REPAF – Réseau des entrepreneurs et professionnels africains

What REPAF – Réseau des entrepreneurs et professionnels africains does

REPAF – Réseau des entrepreneurs et professionnels africains is a Quebec-registered non-profit organization (OSBL) founded in 2005 and headquartered in the Saint-Laurent borough of Montreal. It operates as a business and professional network serving predominantly French-speaking entrepreneurs, professionals, and students of African origin in Quebec, while remaining open to anyone aligned with its mission of socioeconomic integration. The organization runs a portfolio of programs including the Programme de croissance des entreprises (a free 12-month SME support program), the Mentorat de la diversité (Quebec's first diversity mentorship program, launched in 2008 and now operating on tiered annual subscriptions), Incubation d'entreprise for early-stage startups, the annual Gala d'Excellence Vision & Inspiration (300+ attendees), and the 'Faire affaires avec l'Afrique' event series supporting Quebec-Africa commercial ties.

REPAF generates revenue through three primary streams: paid mentorship program fees structured as annual subscriptions ($150-$300/year depending on member status and track), event ticketing and Gala sponsorships (with institutional sponsors including TD Bank, KPMG, Banque Nationale, and CDPQ), and partner contributions including Government of Canada funding channelled through the FACE coalition. Membership itself is offered free of charge as a deliberate funnel strategy. Distribution is community-led through eight volunteer committees, event-driven through a calendar of networking sessions, conferences, and webinars, and supplemented by partnership referrals from financial institutions and government interlocutors. There is no proprietary technology platform; a self-serve member portal is described as forthcoming.

REPAF operates with 11 employees and a substantial volunteer base, having transitioned from an entirely volunteer-run model only recently. It maintains formal partnerships with TD Bank, KPMG, Banque Nationale, CDPQ, the Government of Canada, BDC, FACE, and RJCQQ, and has facilitated 500 loans to Black entrepreneurs through the FACE-administered Black Entrepreneurship Communities Fund since 2021. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors led by founder Komlan Messie.

Name

REPAF – Réseau des entrepreneurs et professionnels africains

Legal name

Réseau des Entrepreneurs et Professionnels Africains (REPAF)

Website

https://repaf.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

REPAF is a Quebec-based non-profit network founded in 2005 that supports entrepreneurs, professionals, and students of African origin through free membership, a paid diversity mentorship program, business incubation, an annual excellence Gala, and Quebec-Africa trade events, in partnership with major financial institutions and the Canadian government.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Business Networking and Mentorship Services

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAMAKAA

Mentorship & Coaching (Career, Academic, Industry-Specific)

Education/Supplemental & Enrichment Programs (Arts, STEM, Language)/College & Career Enrichment (Mentorship, Internships, Portfolio)

SECONDARYEDAIABAF

Consortia & Network Exchange Programs

Education/International Education & Study Abroad/University/College Exchange Programs & Partnerships

Keywords

• Business networking
• Entrepreneurship mentorship
• Business incubation
• Diversity mentorship program
• Professional development network

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint-Laurent (Montreal)

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations

Revenue model

1. Free Membership: REPAF offers free membership to entrepreneurs, professionals, and students, providing access to networking activities, training, mentorship at preferential rates, partner discounts, and visibility in the member directory. Membership is free to reduce barriers and grow the community.
2. Mentorship Program Fees: REPAF charges annual fees for its Diversity Mentorship program: $200/year for non-members (professional track), $150/year for members (professional track), $300/year for non-members (entrepreneurial track), and $250/year for members (entrepreneurial track). This is a recurring annual revenue stream tied to a structured 12-month mentorship engagement.
3. Event Ticketing and Partnerships: Revenue is generated through ticket sales for paid events, particularly the annual Gala d'Excellence Vision & Inspiration. The Gala generates sponsorship revenue from partners and ticket sales from the 300+ attendees. Partner sponsors (TD, KPMG, Banque Nationale, CDPQ, Government of Canada) provide both financial and in-kind support in exchange for community access and brand visibility.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

REPAF provides networking, mentorship, and business acceleration services for entrepreneurs and professionals of African origin in Quebec. Its core offerings include a free 12-month Business Growth Program (Programme de croissance des entreprises) with training and personalized mentoring, Quebec's first Diversity Mentorship Program (Mentorat de la diversité) with 15+ years of expertise, business incubation with access to resources, mentors, and investors, plus the annual Gala d'Excellence Vision & Inspiration and Quebec-Africa trade events.

