Powering the future of Black entrepreneurship in Waterloo Region and Wellington County — through coaching, community, and capital.
Built for
Black Founders
LiftOff's mission is to provide the Black community access to seasoned business coaches, mentors, and viable funding opportunities to foster the initiation, growth, and scaling of their entrepreneurial ventures.
To become the driving force behind the transformation of Black communities through comprehensive support for entrepreneurship, strategic investments, and impactful community initiatives — ultimately empowering Black individuals to realize their full potential and achieve lasting success.
We are deeply grateful to the Caribbean Canadian Association of Waterloo Region for their unwavering support and vision, which has been instrumental in bringing LiftOff to life.
This project is funded by the Government of Canada through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario).
LiftOff
Bootcamp
A six-week program designed to validate your business ideas, develop solutions, and build a successful venture with personalized coaching and mentorship. Completing the Bootcamp makes you eligible to be considered for Cohort 1 of the LiftOff Program.
- Customer Discovery — calls, early adopters, journey mapping, competitive advantage
- Crafting unique value propositions for your market
- Market Research — validate your idea with real data
- Building Prototypes — test before you build
- Coach Office Hours — virtual drop-in sessions each week
- Weekly Sprint Roadmap — Trello-based structure guides each week
- Office Space at SDG Idea Factory throughout the program
- Community — a cohort of Black entrepreneurs on the same journey
The Bootcamp is a mandatory requirement to be part of Cohort 1. Top 8–10 founders are selected based on their pitch, attendance, and completeness of their Bootcamp roadmap.
Upon completing the Bootcamp, participants compete in a pitch competition. Prizes for the top three pitches:
+ 1-Year Canva Pro
Selected participants will receive personalized coaching and further development opportunities in the LiftOff Cohort program.
Bootcamp
Timeline
LiftOff Black
Entrepreneurship Cohort
The LiftOff Cohort is earned — not given. Founders who complete the Bootcamp, show up consistently, and pitch at Demo Night are considered for the Cohort. Here you get ongoing one-on-one coaching, a customized roadmap, access to funding opportunities, and a community built to see you succeed.
Eligibility
The LiftOff Program is open to individuals who meet the following criteria:
- Self-identify as Black (or have one or more founders who identify as Black)
- Have a scalable business idea or an existing business with growth potential
- Committed to dedicating a minimum of 12 hours per week to their business
- Prepared to complete coaching and reporting requirements of the program
- Must be legally entitled to work in Canada
- Must reside in Ontario, Canada (business must be registered in Waterloo/Wellington Region)
- 1Submit an application anytime — we accept on a rolling basis throughout the program. Apply early to secure your spot.
- 2If shortlisted, you will be invited for a 30-minute interview (conducted on a rolling basis).
- 3Successful applicants will be notified by November 16, 2026.
Bootcamp 1 in Action
Our first Bootcamp cohort brought together 20+ Black founders ready to build, learn, and grow together.
Frequently Asked
Questions
Become a
Mentor
LiftOff mentors are Subject Matter Experts with years of experience in leading and delivering results in businesses and corporate organizations. LiftOff entrepreneurs benefit from the in-depth knowledge and objectivity that mentors bring.
- Provide a summary of your areas of expertise and industry experience
- Be available for up to 5–15 hours each month for LiftOff clients
- Document and report on outcomes and action items from mentor meetings
- Collaborate with Venture Coaches to support clients
- Review preparatory materials provided by the client before each meeting
- Receive an honorarium for the time you invest in our clients
- May be invited to facilitate workshops for the LiftOff business community
- Complete the LiftOff Mentorship Registration Form
- Review and accept the Mentor Engagement Letter
- Attend an Onboarding Session and meet the Cohort
- Make Mentor Magic!
When you join LiftOff, you don't just enter a program — you step into a movement. The Collective Bubble is your community of ambitious Black entrepreneurs learning, building, and lifting each other up. Peer connections that last well beyond the program.
120+ founders and counting — and your seat is waiting.
LiftOff
Events
LiftOff
Coverage
Government
of Canada
LiftOff is funded through the Government of Canada's Black Entrepreneurship Program Ecosystem Fund, delivered by the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario).
This project is funded by the Government of Canada through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario).
Your Future
Starts Here.
Applications are open and free. If you're a Black or newcomer entrepreneur in Waterloo Region or Wellington County — this is your moment.
Apply to LiftOff BootcampLiftOff Resources
Everything you need to show up, grow, and build with intention. Download our guides and playbooks below.
LiftOff Partner Brand Guide
Colours, typography, logo usage, and tone of voice — everything partners and collaborators need to represent the LiftOff brand with consistency and confidence.