Black Canadian Women in Action

Name

Black Canadian Women in Action

Legal name

Black Canadian Women in Action Society

Website

https://bcwinaction.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Edmonton

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Funding and Grants: BCW In Action receives significant government funding from PrairiesCan and other federal/provincial programs to support Black entrepreneurship and workforce development initiatives.
2. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees of $10 for students and $20 for general members provide recurring revenue and access to networking opportunities, exclusive events, and member discounts.
3. Donations: As a registered charity, BCW In Action accepts tax-deductible donations through e-transfer, online payment via TD Online Mart, Canada Helps, and cheque donations.
4. Loan Program Services: Through the Prairies Small Business Centre, BCW facilitates access to micro and macro loans for entrepreneurs, potentially generating revenue through program fees or interest.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

BCW In Action is a bilingual registered charity that delivers community programs, employment and workforce integration training, entrepreneurship and business development support, leadership development, and affordable housing initiatives for Black Canadian women, girls, families, entrepreneurs, and newcomers primarily in Western Canada. Its offering centers on wraparound empowerment services, including a small business centre with a loan program, an AI business workshop, hair and beauty workforce integration, financial literacy training, and a 72-unit affordable housing project, with most programs provided free of charge to participants.

Product overview

Black Canadian Women in Action (BCW) is a bilingual registered charity and social/economic impact organization offering a portfolio of community programs, business development services, and workforce integration initiatives. The organization operates through distinct program pillars including: community programming (Black Girls Empowerment, S.T.E.A.M., Leadership Summer Camp, Youth Mental Wellness, Gender Based Violence Initiative); business programs (Prairies Small Business Centre with loan services, MacEwan Ventures, AI Advantage, Financial Literacy, Hair and Beauty Business Program); and specialized initiatives (Affordable Housing - The Furaha Project, Hair and Beauty Workforce Integration, Sown in Power Agribusiness, Anti-Racism Toolkit). The product portfolio centers on empowerment and economic development services rather than a traditional technology product platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Prairies Small Business Centre: A business centre supporting entrepreneurs and professionals with advocacy, education, leadership, networking, skill-building, economic development, and access to financing across Western Canada.
• Black Canadian Businesses in Action (BCB in Action)
• The Furaha Project
• Sown in Power

Products and services

• Prairies Small Business Centre
• Artificial Intelligence Advantage Business Workshop A free workshop program that helps racialized entrepreneurs, especially women, use AI tools to streamline operations, boost productivity, and grow their businesses by providing practical strategies to improve efficiency and support decision-making, funded by TD Bank. Six virtual sessions cover AI tools such as ChatGPT, Microsoft Co-Pilot, Gemini, Lovable, ManyChat, Creatify, and Odoo.
• The Furaha Affordable Housing Project An affordable housing project providing 72 mixed housing units with a 20-year affordability commitment, combined with programs supporting economic empowerment, well-being, entrepreneurship, and newcomer integration. It targets women, key workers, students, and newcomers in Alberta.
• Sown in Power Agribusiness Initiative A food sovereignty initiative led by Black women that empowers BIPOC communities through sustainable food growing, knowledge sharing, and leadership development, creating opportunities for women to strengthen food security.
• Financial Literacy Training Program A program providing practical financial education covering budgeting, credit scores, business registration, financing, and investment basics, designed to help women, families, and entrepreneurs make informed decisions; delivered with support from Mackenzie Investments.
• Hair and Beauty Workforce Integration Program A free bilingual training program supporting newcomer women in Alberta who are interested in hair and beauty careers, providing hands-on hairstyling training, workplace English development, employment-readiness support, and supervised practical experience in partnership with MC College.
• Hair and Beauty Business Program A training program equipping aspiring stylists, beauty students, salon owners, and industry professionals with tools, knowledge, and support to build sustainable careers and businesses in the hair and beauty industry; funded by Calgary Foundation and Edmonton Community Foundation with industry partners Beauty Profs and Ellie Bianca Beauty.
• MacEwan Ventures Program A partnership program with MacEwan University that helps aspiring entrepreneurs turn ideas into viable businesses through hands-on training, mentorship, and practical tools for business planning, marketing, sales, and pitching; offered free to participants over 8 weekly sessions.
• Prairies Small Business Centre Loan Program A loan program providing micro and macro loans for businesses through partner organizations, with support for loan application preparation including mission definition, funding needs assessment, and business planning, delivered through the Prairies Small Business Centre.
• BCW In Action Annual Membership Annual membership program offering access to a network of Black business professionals, invitations to exclusive member-only events, cross-promotion of member events, networking opportunities, promotional opportunities at BCW events, access to the BCW business directory, and member discounts with select organizations. Annual fees are $10 for students (active full-time enrollment in elementary, junior high, high school, or university) and $20 for general members (professional Black women in careers or in business).
• Anti-Racism Toolkit A toolkit designed to build meaningful practices and empower educators, service providers, employers, and community development workers to advocate for change against racism impacting the Black community; it serves as a self-serve resource supporting the W.A.G.E. Anti-Racism project.

