Black Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub

Name

Black Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub

Legal name

Black Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub

Website

https://bekh.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Entrepreneurship Research Services

NAICS

Marketing Research and Public Opinion Polling (54191), Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (541)

akta.pro primary industry

Small Business & Entrepreneurship Community Education (EDAAAFAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Entrepreneurship, Innovation & Venture Creation Centers (EDAHAHAH), Entrepreneurship Foundations & Startup Basics (EDAMAHAA)

Keywords

• Entrepreneurship research services
• Ecosystem mapping platform
• Community research hub
• Data repository services
• Black entrepreneurship support

Headquarters

HQ city

Ottawa

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Government of Canada Funding: BEKH is funded by the Government of Canada through Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) as part of the Black Entrepreneurship Program. The program was launched to provide vital support to Black business owners and entrepreneurs in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
2. BEP Ecosystem Funded Organizations: BEKH manages and supports organizations funded through the Black Entrepreneurship Program (BEP) Ecosystem component, which includes 44+ funded organizations across Canada supporting Black entrepreneurs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Black Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub (BEKH) is a national non-profit research hub that conducts and disseminates research on Black entrepreneurship in Canada. It operates the BEEM (Black Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Map) digital platform connecting Black entrepreneurs with funding, mentorship, and procurement opportunities, and maintains a publicly available national data repository on Black entrepreneurship. The organization coordinates six regional research hubs across Canada in partnership with universities and the Dream Legacy Foundation.

Product overview

The Black Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub (BEKH) operates as a unified national research and data platform focused on Black entrepreneurship in Canada. The core offering consists of the BEKH research platform itself, complemented by the BEEM (Black Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Map) as its primary digital product for ecosystem mapping and networking. Additional offerings include the National Survey on Black Entrepreneurship and the National Data Repository for research data accessibility. The platform also includes six Regional Research Hubs across Canada that conduct localized research. BEKH does not offer a modular/add-on architecture but rather functions as an integrated suite of research, data, and mapping tools under one organization.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Black Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub (BEKH)
• BEEM (Black Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Map)
• National Survey on Black Entrepreneurship

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 2,300 Black entrepreneurs surveyed across Canada
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, regional and ecosystem.

• Government of Canada - Black Entrepreneurship ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBEKH is one of three essential components of the Government of Canada's Black Entrepreneurship Program, launched to provide vital support to Black business owners and entrepreneurs in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Funded by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED).
• Carleton University - Sprott School of BusinesscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBEKH is headquartered at Carleton University's Sprott School of Business. The Sprott School of Business hosts the National Lead Hub and provides administrative and research infrastructure support.
• Geomatics and Cartographic Research Centre (GCRC) at Carleton UniversitycoreTechnology or IntegrationGCRC developed the BEEM (Black Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Map) platform and manages the technical infrastructure, data servers, and mapping technology for the ecosystem mapping project.
• Dream Legacy Foundation (DLF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead Community Partner of BEKH. DLF played a foundational role in community engagement efforts and continues to collaborate on ecosystem development and community initiatives.
• University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) - North Regional HubregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosts the North Regional Hub of BEKH, conducting research on Black entrepreneurship in Northern Canada including British Columbia and Yukon territories.
• Simon Fraser University Beedie School of Business - West Regional HubregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosts the West Regional Hub of BEKH through RADIUS social innovation hub, conducting research and community engagement in Western Canada (Alberta and British Columbia).
• University of Alberta - Central Regional HubregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosts the Central Regional Hub of BEKH, conducting research on Black entrepreneurship in Alberta and surrounding regions.
• Université du Québec à Montréal and Concordia University - Quebec Regional HubregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosts the Quebec Regional Hub (Q-BEKH) of BEKH, conducting bilingual research and community engagement in Quebec.
• St. Mary's University - East Regional HubregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosts the East/Atlantic Regional Hub of BEKH, conducting research on Black entrepreneurship in Atlantic Canada including Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.
• BEP Ecosystem Funded OrganizationsecosystemOthers44+ organizations funded through the Black Entrepreneurship Program Ecosystem component that collaborate with BEKH on research, community engagement, and resource sharing. Includes organizations across Alberta, BC, Atlantic, Ontario, Northern Ontario, and Quebec regions.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• National Minority Business Council: Long-standing US-based non-profit advocating for minority-owned businesses through certification, networking, and policy work. Comparable as a national body supporting underrepresented entrepreneurs, though US-focused and broader in minority scope.
• National Black Business Council: US-based organization supporting Black business growth through advocacy, partnerships, and capacity building. Comparable in its national coordinating role for Black entrepreneurship, though operating in a different geography.

Direct peers

• Black Founders: US-based non-profit supporting Black entrepreneurs through community-building events, mentorship, and resources. Comparable as a Black-focused entrepreneurship support organization with community engagement as a core pillar.
• Black Innovation Foundation: Canadian non-profit supporting Black entrepreneurs and innovators through programming, capital access, and ecosystem building. Directly comparable mission to BEKH within the same Canadian Black entrepreneurship ecosystem, though focused on innovation and venture support rather than research.
• Village Capital: Global non-profit supporting early-stage entrepreneurs in underserved communities with a focus on impact measurement and peer-learning cohorts. Comparable as a research- and programming-driven entrepreneurship support organization serving underrepresented founders.
• BKR Capital: Canadian venture capital fund and accelerator focused on Black and diverse founders. Comparable as a Canadian ecosystem player serving Black entrepreneurs, though focused on capital deployment rather than research.
• Canadian Black Chamber of Commerce: National Canadian organization advocating for and supporting Black-owned businesses through networking, policy advocacy, and resource provision. Comparable as a national coordinating body for the Black business community, though more advocacy- and trade-focused than BEKH's research orientation.
• Federation of Black Canadians: National non-profit representing Black Canadian communities through advocacy, research, and capacity-building. Comparable as a national Black-led umbrella organization in Canada that engages in research and community mobilization across regions.

Regional players

• Afro-Caribbean Business Network: Canadian network connecting Black and Afro-Caribbean business professionals through events, mentorship, and resources. Comparable in serving Black entrepreneurs in Canada, though operating as a networking community rather than a research institution.

Emerging players

• Enterprise Development International: Research and program organization focused on minority entrepreneurship data and ecosystem development. Comparable in producing research and data assets on underserved entrepreneurs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/BekhCanada
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@bekh
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bekhcanada
• Instagraminstagram.com/bekhub

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Subsidiaries6 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 Black Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub