Commerce platform Shopify, teaming up with DMZ, a tech incubator out of Ryerson University in Toronto, to help foster entrepreneurship among Black founders in Canada through a new program that has been dubbed the “Black Innovation Fellowship.” 

Shopify and inaugural founding partner DreamMaker Ventures, which was founded by Nigerian-born entrepreneur turned venture capitalist Isaac Olowolafe Jr., are contributing capital to the program, which has a total initial fundraising goal of $1 million. As part of the initiative, selected founders will have access to growth mentors, exclusive workshops designed to reflect the experience of Black entrepreneurs and a dedicated workspace in the heart of downtown Toronto. The participants will also have access to a 350-person network of investors. Entrepreneurs will not be asked to give up equity, and eventually, the program could extend to the United States, according to DMZ.