Quantifiable outcome

• 640+ women empowered
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability5 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• MacEwan UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership delivers the MacEwan Ventures Program, providing aspiring entrepreneurs with mentorship, business planning tools, and networking opportunities. The program is offered free to participants.
• Beauty ProfsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry partner providing expertise and resources for the Hair and Beauty Business Program.
• Ellie Bianca BeautyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBlack-owned beauty brand partner contributing products and support to the Hair and Beauty Business Program.
• MC CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAccredited hairstyling institution partner for the Hair and Beauty Workforce Integration Program, providing pathways to certification and licensing for newcomer women.
• NorQuest CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Black Girls Empowerment Initiative and S.T.E.A.M. program, providing educational expertise and resources.
• University of AlbertacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner in the Black Girls Empowerment Initiative and S.T.E.A.M. program for mentorship and hands-on learning.
• Government of Alberta - Biz ConnectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResource partner providing small business resources and information through the Prairies Small Business Centre.
• Federation of African Canadian Economics (FACE)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResource partner providing business resources and support through the Prairies Small Business Centre.
• Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub (WEKH)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResource partner providing women entrepreneurship resources through the Prairies Small Business Centre.
• Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResource partner providing business development resources through the Prairies Small Business Centre.
• Export Development Canada (EDC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResource partner providing export and trade resources through the Prairies Small Business Centre.
• AmityHouseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner for the Collective Kitchen Culinary Arts program, empowering women through cooking and community.
• Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for the Intellectual Property Workshop, delivering training on trademarks, patents, copyright, and trade secrets.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• YWCA Canada: National federation of local YWCAs delivering women's empowerment, housing, and newcomer services across Canada. Broad incumbent operating at much greater scale with overlapping women's empowerment and affordable housing programs.
• Canadian Women's Foundation: Canada's largest public foundation for women and girls, funding programs across economic empowerment, violence prevention, and girls' empowerment. Broader incumbent with overlapping funding-relationship role (Canadian Women's Foundation funds BCW's Black Girls Empowerment Initiative).

Regional players

• Tropicana Community Services: Toronto-based community organization serving Black Caribbean and African Canadian communities with settlement, youth, employment, and entrepreneurship services. Regional peer with similar target population and program mix, primarily operating in Ontario.
• Black Business and Professional Association (BBPA): Toronto-based organization supporting Black business owners, professionals, and youth through mentorship, scholarships, and programming. Regional peer in Black economic empowerment, primarily serving Ontario.
• Calgary Bridge Foundation for Youth: Calgary-based nonprofit supporting newcomer and immigrant youth through mentorship, education, and settlement services. Regional peer in newcomer integration programming, particularly relevant to BCW's newcomer women and youth segments.

Direct peers

• 100 Black Women in Finance (Canada): Network of Black women in the Canadian finance profession focused on advancement, mentorship, and economic empowerment. Direct peer in the Black women's economic advancement space, with similar focus on professional networking and financial literacy.
• Africa Centre (Calgary): Calgary-based organization serving African newcomers and Black communities in Alberta through settlement, youth, and community programming. Direct peer by geography (same city), target population, and program mix (settlement, youth, community empowerment).
• Black Opportunity Fund: A national Black-led Canadian organization investing in Black communities through education, health, and economic development. Directly comparable in mission, target population (Black Canadians), and funding mix (corporate + philanthropic), with BCW In Action even receiving recognition from the Fund.
• Federation of African Canadian Economics (FACE): Black-led Canadian organization advancing economic prosperity in African Canadian communities through entrepreneurship, business development, and access to capital. Direct peer as an existing resource partner of BCW's Prairies Small Business Centre and a like-sized Black economic empowerment nonprofit.
• Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub (WEKH): Canadian national hub for women entrepreneurship research and resources. Direct peer as an existing resource partner of BCW's Prairies Small Business Centre, with overlapping focus on women entrepreneurs and small business support.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/bcwinaction
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bcwinaction
• Facebookfacebook.com/BCBinAction

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries3 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 Black Canadian Women in Action