Blk Women In Excellence Society

What Blk Women In Excellence Society does

Blk Women In Excellence Society (BWIE) is a Canadian nonprofit society registered in Nova Scotia (3343672) and British Columbia (S0078031), founded in 2020 by Tia Upshaw and headquartered in Halifax. The organization is dedicated to empowering Black and Brown women entrepreneurs through a portfolio of programs including the 16-Week Ignite Program (a startup readiness curriculum), the Thrive in Black mental wellness initiative, the Pan-Atlantic Idea to Income ecosystem spanning Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland & Labrador, an annual Pitch Competition with cash and advertising prizes, a Business Directory, a membership program, and the Tia Talks podcast. Since 2020, BWIE reports cumulative outcomes including 410 businesses registered with Joint Stocks, 410 completed business plans, 222 businesses operating 20–40 hours per week, 6,144 weekly coaching calls delivered, 687 women impacted through workshops, and 1,000+ women attending events.

The organization runs on a small core team of 1–10 employees (two named: Founder/CEO Tia Upshaw and Program Coordinator Shaneika Carter), supplemented by contractors and seasonal youth hires. Its technology footprint is entirely third-party and non-proprietary: Wix for web, Google Forms for registrations, Eventbrite for events, and Zeffy for donations. There is no software product, API, or AI/ML component. The business model is a nonprofit funding stack built on three streams: government and foundation grants (ACOA, Works 4 U/Province of Nova Scotia, Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia, NSLC Giving Fund, African Nova Scotian Affairs), corporate sponsorships (Starbucks, Scotiabank, TD Bank, BDC and others via in-kind and event support), and individual donations. Programs are free to participants; the Ignite Program is fully funded by Works 4 U and Thrive in Black by the Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia and NSLC Giving Fund. Distribution is hybrid virtual + in-person, anchored by dedicated provincial leads across the four Atlantic provinces and amplified through social media, podcast, email, and community testimonials.

Name

Blk Women In Excellence Society

Legal name

Blk Women in Excellence Canada

Website

https://bwiecanada.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Blk Women In Excellence Society is a Halifax-based Canadian nonprofit founded in 2020 that delivers free entrepreneurship training, mental wellness programming, coaching, and an annual pitch competition to Black and Brown women entrepreneurs across the four Atlantic provinces.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Entrepreneurship Support Services

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Entrepreneurship Foundations & Startup Basics (EDAMAHAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Financial Literacy, Budgeting & Personal Finance (EDAMAHAE), Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) & Emotional Regulation Programs (EDAMAIAC), Health, Wellness & Self-Care Skills (Sleep, Nutrition, Habits) (EDAMAIAJ)

Keywords

• Entrepreneurship support programs
• Women business mentorship
• Community economic development
• Nonprofit business training
• Pitch competition funding

Headquarters

HQ city

Halifax

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations: Individual donations collected online through the Zeffy platform. The organization actively solicits donations through its website and at events.
2. Government and Foundation Grants: Majority of operational funding comes from government and foundation grants. Funders include ACOA (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency), Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia, NSLC Giving Fund, Works 4 U (Province of Nova Scotia), and African Nova Scotian Affairs.
3. Corporate Sponsorships and Partnerships: Support from corporate partners including Starbucks, Scotiabank, TD Bank, BDC, and others through sponsorships, in-kind donations, and event support.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

BWIE is a nonprofit that runs free entrepreneurship development, mentorship, and mental wellness programs for Black and Brown women in Atlantic Canada. Its core offering combines structured training (16-Week Ignite Program, Pan-Atlantic Idea to Income), funding pathways (annual Pitch Competition), ongoing coaching and community support (Membership Program, weekly coaching calls, workshops), and culturally relevant mental wellness programming (Thrive in Black).

Product overview

Blk Women In Excellence Society (BWIE) is a nonprofit organization that provides a comprehensive ecosystem of programs and services for Black and Brown women entrepreneurs. The organization operates a multi-product portfolio centered on entrepreneurship development, mental wellness support, and community building. Core offerings include the 16 Week Ignite Program for startup training, the Thrive in Black Initiative for mental wellness, the Pan-Atlantic Idea to Income ecosystem spanning all four Atlantic provinces, an Annual Pitch Competition with prize packages, a Business Directory for member visibility, and a Membership Program providing ongoing access to coaching, workshops, and networking. The Tia Talks Podcast extends reach through audio content. Together, these products form an integrated support system addressing the full lifecycle of Black women entrepreneurs from idea stage through business growth.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 16-Week Ignite Program A 16-week entrepreneurship startup program for Black and Brown women that walks participants step-by-step through becoming capital-ready, covering business planning, financial readiness, marketing, branding, and pitch skills. Includes weekly workshops, expert guidance, and peer support, culminating in a fully developed business plan and 3-year financial forecast. Fully funded by Works 4 U (Province of Nova Scotia) with no program fees for participants.
• Thrive in Black Initiative A mental wellness initiative supporting the mental health and emotional well-being of Black women leaders and business owners across Nova Scotia. Delivers workshops, healing circles, and educational events focused on healing through culture and community, financial and emotional literacy, and access to culturally relevant mental health resources.
• BWIE Black Women Entrepreneur Ecosystem: From Idea to Income (Pan-Atlantic) A regional entrepreneurship initiative delivered across all four Atlantic provinces using a hybrid model combining virtual learning with in-person community engagement. Provides 17+ virtual workshops, provincial in-person workshops, community networking events, and expert-led training sessions covering business foundations, financial readiness, digital growth, and leadership and wellness.
• Annual Pitch Competition An annual pitch competition for Black women entrepreneurs to showcase their businesses and compete for prizes. Winners receive cash prizes (e.g., $10,000 first place in 2024), advertising packages (e.g., Pattison Outdoor $7,500 first place / $2,500 runner-up), professional headshot sessions (Capture-It Photography), one-year memberships, and virtual assistance services. The 2024 edition drew 200+ applicants from all four Atlantic provinces; 48 were selected to compete and 6 advanced as finalists.
• Business Directory A curated online directory of businesses owned by Black women entrepreneurs, organized by industry categories including accounting, beauty, food and catering, fashion, consulting, counseling, event planning, and financial services. The directory creates cross-promotional visibility for member businesses and serves as a marketing incentive for membership.
• Membership Program A membership program providing Black women entrepreneurs with access to entrepreneurship programs, weekly coaching calls, workshops, funding opportunities, mentorship, business training, and a network of women entrepreneurs and ecosystem partners. Membership is free and positioned as joining a community movement, with onboarding, ongoing engagement through coaching calls and workshops, and long-term community participation.
• Tia Talks Podcast A podcast hosted by CEO Tia Upshaw featuring conversations and talks on topics relevant to Black women entrepreneurs and business development. Distributed globally via YouTube, extending BWIE's reach beyond Atlantic Canada and serving as both a content marketing and community-building tool.

