Economic Prosperity

Building Wealth, Expanding Business Opportunities, and Accelerating Economic Power for Black Women

Pillar Overview

Economic prosperity is a critical foundation for individual empowerment, family stability, community development, and national economic growth. When individuals and communities have equitable access to economic opportunities, they are better positioned to create wealth, generate employment, invest in innovation, and contribute meaningfully to society.

Black women across Canada are demonstrating remarkable entrepreneurial ambition, professional excellence, and economic leadership. They are launching businesses, creating jobs, developing innovative solutions, supporting families, and contributing significantly to local and national economies.

However, many Black women continue to face systemic barriers that limit their ability to fully participate in economic opportunities and build sustainable wealth.

These barriers include:

Limited access to startup and growth capital.
Lower representation in procurement opportunities.
Challenges accessing investment networks.
Limited financial literacy resources tailored to their realities.
Barriers entering high-growth industries.
Lack of business mentorship and advisory support.
Limited access to export markets.
Underrepresentation in economic decision-making spaces.

The challenge is not a lack of ambition, creativity, or capability. The challenge is that many Black women entrepreneurs and professionals do not have equitable access to the ecosystems, networks, capital, and opportunities required to scale their economic potential.

CBEE Women’s Economic Prosperity Pillar is designed to create pathways from economic participation to economic power.

The pillar focuses on moving Black women from:

Aspiration → Skills → Business Creation → Growth → Investment → Wealth Creation → Economic Influence

Through entrepreneurship support, supplier diversity initiatives, financial empowerment, investment readiness programs, access to capital pathways, and export development support, CBEE Women aims to strengthen the economic position of Black women across Canada and globally.

The vision is:

A future where Black women are leading businesses, creating jobs, accessing capital, entering global markets, and building generational wealth.

Strategic Objectives

The Economic Prosperity Pillar focuses on six strategic objectives:

Accelerate Black Women Entrepreneurship

Support women in starting, strengthening, and scaling sustainable businesses.

Increase Access to Markets and Procurement Opportunities

Connect Black women-owned businesses with corporate, government, and institutional purchasing opportunities.

Improve Investment and Funding Readiness

Prepare entrepreneurs to attract investment, financing, and strategic partnerships.

Strengthen Financial Capability and Wealth Creation

Equip women with the knowledge and tools needed to manage, grow, and preserve wealth.

Expand Access to Capital

Reduce barriers preventing Black women entrepreneurs from accessing startup, growth, and expansion financing.

Enable Global Business Growth

Support export readiness and international market expansion.

Program 1: Women Entrepreneurs Program

Empowering Black Women to Create, Grow, and Scale Successful Businesses

Program Overview

Entrepreneurship represents one of the strongest pathways for economic independence, innovation, and wealth creation.

Across Canada, Black women are building businesses across sectors including:

Professional services.
Technology.
Healthcare.
Education.
Retail.
Creative industries.
Food and agriculture.
Consulting.
Social enterprise.

However, many entrepreneurs face challenges moving from business creation to sustainable growth.

The Women Entrepreneurs Program provides a comprehensive entrepreneurship ecosystem supporting women through every stage of business development:

Idea → Launch → Growth → Scale → Sustainability

Program Objectives

The program aims to:

Increase the number of successful Black women-owned businesses.
Strengthen entrepreneurial skills.
Improve business sustainability.
Increase access to networks and markets.
Support business expansion and job creation.

Core Components

1. Entrepreneurship Training

Participants receive training in:

Business planning.
Market research.
Customer development.
Pricing strategies.
Sales development.
Branding.
Operations management.
Legal considerations.
Business sustainability.

2. Business Mentorship

Entrepreneurs are connected with:

Experienced business owners.
Industry experts.
Executives.
Investors.
Professional advisors.

Mentorship provides:

Guidance.
Accountability.
Industry knowledge.
Growth strategies.

3. Business Accelerator Programs

Growth-stage entrepreneurs receive support through:

Growth planning.
Scaling strategies.
Innovation development.
Team building.
Market expansion.

4. Entrepreneur Networking Communities

CBEE Women creates spaces where entrepreneurs can:

Build relationships.
Share resources.
Find collaborators.
Access opportunities.

Expected Outcomes

Participants will:

Launch new businesses.
Improve business performance.
Increase revenue potential.
Create employment opportunities.
Expand professional networks.

Impact Indicators

Number of businesses supported.
Businesses launched.
Revenue growth reported.
Jobs created.
Partnerships developed.
Entrepreneurs completing training.

Program 2: Supplier Diversity Program

Connecting Black Women-Owned Businesses to Corporate and Government Markets

Program Overview

Supplier diversity creates intentional opportunities for businesses owned by underrepresented groups to participate in procurement systems.

Large corporations, governments, universities, and institutions spend billions of dollars annually purchasing goods and services. However, many Black women-owned businesses remain excluded from these opportunities due to:

Limited supplier networks.
Lack of procurement knowledge.
Certification barriers.
Limited relationships with buyers.
Difficulty meeting contracting requirements.

The Supplier Diversity Program helps Black women entrepreneurs become procurement-ready and connects them with buyers seeking diverse suppliers.

Program Objectives

The program aims to:

Increase participation of Black women-owned businesses in procurement.
Build supplier capacity.
Create corporate and government partnerships.
Expand business revenue opportunities.

Core Components

1. Procurement Readiness Training

Training includes:

Understanding procurement systems.
Responding to RFPs.
Contract management.
Pricing proposals.
Compliance requirements.
Vendor registration processes.

2. Supplier Certification Support

Support includes:

Understanding certification pathways.
Preparing documentation.
Improving business profiles.
Connecting with certification organizations.

