The Canadian Black Standard (The Standard)

What The Canadian Black Standard (The Standard) does

The Canadian Black Standard (The Standard) is a Toronto-headquartered, Canadian-licensed non-profit founded in 2020 by 13-14 Black Canadian women with collective global experience in communications and marketing. It operates as a members-first networking and advocacy platform dedicated to addressing systemic and intersectional barriers to the employment advancement of Black Canadian women in the marketing sector, with national reach across Canada and a volunteer Board of Directors.

The organization's product surface is programmatic rather than technological: a membership community offering professional development, industry insight, job opportunities, and networking experiences; signature programs including Money Moves (financial literacy, presented by RBC), The Huddle (sports marketing, powered by MLSE and NBA Canada), Rising Star Grants for young entrepreneurs, Standard Night @ The Raptors, DEI Dialogues, The Verdict youth competition, and the annual "Glorious & Free" Emancipation Day campaign; and a curated Marketplace of 100% Black-women-owned small businesses. Distribution runs through the direct membership channel, the corporate partnership channel, virtual events platforms, and in-person marketplace pop-ups. Underlying technology is limited to a standard Squarespace web presence and mainstream social channels; no proprietary platform, API, or AI capabilities are disclosed.

Revenue is sourced from multi-year strategic corporate partnerships (RBC contributing CAD $100,000 as founding partner, with MLSE, NBA Canada, and Blake's as additional core partners providing funding or pro-bono legal services), membership fees (not publicly priced), and implied marketplace vendor participation. The organization runs lean — with a volunteer Board and a documented 6-month, part-time Social Media Coordinator contract — making it structurally a sponsored community-and-programs entity rather than a venture-scale business, with growth dependent on continued enterprise sponsor renewals and program expansion.

Name

The Canadian Black Standard (The Standard)

Legal name

The Canadian Black Standard

Website

https://canadianblackstandard.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Canadian Black Standard is a Toronto-based, Canadian non-profit founded in 2020 that operates a national membership, programming, and marketplace platform advancing Black Canadian women in the marketing sector, funded primarily through multi-year corporate partnerships with RBC, MLSE, NBA Canada, and Blake's.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Networking and Advocacy Services

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Human Rights Organizations (813311), Professional Organizations (813920)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Gender Equality & Women’s Empowerment (BPAGABAF)

Keywords

• Professional networking platform
• Advocacy organization
• Membership community
• Diversity programs
• Corporate partnerships

Headquarters

HQ city

Toronto

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Others

Revenue model

1. Corporate Partnerships: Multi-year strategic partnerships with leading corporations (RBC, MLSE, NBA Canada, Blake's) who provide core funding for capacity building and program delivery. Partners commit to measurable initiatives specific to Black women advancement.
2. Membership Fees: Members-first organization offering professional development, expert advice, industry insight, job opportunities and networking experiences in exchange for membership.
3. Marketplace Vendor Fees: Black woman-owned vendors participate in marketplace events, potentially paying fees to showcase and sell products at pop-up events.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The Canadian Black Standard is a members-first networking and advocacy organization for Black Canadian women working in the marketing industry. It delivers professional development programming, networking events, mentorship, grants, and a marketplace featuring Black women-owned businesses, funded through corporate partnerships and membership support.

Product overview

The Canadian Black Standard (The Standard) is Canada's premier networking and advocacy platform for Black Canadian Women in marketing. The organization operates a members-first platform providing professional development, industry insight, job opportunities, and networking experiences. Core programs include the main membership platform, Money Moves (presented by RBC) for financial literacy and professional development, The Huddle (powered by MLSE + NBA Canada) for sports marketing advancement, a Black woman-owned Marketplace, Rising Star Grants for young entrepreneurs, The Verdict youth competition program, and DEI Dialogues for corporate training. The organization was founded in 2020 by thirteen Black women with global experience in communications and marketing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Money Moves: A program presented by RBC that connects, educates, and uplifts Black women in marketing through virtual events, marketplace experiences, and financial grants.
• The Huddle
• Glorious & Free

Products and services

• The Standard Membership Platform A members-first networking and advocacy platform providing professional development programming, expert advice, industry insight, job opportunities, and networking experiences for Black Canadian women in the marketing industry.
• Money Moves (Presented by RBC) A financial literacy and professional development initiative that connects, educates, and uplifts Black women in marketing through virtual events, in-person marketplace experiences, and grants for young entrepreneurs.
• The Huddle (Powered by MLSE + NBA Canada) A sports marketing program featuring business professionals sharing insights to help advance Black women in the sports marketing industry.
• Rising Star Grants Financial grants awarded to outstanding young Black female entrepreneurs ages 18-29 who excel in the marketing industry.
• Marketplace A platform featuring 100% Black woman-owned small businesses for shopping, networking, and community support, combining retail with networking opportunities.
• Standard Night @ The Raptors A community awareness event at Toronto Raptors home games celebrating and honouring Black women changemakers during Women's History Month.
• The Verdict A youth competition program for Black Canadians ages 18-35 with interest in marketing and advertising, where participants work in teams to address real business challenges and present solutions to executive leaders.
• Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Dialogues Standard-facilitated anti-racism and allyship training program designed to create a culture of inclusion in the workplace for corporate partners.

