1
Apply to the Bootcamp
Submit an application anytime. We accept applications on a rolling basis, so apply early. If shortlisted, you’ll be invited to a 30-minute interview.
Apply to the BootcampCCAWR’s entrepreneurship program
Great founders grow together.
Coaching, practical business skills, and a community that grows with you. LiftOff helps Black entrepreneurs build what comes next.
Rolling admissions · Free to apply
🎄 LiftOff • Holiday Gift Guide
Shop gifts from LiftOff founders.
The Holiday Gift Guide features businesses built by current and past LiftOff founders. Browse the guide to find your next gift, or apply to have your own business featured.
Founder applications close Friday, November 13
View founders’ businesses
Apply to be featured
Founders: apply on our Gift Guide application form
Find your path
How to join LiftOff.
Everything starts with the Bootcamp. You apply to the Bootcamp first, and if you’re selected after it, you move on to the Cohort.
2
Complete the 6-week Bootcamp
Validate your idea, know your customer, and build a proof of concept, week by week, with a dedicated coach. The Bootcamp is a mandatory requirement for the Cohort.
See the 6 weeks3
Mini pitch competition
After the Bootcamp, you take part in a mini pitch competition and pitch your business to the community.
Key dates4
Join the Cohort
Top founders, chosen on their pitch, attendance and completed Bootcamp roadmap, move into the 4-month Cohort for ongoing mentorship and support.
What the Cohort offersWho can apply
LiftOff is free to apply, and no prior experience is required. Applicants must meet the following:
- Self-identify as Black (or have a founder who does)
- A scalable idea or an existing business with growth potential
- Able to dedicate at least 12 hours a week
- Legally entitled to work in Canada
- Business registered in Waterloo/Wellington Region
Stage 1 · The Bootcamp
Six weeks. One bubble that keeps growing.
A six-week program designed to validate your business ideas, develop solutions, and build a successful venture with personalized coaching and mentorship. Pick a week to see what you’ll work on.
Week 1 of 6
Oct 1, 2026Orientation — meet your cohort and coaches
Oct 5, 2026Bootcamp begins — six weeks of intensive programming
Nov 16, 2026Mini pitch competition — successful applicants notified
Nov 23, 2026Cohort 1 begins — selected founders enter the 4-month accelerator
Mar 30, 2027Cohort 1 ends — graduation and next steps
Stage 2 · The Cohort
Earned, not given.
Founders who complete the Bootcamp, show up consistently, and take part in the mini pitch competition are considered for the LiftOff Cohort. The Bootcamp is how we see who’s consistent, committed, and ready: you have to show up to move up.
One-on-One Coaching
Weekly sessions with a dedicated Black entrepreneur coach.
Customized Roadmap
Individual milestones tailored to your business and goals.
Office Space
Access to SDG Idea Factory, 2 King Street West, Kitchener.
Mentorship
Learn from experts in every core area of business.
Access to Funding
Pitch to angel and institutional investors who understand your market.
About LiftOff
Built for Black founders.
Bootcamp 1 in action
Our first Bootcamp Bubble.
Our first Bootcamp cohort brought together 20+ Black founders ready to build, learn, and grow together.
LiftOff Bootcamp 1 · October 2026 · Waterloo Region
You’re in good company
The Bubble Collective.
When you join LiftOff, you don’t just enter a program, you step into a movement. The Bubble Collective is your community of ambitious Black entrepreneurs learning, building, and lifting each other up, with peer connections that last well beyond the program.
0+
founders and counting — and your seat is waiting.
“The LiftOff program is a challenge but the level of support and expertise available to us is beyond anything that I expected. Thus far, the program has helped me to clarify the vision for the future of my business and helped me to create my own roadmap to get there.”
Suzanne Phillips — Suzanne Phillips RMT, LiftOff AlumniCommunity
LiftOff events.
LiftOff C.H.A.T.S.
Conversations with Black entrepreneurs, investors, and ecosystem leaders sharing their stories and insights.
Pitch Showdown
LiftOff founders take the stage to pitch their businesses to panels of investors and community leaders.
The Bubble Graduation
Our signature celebration honouring cohort graduates as they officially rise from the Bubble Collective, ready to take on the world.
Clothing the Community
A community initiative celebrating Black-owned fashion and creative entrepreneurs.
Bubble Showdown
A high-energy pitch and showcase event spotlighting the growth and wins of our Bubble Collective alumni.
Stay Connected
Follow us for announcements on upcoming workshops, showcases, and community events throughout the year.
In the news
LiftOff coverage.
CBC News“It really is about access” — Business incubator for Black entrepreneurs launches in Waterloo RegionRead article →
FedDev OntarioWaterloo Region Black Entrepreneurs Get a Boost Through LiftOff Accelerator ProgramRead article →
Velocity IncubatorCohort Ready for LiftOffRead article →
University of WaterlooIntroducing LiftOff — A Black-Led Business AcceleratorRead article →
Get involved
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.
Your role as a mentor
- 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
Next steps
- Complete the LiftOff Mentorship Registration Form
- Review and accept the Mentor Engagement Letter
- Attend an Onboarding Session and meet the Cohort
- Make Mentor Magic!
FAQ
Frequently asked questions.
How long is the LiftOff program?
LiftOff begins with the 6-week Bootcamp Bubble, where you validate your idea, know your customer, and build a proof of concept — week by week, with a dedicated coach. The Bootcamp ends with a mini pitch competition, where you pitch to the community. Top founders are then selected to continue into the LiftOff Cohort for ongoing mentorship, office hours, and investor access. The Bootcamp is where it all starts — show up, do the work, and earn your place in the Cohort.
Do I have to pay to join the program?
No. The LiftOff program is funded by the Government of Canada’s Black Entrepreneurship Program Ecosystem Fund and is delivered free to successful applicants.
Will Coaches and Mentors be Black-identified?
Yes. Coaches and mentors delivering the LiftOff program will be from the Black community, aligning with our objective for experienced Black individuals and Black-led organizations to help build the next wave of Black entrepreneurs.
Will I get funding for my business if accepted?
Successful applicants will have opportunities throughout the program to pitch to investors who understand the problem they are solving and the challenges they face as a Black entrepreneur. These pitch opportunities provide an avenue to secure seed funding. LiftOff does not currently give direct funding to program participants.
I live outside of Ontario — can I still apply?
Yes. However, your business must be registered in the Waterloo/Wellington Region to be eligible. Applicants are also required to be legally entitled to work in Canada.
I am not Black, but my co-founder identifies as Black. Can I still apply?
Yes. Applicants are eligible if one or more founders of the business identifies as Black. You will be asked to self-identify on the application.
Funded by
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).
For the community · Resources
LiftOff Partner Brand GuideColours, typography, logo usage, and tone of voice — everything partners and collaborators need to represent the LiftOff brand.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 the LiftOff Bootcamp Rolling admissions · Free to apply · No experience required