Ògo Tàwa

What Ògo Tàwa does

Ògo Tàwa is a Canadian non-profit organization (Business Number 767197270RC0001) founded in 2019 and headquartered in Toronto, with operational teams extending into West Africa. The organization runs four core programs: the Black Artrepreneur Program (BAP), the Canadian Black Heroes Statues project, the BLM Dance Challenge, and a Music Program. Its primary constituents are Black Canadian artist entrepreneurs, Black artists of African descent, and the global dance community participating in its BLM Dance Challenge.

The organization has built augmented reality experiences integrated into the Canadian Black Heroes Statues project, representing a technology-enabled layer on its cultural monument programming. Its technology stack is described to include AI-powered web applications, chatbots, and optimization software, supported by a Chief Technology Officer with prior AI product experience. The organization participates in cross-sector partnerships spanning financial institutions (TD Bank Group), government programs (FedDev Ontario's Black Entrepreneurship Program), and arts organizations (ArtworxTO, Harvardwood, Igniterr).

Revenue is generated through donations, fundraising events, and government grants. A $2 million grant was secured from FedDev Ontario via the Black Entrepreneurship Program (BEP) Ecosystem Fund in July 2022, followed by a TD Bank Group partnership announced in March 2024 to support the Black Artrepreneur Program. Operating model is grant- and donation-dependent, with no disclosed pricing or earned-income product lines beyond programming activities.

Name

Ògo Tàwa

Legal name

Ògo Tàwa Inc.

Website

https://ogotawa.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Ògo Tàwa is a Canadian non-profit founded in 2019 and headquartered in Toronto, running the Black Artrepreneur Program, AR-enabled Canadian Black Heroes Statues, the BLM Dance Challenge, and a Music Program for Black Canadian artist entrepreneurs and the global dance community.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cultural Arts Nonprofit Programming

NAICS

Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers (711510), Musical Groups and Artists (71113), Historical Sites (712120), Human Rights Organizations (813311), Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAHAG

Cultural Festivals & Events Organizations

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Arts, Culture & Heritage Nonprofits

SECONDARYBPAGAHAI

Indigenous, Ethnic & Folk Arts/Heritage Organizations

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Arts, Culture & Heritage Nonprofits

SECONDARYTHAJACAB

Monuments, Statues & Memorials

Travel & Hospitality/Tours, Attractions & Experiences/Attractions & Landmarks (Observation Decks, Monuments, Scenic Sites)

SECONDARYMPAIAGAL

A&R / Artist Development Services

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Music & Audio (Recording, Publishing, Streaming)/Artist Management & Agencies

Keywords

• Black artist entrepreneurship
• Cultural heritage monuments
• Community arts programs
• Nonprofit arts education
• Public art installation

Headquarters

HQ city

Brampton

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 and Fundraising: Ògo Tàwa operates as a registered Canadian non-profit (BN 767197270RC0001) and raises funds through events, online donation pages (GoFundMe, engage.utoronto.ca), and fundraiser proceeds to support the Black Heroes Statue Garden and Black Artrepreneur Program.
2. Government and Institutional Grants: Funded by the Government of Canada through FedDev Ontario, including a $2 million investment over two-plus years via the Black Entrepreneurship Program (BEP) Ecosystem Fund to create programming for Black artists, and additional support through the Canada Community Revitalization Fund for the Black Heroes Statue Collection Project.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Ògo Tàwa is a registered Canadian non-profit that creates cultural legacy through permanent public monuments honoring Black Canadian heroes and delivers artist-led programs supporting Black artists. Its core offerings include the Black Artrepreneur Program (a 13-week entrepreneurship training for Black Canadian artists), the Canadian Black Heroes Statues project (life-size public monuments in Toronto), the BLM Dance Challenge (global social media dance campaign), and a Music Program producing BLM anthems and videos.

Product overview

Ògo Tàwa Inc. is a registered Canadian non-profit organization (since 2019) that creates cultural legacy in public space by making courage, contribution, and creativity visible through permanent monuments and artist-led programs. The organization's portfolio consists of four interconnected programs: the Black Artrepreneur Program (providing 13-week business training and coaching for Black Canadian artists), the Canadian Black Heroes Statues initiative (creating life-size monuments of Black Canadian historical figures), the BLM Dance Challenge (a global dance movement supporting Black Lives Matter), and the Music Program (producing anthems for the Black Lives Matter movement). Together, these programs honor Black individuals who shaped history while supporting Black artists to build sustainable creative careers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Black Artrepreneur Program

Quantifiable outcome

• First life-size statues of Black Canadian heroes in Toronto, Ontario — featuring Mathieu Da Costa, John Ware, and Lucie Blackburn
• +3 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core, major and minor.

