BIS Summit 2024

Song: Loud by Kurry

The Black Innovation in STEM (BIS) Summit 2024, hosted by Nobellum, was an extraordinary event that took place on June 15 at the elegant Arcadian Court in Toronto. This year's summit was a vibrant gathering, drawing together over 2,000 entrepreneurs, inventors, investors, and STEM professionals for a day filled with inspiration, innovation, and invaluable networking.

Event Highlights

✨️ Kickoff at BDC and Roundtable Discussion: We kicked off our BIS Summit at BDC and collaborated with our amazing partners at Meridian Credit Union to host a roundtable discussion on increasing access to capital for Black entrepreneurs. The discussion was engaging and provided invaluable insights into the financial landscape for emerging businesses.

✨️ Diving into the Summit: The BIS Summit included over 20 speakers, two stages, a tradeshow floor, speed networking, FLOW 98.7FM reporting live, and over 2,000 registrations! The energy was electric as attendees moved between sessions, making connections and gaining new perspectives.

[BIS MAIN STAGE] Growth Stage Pitch.png

[BIS MAIN STAGE] International Stream Pitch (1).png

[BIS STAGE] Idea Pitch.png

✨️ Pitch Competitions: We proudly watched our graduating founders pitch in the idea, growth, and international pitches, competing for $20,000 in awards sponsored by Frank Baylis of Baylis Medical Technologies and the management at U of T Scarborough (UTSC). Here are the standout winners from each stream:

Winners of the BIS Summmit Pitches

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Idea Stream Awards

Yvonne Osagie

Startup: Med Melanin

Award Prize: $5000

Homnics

Startup: Raphael Ajima

Award Prize: $2000

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Growth Stream Awards

Cynthia Ene

Startup: Nunafab

Award prize: $5000

Merveille Mukoko

Startup: Yekola Inc.

Award Prize: $4,000

Abdel Ali

Startup: Kiwi Charge

Award Prize: $1000

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International Stream Awards

Faith Labija

Startup: ChuChu Softies

Award prize: $1000

Samuel Ajisebutu

Startup: BetaPaw

Award Prize: $2000

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✨️ AfroFashion Showdown: We wrapped up the night with a jaw-dropping fashion show put on by Samuel Tita, founder of blkmenstyle! The runway was a stunning display of creativity and cultural pride, culminating in a cash prize for the most popular outfit, sponsored by SkillHat.
Designers showcased stunning outfits that blended traditional African aesthetics with modern fashion. The highlight was the $500 cash prize for the most popular outfit, adding an exciting competitive edge to the runway.

BIS Summit Partners & Sponsors

A Heartfelt Thank You

None of this would have been possible without the generous support and collaboration of our partners and sponsors. We extend our deepest gratitude to all the companies, organizations, and individuals who believed in our vision and contributed to making the BIS Summit 2024 a resounding success. Your commitment to empowering Black entrepreneurs and driving innovation in the STEM fields has been truly inspiring.