Quantifiable outcome

• 410 Black women (100%) successfully registered businesses with Joint Stocks
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Saint Mary's University - Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship CentreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue host for the 2024 Pitch Competition. Located at 903 Robie St, Halifax, NS B3H 3C2.
• Pattison Outdoor AdvertisingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProvides advertising packages as prizes in the annual Pitch Competition. First place winner receives $7,500 advertising package; runner-up receives $2,500 advertising package.
• Capture-It PhotographyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProvides professional headshot sessions as prizes for Pitch Competition winners.
• StarbucksminorOthersCorporate partner supporter listed on Partners page.
• ScotiabankminorOthersCorporate partner supporter listed on Partners page.
• TD BankminorOthersCorporate partner supporter listed on Partners page.
• BDC (Business Development Bank of Canada)minorOthersCorporate partner supporter listed on Partners page.
• African Nova Scotian AffairscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner supporting BWIE's mission to empower Black and Brown women entrepreneurs in Nova Scotia.
• Tribe NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBlack entrepreneurship ecosystem partner listed on Partners page.
• Black Cultural Society of PEIcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvincial partner for the Pan-Atlantic Project in Prince Edward Island. Black women-led organization that helps BWIE build meaningful relationships, create access, and ensure Black women entrepreneurs in PEI are represented, supported, and connected.
• Black Entrepreneurship Program PEI (BEP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvincial partner for the Pan-Atlantic Project in Prince Edward Island. Black women leaders within the province who bring knowledge, lived experience, relationships, and understanding of the local entrepreneurial landscape.
• NSCC (Nova Scotia Community College)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for the 16-Week Ignite Program. NSCC Cohort 1 Graduation referenced, indicating collaboration on entrepreneurship training.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Futurpreneur Canada: Futurpreneur Canada is a national nonprofit providing financing, mentorship, and resources to young entrepreneurs (ages 18-39). Overlaps with BWIE's 16-Week Ignite Program in entrepreneurship training for early-stage founders, though Futurpreneur serves all demographics, not specifically Black women.
• Canadian Women's Foundation: Canadian Women's Foundation is a national public foundation that funds programs advancing gender equality, including economic empowerment for women. Comparable as a Canadian women's-focused grantmaker and ecosystem player, though it does not deliver direct entrepreneurship programming like BWIE's 16-Week Ignite Program.
• YWCA Canada: YWCA Canada is a federated national nonprofit serving women and girls through housing, employment programs, and advocacy. Shares BWIE's focus on women, including programs addressing systemic barriers and economic empowerment, but operates at much larger scale across all women, not specifically Black entrepreneurs.
• MaRS Discovery District: MaRS is a Toronto-based innovation hub supporting entrepreneurs and startups through advisory services, programs, and ecosystem connections. Comparable in delivering structured entrepreneurship programming and ecosystem building, though MaRS serves all sectors and demographics at significantly larger scale than BWIE.
• Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC): BDC is a Canadian federal Crown corporation providing financing, advisory services, and capital to Canadian small businesses. Listed as a BWIE corporate partner, BDC is a broad incumbent that supports entrepreneurs across all demographics, including Black women entrepreneurs through supplier diversity and inclusive entrepreneurship initiatives.
• Women's Enterprise Organizations of Canada (WEOC): WEOC is a national umbrella organization supporting women entrepreneurs through a network of provincial women's enterprise centres. Shares BWIE's focus on women entrepreneurs but operates at a broader demographic level and delivers programming through partner WEC's rather than direct service.

Direct peers

• Black Cultural Society of PEI: Black Cultural Society of PEI is a Black-led nonprofit serving the African descent community in Prince Edward Island, listed as a BWIE provincial partner. Overlaps with BWIE's community support focus for Black entrepreneurs, though operates with a broader cultural mandate rather than specifically women or entrepreneurship.
• Black Business and Professional Association (BBPA): BBPA is a Toronto-based Canadian nonprofit supporting Black business owners and professionals through mentorship, scholarships, and networking. Comparable in mission to BWIE but operates at national scale with a broader demographic focus (not women-specific).
• Tribe Network: Tribe Network is a Canadian nonprofit that supports Black entrepreneurs through training, mentorship, and ecosystem building. Listed as a BWIE partner, it is the most directly comparable Canadian organization focused on Black entrepreneurship, though BWIE specializes specifically in Black women.

Regional players

• Federation of Black Canadians: Federation of Black Canadians is a national nonprofit advocating for Black Canadian communities through policy, research, and program delivery. Comparable in nonprofit structure and Black community focus but emphasizes advocacy and research over direct entrepreneurship training like BWIE.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@blkwomeninexcellence6756/about
• Facebookfacebook.com/BWIE-Blk-Women-in-Excellence-100088589051860
• Instagraminstagram.com/blkwomeninexcellence
• TikToktiktok.com/@blkwomeninexcellence
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/canadian-blk-women-in-excellence-society-ns-bc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Blk Women In Excellence Society