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On Wednesday, February 28, 2024 the Innovation Hub hosted a Black Business Roundtable, the first in a series of roundtables where �Ӱ�ԭ�� student founders and entrepreneurs from equity seeking groups, underrepresented populations and racialized communities, can talk about their experience as entrepreneurs, explore resources available to them in the community and contribute to the development of new programs in the Hub. These important conversations are being facilitated by the Hub with the purpose of asking the �Ӱ�ԭ�� community “What do you need from us?” and “How can we better serve you?”. The Black Business Roundtable began with a brief networking period where attendees mingled and enjoyed refreshments before gathering to introduce themselves by answering the question “what makes you, you?”. The room was filled with Innovation Hub staff and mentors, student founders and entrepreneurs, and members from the �Ӱ�ԭ�� community and Ottawa’s entrepreneurship ecosystem.

Director of the Innovation Hub, John Nelson, started the event by sharing some of the opportunities that the Hub has to offer students and asked everyone to think about their ‘why’ as entrepreneurs. “You need to figure out what problems you want to solve and what value you’ll be bringing to the community”. He then opened the floor to attendees to join in on a powerful discussion about how the Hub can improve the way it supports Black entrepreneurs and Business-owners on campus. Many people at the roundtable were actively engaged in conversation and asked thought-provoking questions throughout the discussion. Some of the Hub’s dedicated mentors were able to answer business-related questions with their expert advice.

Mentor Olasupo Fagbemiro provided some of his business advice to founders in the early stages, saying “When getting started, think about what services you have to offer and what skills can you sell? […] what makes you unique that people can exchange value for?”. From his experience being a Black entrepreneur, Ola mentioned some of the challenges that he had: “People often diminished my capacity because of my background… so I needed to be creative”. He decided to forge his own unique path when he first started by providing his services for free to build a base.

Mentor  emphasized the importance of talking to others, and encouraged everyone to network and form connections in order to be successful in their endeavors. “You have to be willing to connect with people, and not just online […] a level of connection is required [when doing business]”. He brought up the opportunities available in the Ottawa ecosystem such as the Innovation Hub, “You have community here, mentors and centers where you can bring your ideas forward”. At the same time, Jeffrey reminded the group that entrepreneurs don’t have to limit themselves to the Ottawa area, “In this age of digital marketing and digital media, it’s very conceivable [to work with people around the world]”.

Nelson encouraged everyone to get comfortable with selling themselves, and shift to thinking about their businesses through the lens of what they need to win in the space that they are operating in.  He urged students from underrepresented populations to come into the Hub to give feedback and make suggestions about how the Hub can help them in the future. The roundtable concluded with an open invitation for attendees to return, and a special invitation for the women entrepreneurs present to join the Hub’s Women Founder Roundtable, which will take place on March 12, 2024 at 12:00pm to 1:00pm in the Innovation Hub.