports Black Canadian health researchers.
National Research Council Canada (NRC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlatinum sponsor and career fair exhibitor. Supports innovation ecosystem engagement with Black STEMM community.
MitacscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlatinum sponsor providing internship and fellowship opportunities. VP Angelin Soosaipillai leads EDI initiatives. Angelo Nwigwe serves as Business Development Director.
McGill UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlatinum sponsor and career fair participant. Hosts multiple CBSN member researchers including Dr. Emily Choy and Dr. Juliet Daniel.
University of TorontomajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlatinum sponsor with multiple member affiliations. Dr. Bryan Gaensler leads Dunlap Institute and co-chairs TIDE group.
University of British ColumbiamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlatinum sponsor and career fair exhibitor. Dr. Bintou Ahidjo is Assistant Professor and CBSN moderator.
Dalhousie UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlatinum sponsor through Faculty of Science and main campus. Hosts Imhotep's Legacy Academy. Prof. Kevin Hewitt and Dr. Pemberton Cyrus are affiliated.
University of CalgarymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlatinum sponsor. Prof. Jennifer D. Adams holds Canada Research Chair in Creativity and STEM. Dr. Malinda Smith serves as Vice Provost EDI.
University of WaterloomajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlatinum sponsor and career fair exhibitor. Partnership supports Waterloo's commitment to EDI in STEMM.
Genome CanadamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlatinum sponsor supporting genomics research community engagement with BE-STEMM network.
York UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlatinum sponsor. Dr. Kayrel Edwards is Post-doctoral Research Fellow. Dr. Jude Kong is Assistant Professor leading Africa-Canada AI initiative.
McMaster UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGold sponsor and career fair exhibitor. Dr. Juliet Daniel is Professor in Cancer Biology and conference fundraiser.
University of GuelphmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGold sponsor supporting agricultural and biological sciences community engagement.
SCWISTminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-hosting networking session at BE-STEMM 2026. Partnership supports women in STEM collaboration.
Black Entrepreneurship Knowledge HubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-hosting entrepreneurship panel and pitch competition at BE-STEMM 2026. Partnership supports Black entrepreneurship in STEMM.
NoblellumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-moderating entrepreneurship panel at BE-STEMM 2026. Melisa Ellis serves as moderator.
Lab2MarketminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-panelist in entrepreneurship panel at BE-STEMM 2026. Supports commercialization and research-to-market pathways.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Canadian Black Scientists Network competitors and assessment

Company assessment

Direct peers

National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE): U.S.-based but globally recognized Black STEM membership organization running annual conventions, professional development, and K-12 pipeline programs — directly comparable model to CBSN's BE-STEMM conference and mentorship stack.
Society for Canadian Women in Science and Technology (SCWIST): Canadian national STEMM-focused diversity and equity organization that CBSN already partners with for co-hosted sessions at BE-STEMM. Comparable as a membership-based Canadian STEM equity network serving a defined demographic.
SACNAS (Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science): Long-running U.S. STEM diversity organization running a large annual conference, chapters, and K-12 pipeline programs for underrepresented minorities — directly comparable operating model and demographic-focused mission.
National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers (NOBCChE): Discipline-specific Black STEM professional society running annual conferences, mentorship, and awards — structurally identical to CBSN's model but focused on chemistry/chemical engineering rather than STEMM broadly.

Emerging players

Black in AI: Community-driven network supporting Black researchers in artificial intelligence with workshops, mentorship, and affinity-conference events at major AI venues. Comparable niche-demographic STEM network with conference-driven engagement.
Outreach STEMM (formerly Vita-CLS): Canadian-focused STEM outreach and equity programming for underrepresented groups in science. Adjacent peer offering K-12 and undergraduate pipeline programming similar to CBSN's Imhotep's Legacy Academy model.

Regional players

Black Scientists Network (US/UK chapters): Sibling organization operating in other geographies with parallel mission to elevate Black scientists. Comparable as a national Black STEM network but operates in different jurisdictions, so not a direct competitor for Canadian members.

Broad incumbents

Canadian Science Policy Centre: Canadian convening organization hosting national science-policy conferences and stakeholder dialogues. Comparable as a Canadian conference-driven STEM ecosystem convener, though broader in scope than CBSN's demographic focus.
Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR): Canadian research organization convening scholars across disciplines through programs, workshops, and events. Comparable as a Canadian STEM convening body, though research-program rather than membership-driven.
American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS): Largest general scientific society operating major annual meetings, publications, and member programs across STEMM. Comparable membership-society business model and annual-conference format at much larger scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Canadian Black Scientists Network financial estimates

Financial estimate

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Canadian Black Scientists Network leadership team

Management profile

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Canadian Black Scientists Network funding detail

Funding detail

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Canadian Black Scientists Network M&A and investment

M&A and investment

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Canadian Black Scientists Network

What does Canadian Black Scientists Network do?

Is Canadian Black Scientists Network a public or private company?

Canadian Black Scientists Network is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.

When was Canadian Black Scientists Network founded?

Canadian Black Scientists Network was founded in 2021. It employs 101 to 250 people.

Where is Canadian Black Scientists Network based?

Canadian Black Scientists Network is headquartered in Toronto, Canada, in the North America region.

How does Canadian Black Scientists Network make money?

Three revenue lines are on record. Membership Fees are the primary driver. The others are conference Registration and sponsorships and Donations.

Who are Canadian Black Scientists Network's main competitors?

Direct peers on record are National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), Society for Canadian Women in Science and Technology (SCWIST), SACNAS (Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science) and National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers (NOBCChE). Emerging players are Black in AI and Outreach STEMM (formerly Vita-CLS). Black Scientists Network (US/UK chapters) is listed as a regional player. Broad incumbents are Canadian Science Policy Centre, Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR) and American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).

Does Canadian Black Scientists Network have an API?

No public API is recorded for Canadian Black Scientists Network.

What industry is Canadian Black Scientists Network in?

Canadian Black Scientists Network's product category is Professional Community Network. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAHACAA, Association & Society Conference Management (Nonprofit, Professional Bodies), with a secondary code of THAHACAM, Virtual/Hybrid Conference Production & Platform Management. Its NAICS code is 81392 and its SIC code is 8600.