3. Buyer Connections

CBEE Women creates opportunities through:

Corporate supplier events.
Government procurement sessions.
Business matchmaking.
Networking opportunities.

4. Supplier Development

Businesses receive support to:

Improve capacity.
Strengthen operations.
Meet buyer expectations.

Expected Outcomes

Increased procurement participation.
Increased business contracts.
Increased revenue opportunities.
Stronger supplier networks.

Program 3: Investment Readiness Program

Preparing Black Women Entrepreneurs to Attract Investment and Growth Opportunities

Program Overview

Many entrepreneurs have innovative ideas but struggle to access investment because they lack:

Investor networks.
Financial preparation.
Pitch experience.
Growth documentation.
Investment knowledge.

The Investment Readiness Program prepares entrepreneurs to confidently engage investors and financial partners.

Program Objectives

The program aims to:

Increase investment readiness.
Improve access to investors.
Strengthen business valuation skills.
Build confidence in fundraising.

Core Components

1. Business Financial Preparation

Training includes:

Financial statements.
Revenue models.
Growth projections.
Business valuation.

2. Pitch Development

Participants learn:

Investor storytelling.
Pitch deck development.
Presentation skills.
Negotiation strategies.

3. Investor Connections

CBEE Women facilitates connections with:

Angel investors.
Venture funds.
Financial institutions.
Impact investors.

Expected Outcomes

Entrepreneurs will:

Develop investor-ready businesses.
Improve fundraising confidence.
Access investment networks.
Increase growth opportunities.

Program 4: Financial Literacy Program

Building Financial Confidence and Wealth Creation Skills

Program Overview

Financial literacy is essential for economic independence.

Many women face barriers related to:

Budgeting.
Credit management.
Investing.
Tax planning.
Retirement preparation.
Wealth creation.

The Financial Literacy Program provides accessible education designed around real-life economic challenges.

Core Components

Training includes:

Personal Financial Management

Budgeting.
Saving.
Debt management.
Credit building.

Business Financial Literacy

Cash flow.
Profit management.
Business accounting.
Financial planning.

Wealth Building

Investing.
Asset ownership.
Retirement planning.
Generational wealth strategies.

Expected Outcomes

Participants will:

Improve financial decision-making.
Increase savings behaviours.
Strengthen business finances.
Build long-term wealth strategies.

Program 5: Access to Capital Program

Breaking Financial Barriers for Black Women Entrepreneurs

Program Overview

Access to capital remains one of the greatest barriers facing many Black women entrepreneurs.

Capital is required for:

Starting businesses.
Hiring employees.
Purchasing equipment.
Marketing.
Technology investment.
Expansion.

However, many Black women entrepreneurs face challenges accessing:

Loans.
Investments.
Grants.
Venture funding.
Business financing.

CBEE Women works to create pathways to equitable capital access.

Program Objectives

The program aims to:

Increase funding opportunities.
Connect entrepreneurs with financial partners.
Improve financing readiness.
Reduce capital barriers.

Core Components

Capital Readiness Training

Including:

Financing options.
Loan preparation.
Grant applications.
Investor expectations.

Funding Connections

Connecting entrepreneurs with:

Banks.
Government programs.
Foundations.
Investors.
Community lenders.

Alternative Financing Awareness

Education on:

Social finance.
Impact investment.
Community financing.
Strategic partnerships.

Expected Outcomes

Increased funding applications.
Increased financing success.
Increased business growth.
Increased entrepreneurial sustainability.

Program 6: Export Readiness Program

Supporting Black Women Entrepreneurs to Access Global Markets

Program Overview

Global markets create significant opportunities for business growth.

Canadian businesses can expand through:

International sales.
Global partnerships.
Export opportunities.
Cross-border collaborations.

However, many entrepreneurs lack knowledge about:

Export regulations.
International markets.
Trade requirements.
Global marketing.
International partnerships.

The Export Readiness Program prepares Black women entrepreneurs to compete globally.

Program Objectives

The program aims to:

Increase participation in international markets.
Build export capacity.
Connect businesses globally.
Promote economic expansion.

Core Components

1. Export Education

Training includes:

- Market research.
- Trade requirements.
- International regulations.
- Global pricing.

2. Market Expansion Support

Support includes:

Identifying target markets.
Developing export strategies.
Building international partnerships.

3. Global Networking

Connections with:

Trade organizations.
International partners.
Business networks.
Diaspora markets.

Expected Outcomes

Entrepreneurs will:

Enter new markets.
Increase revenue opportunities.
Develop international partnerships.
Expand business reach.

Overall Pillar 2 Impact Framework

Area	Short-Term Outcomes	Long-Term Impact
Women Entrepreneurs	More businesses created and strengthened	Increased Black women business ownership
Supplier Diversity	More procurement participation	Increased corporate and government market access
Investment Readiness	Stronger fundraising capacity	More scalable businesses
Financial Literacy	Improved financial confidence	Increased wealth creation
Access to Capital	More funding opportunities	Sustainable business growth
Export Readiness	Increased global knowledge	International business expansion

Strategic Partnerships

CBEE Women will collaborate with:

CBEE Women Economic Prosperity Vision

CBEE Women believes economic empowerment is achieved when Black women have equal access to opportunity, resources, networks, and capital.

Economic prosperity is not only about income—it is about ownership, influence, security, and legacy.

Through the Economic Prosperity Pillar, CBEE Women is building an ecosystem where Black women can:

Create businesses.
Access capital.
Win contracts.
Enter global markets.
Build wealth.
Create jobs.
Strengthen communities.

When Black women prosper economically, families become stronger, communities become more resilient, and Canada’s economy becomes more innovative, inclusive, and globally competitive.