The Afro Caribbean Business Network (ACBN) and Sheridan EDGE Entrepreneurship Hub have launched a new certificate program aimed at supporting Black founders in the cleantech sector.

The first of its kind in Canada, the Black Founders in Cleantech course will be delivered in a hybrid format from April 12 to June 14. The in-person part of the program will be hosted at Sheridan’s EDGE Entrepreneurship Hub at the Davis campus in Brampton.

“The Black Founders in Cleantech program collaboration is the first one of its kind in Canada,” Ryan Knight, president of ACBN Canada, said in a statement. “ACBN has consistently been a leader and trailblazer in the space of collaborations and partnerships to develop innovative programs and services for our members. This program is a prime example of the power of collaboration for transformation and growth.”

Participants will get to examine existing business ideas, review the market potential of their startups and craft value propositions to prepare them for professional growth.

The certificate program builds on a growing partnership between Sheridan College and ACBN Canada. A collaborative research project and a best practice guide for Black business owners are two projects in which the groups have worked together.

Sheridan professor Shereen Ashman and guest speakers who are experienced clean technology entrepreneurs helped develop the program and will lead ongoing studies.

“It’s been my honour and joy to develop learning experiences that centre Black identity alongside ancestral principles and practices that value nature, community care and collaborative edge,” Ashman said in a statement. “I look forward to playing a supportive role in their entrepreneurial journeys to bring about innovations that are good for people and planet.”

The program has space for approximately 15 students, and organizers encourage registering early before spots fill.