Product overview

REPAF is a business networking organization offering a portfolio of services for African entrepreneurs and professionals. The core offerings include: the Programme de croissance des entreprises (Business Growth Program) providing 12 months of free SME support; the Mentorat de la diversité (Diversity Mentoring Program) with 15+ years of expertise; and Incubation d'entreprise (Business Incubation) for affordable startup resources. Complementary services include the annual Gala d'Excellence Vision & Inspiration and the 'Faire affaires avec l'Afrique' event series promoting Quebec-Africa business ties. These programs work together as a unified ecosystem supporting entrepreneurial and professional development, from mentorship through acceleration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Programme de croissance des entreprises (Business Growth Program)

Quantifiable outcome

• 73% of mentored businesses survive past 5 years (vs. lower baseline without mentorship)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

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

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• KPMGcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerKPMG is listed as a key partner of REPAF, offering professional services, expertise, and potentially in-kind support to the network. KPMG's association with REPAF provides credibility and may include advisory or consulting support for the organization's operations and member services.
• FACE (Fédération Africaine Canadienne de l'Économie)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFACE is a coalition administering Canada's Black Entrepreneurship Communities Fund since 2021. Through this partnership, REPAF connects its Black entrepreneur members to FACE's loan program, which has facilitated 500 loans to Black entrepreneurs. FACE and REPAF collaborate on capital access, financing advocacy, and Black entrepreneurship ecosystem development in Canada.
• RJCQQ (Regroupement des jeunes chambres du Québec)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerREPAF is a member of the RJCQQ (Regroupement des jeunes chambres du Québec), a provincial network of young business chambers. This membership gives REPAF access to a broader network of Quebec business organizations and cross-promotional opportunities.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• NOBLE (National Organization of Black Entrepreneurs): Organization advancing Black entrepreneurship in Canada through advocacy, programming, and ecosystem partnerships. Directly comparable mission to REPAF's entrepreneur-support work in the Black Canadian business community.
• Black Business and Professional Association (BBPA): Canadian non-profit supporting Black professionals and entrepreneurs through mentorship, networking, and capacity-building programs. Comparable mandate and program design (mentorship + business development) for the Black diaspora entrepreneur/professional segment.
• Coalition des communautés africaines du Québec (COCAFRIQ): Coalition representing African communities in Quebec, providing networking and advocacy services. Comparable diaspora-membership model and Quebec-based community organizing, with overlap on member segments.
• African Canadian Chamber of Commerce (ACCE): National chamber promoting trade and professional linkages between African-Canadian entrepreneurs, businesses, and African markets. Comparable to REPAF's 'Faire affaires avec l'Afrique' trade-mission and cross-continental business development focus.
• Groupe 3737: Montreal-based business support organization for entrepreneurs of African descent, offering incubation, mentorship, and financing pathways. Highly comparable to REPAF in geography, mission, and service mix, and competes for the same diaspora entrepreneur segment.
• Federation of African Canadian Economics (FACE): Coalition administering the federal Black Entrepreneurship Loan Fund and ecosystem programs. While a partner of REPAF, FACE operates the capital-access layer of the same Black entrepreneurship ecosystem and competes for institutional mindshare and funding.

Emerging players

• Junior Chamber International (JCI) Montreal: International young-professional network active in Montreal offering leadership training, networking, and community programs. Comparable volunteer-driven committee structure and member-engagement model, though broader in demographic focus.

Regional players

• Jeunes Chambres de Commerce du Québec (RJCQQ): Provincial network of young business chambers in Quebec of which REPAF is a member. Comparable networking/community-led GTM model and Quebec footprint, though oriented more broadly than the African diaspora segment.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Repaf
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCJGjf2vWP2cdzhDfbyZUqrA
• Facebookfacebook.com/REPAF.ORG
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/r-seau-des-professionnels-et-entrepreneurs-africains-repaf---african-business-network

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 REPAF – Réseau des entrepreneurs et professionnels africains