• TD Bank GroupflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 March 2024TD Bank Group presented the Black Artrepreneur Coaching Program, a 13-week entrepreneurship training initiative for Black Canadian artists and creative entrepreneurs in Southern Ontario. TD's support aligns with their vision of fostering connections between diverse cultures through art, providing resources for business training and participant support.
• IgniterrcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBlack-led business support organization Igniterr collaborates with Ògo Tàwa to provide ongoing one-on-one coaching, custom business consulting, financial planning, community building, and professional services referrals to Black Artrepreneur Program participants. Igniterr's team tailors services to BIPOC identifying entrepreneurs.
• ArtworxTO: Toronto's Year of Public Art 2021-2022majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArtworxTO supported the 'Black to the Future with Statues of Our Black Heroes: Community Arts Program' event in March 2022, which explored Toronto public art honoring Black Canadian trailblazers through 3D animation, augmented reality, and community dialogue.
• HarvardwoodmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerHarvard Alumni Association's branch Harvardwood co-presented the 'A Celebration of Black Heroes' virtual event with Ògo Tàwa in November 2021. The event featured fireside chats with creatives using art for social justice, concert performances, and the launch of the Global BLM Dance Challenge, raising funds for Black Lives Matter Canada and Masaka Kids Charity.
• Black Lives Matter CanadaminorOthersA portion of proceeds raised from the 'A Celebration of Black Heroes' event was donated to Black Lives Matter Canada to support their ongoing advocacy work.
• Masaka Kids Charity (Uganda)minorOthersA portion of proceeds raised from the 'A Celebration of Black Heroes' event was donated to Masaka Kids Charity in Uganda.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Black Business and Professional Association (BBPA): BBPA is a Canadian non-profit organization focused on the economic empowerment of Black professionals and entrepreneurs through education, mentorship, and networking. It is a close peer to Ògo Tàwa's Black Artrepreneur Program in terms of Afrocentric business training and Black entrepreneurship support.
• Nia Centre for the Arts: Nia Centre for the Arts is a Toronto-based non-profit organization dedicated to supporting emerging Black artists and creative entrepreneurs through programming, training, and community engagement. It is directly comparable to Ògo Tàwa's Black Artrepreneur Program and Toronto-based cultural heritage focus.
• The Black Academy: The Black Academy is a Canadian non-profit organization focused on showcasing and developing Black artistic talent across performing arts disciplines. It overlaps with Ògo Tàwa's mission of supporting Black artists in Canada and creating platforms for Black creative expression and cultural legacy.
• Black Lives Matter Canada: BLM Canada is a Canadian chapter of the Black Lives Matter movement advocating for Black liberation and racial justice. Ògo Tàwa has partnered with BLM Canada as a charitable donation recipient and shares the organization's focus on Black empowerment and anti-racism advocacy.

Others

• Historica Canada: Historica Canada produces educational content on Canadian history including the Heritage Minutes referenced in Ògo Tàwa's Black Heroes Statues program (Blackburns, John Ware Reclaimed). It is a thematic peer in Canadian heritage storytelling and media production.
• Toronto Arts Council: Toronto Arts Council is a City of Toronto body that funds individual artists and arts organizations. It is adjacent to Ògo Tàwa as a funding and ecosystem partner that supports similar Black cultural and artistic programming in the city.

Broad incumbents

• Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO): AGO is a major Toronto art museum presenting historical and contemporary exhibitions. Its public art programming and Black art exhibitions intersect with Ògo Tàwa's public art initiatives and Black Canadian heritage focus.
• Harbourfront Centre: Harbourfront Centre is a Toronto-based cultural institution presenting year-round programming including music, dance, visual arts, and cultural festivals. It is a broad incumbent in the same Toronto multi-disciplinary arts and cultural programming space that Ògo Tàwa operates in.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCngz6TJRwViBbqIpgmwPyOg
• Instagraminstagram.com/ogotawa
• TikToktiktok.com/@ogotawa?
• Xx.com/with_replies
• Facebookfacebook.com/ogotawa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 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 Ògo Tàwa