Quantifiable outcome

• Racialized women earn 59.3% of what white males earn on average
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered supporting and core.

• IPG Media BrandssupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 February 2023IPG Media Brands posed real-life business challenges for The Verdict program, a 6-week competition for Black youth ages 18-35 interested in marketing/advertising. Participants work in teams to address business challenges and present solutions to executive leaders.
• The And Partnership CanadasupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 February 2023Partnered with The Verdict program as a challenge provider for Black youth career development in marketing. Participating teams addressed real business challenges with potential prize money of $10,000 for winning team and $2,500 for winning individual.
• FCB CanadasupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 February 2023FCB Canada served as a challenge partner for The Verdict program, providing real-world business problems for Black youth competition participants to solve over a 6-week period.
• Publicis GroupesupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 February 2023Publicis Groupe participated in The Verdict program as a challenge partner, contributing to youth mentorship and career development initiatives for Black Canadian youth in marketing.
• Blake's (Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 10 December 2021Blake's provides pro-bono legal counsel as the organization's official legal partner. Blake's established the Black@Blake's employee resource group and was recognized as one of Canada's Best Diversity Employers for 2023 for the 13th time, more than any other law firm in Canada.
• MLSEcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 October 2021MLSE (Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment) signed a multi-year partnership as a founding partner. MLSE is committed to building The Standard's brand equity and transforming the industry through sports marketing initiatives. Programs include 'The Huddle powered by MLSE + NBA Canada', 'Standard Night @ The Raptors' community events, and ED&I Dialogues on anti-racism and allyship.
• NBA CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 October 2021NBA Canada signed a multi-year founding partnership alongside MLSE. Committed to celebrating and empowering Black women in sports and marketing industries. Supports 'The Huddle' program and community building initiatives. Contributes to organization's growth through sports marketing expertise.
• BlubohosupportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 26 August 2021Bluboho collaborated with The Standard to offer four $1,500 grants through the 'Raising the Standard Grant' program supporting Black female entrepreneurs. The partnership celebrates Black women business owners who are raising the standard and acting as trailblazers.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Color of Change: Largest US online racial justice organization mobilizing members for campaigns and corporate accountability. Broad incumbent: operates at greater scale and broader Black-advocacy remit but shares The Standard's community-mobilization and corporate-pressure DNA.
• National Urban League: Historic US-based civil rights and direct-service organization with programs in workforce, entrepreneurship, and education. Broad incumbent: shares The Standard's intersectional economic-empowerment mission but operates at national scale across multiple demographics.
• NAACP: Oldest and largest US civil rights organization with extensive advocacy, legal, and program operations. Broad incumbent: addresses overlapping systemic-barrier and representation issues that The Standard targets within the marketing profession.

Emerging players

• Blacks in Technology Foundation: Community-driven organization supporting Black technologists through events, mentorship, and corporate engagement. Emerging player: similar member-and-corporate-partnership model aimed at increasing Black representation in a specific professional vertical (technology vs. marketing).
• Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub (WEKH): Canadian research and knowledge hub advancing women entrepreneurs, hosted at Ryerson/TMU. Emerging player: partnered with The Standard, BMO, and BBPA on the Rise Up Pitch Competition, intersecting with The Standard's entrepreneur support programs.

Direct peers

• Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion (CCDI): Canadian organization providing employers with DEI strategy, training, and consulting. Direct peer: serves the same corporate Canada DEI buyer set and frequently partners with the same foundations and corporate sponsors as The Standard.
• Black Business Professional Association (BBPA): Canadian non-profit supporting Black professionals and entrepreneurs through mentorship, awards, and training. Direct peer: BBPA collaborated with The Standard and BMO on the Rise Up Pitch Competition for Black women entrepreneurs, sharing the same member base and partner ecosystem.
• Congress of Black Women of Canada: National Canadian organization focused on the social, economic, and political advancement of Black women through chapters across provinces. Direct peer: operates the same member-driven, advocacy-and-programming model aimed at Canadian Black women, with overlapping national scope.
• Women's Enterprise Organizations of Canada (WEOC): National Canadian umbrella for women's enterprise support organizations. Direct peer: shares the Canadian member-based, programmatic, and federally/corporately funded model for advancing an underrepresented group in business and professional life.
• Black Professionals in Tech Network (BPTN): Canada-founded network connecting Black professionals to corporate opportunities in technology and adjacent fields. Direct peer: very similar community-led, corporate-partnership-funded model targeting Black professionals; BPTN's vertical is tech whereas The Standard's is marketing.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/canadianblackstandard

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 The Canadian Black Standard (The Standard)