FACE brings Melamoon finale qualifier to Toronto 

Toronto will host the final qualifying event of the Melamoon 2026 competition this fall, bringing together Black entrepreneurs from across the region for an opportunity to secure a place in the national grand finale and compete for a share of $200,000 in non dilutive funding.

The qualifying event is scheduled to take place at the Globe and Mail Centre, concluding a five city tour that has already visited Montréal, Halifax, Vancouver and Edmonton. Successful founders from each stop will move on to the Melamoon 2026 grand finale on Oct. 16 and 17 at Steam Whistle Brewing in Toronto, where the national winners will be selected.

Organized by FACE Coalition, Melamoon is intended to help Black entrepreneurs expand their visibility, strengthen investor readiness and build connections with funding sources, business leaders and support networks. The initiative follows the launch of its inaugural edition in 2025 and forms part of FACE’s wider efforts to increase opportunities for Black business owners across Canada.

“Melamoon exists to create real opportunities for Black founders to be seen, supported and financed,” said Tiffany Callender, chief executive officer and co founder of FACE Coalition. “When Black entrepreneurs have access to visibility, networks and capital, the benefits extend far beyond individual businesses and strengthen the broader Canadian economy.”

Organizers say the competition comes at a time when many Black entrepreneurs continue to encounter obstacles in accessing investment, professional networks and business exposure. By bringing together founders, investors, institutional partners, community organizations and industry leaders in each host city, the road show aims to strengthen the broader entrepreneurial ecosystem while highlighting the economic contributions of Black owned businesses.

Callender described the Toronto event as a significant milestone in the cross Canada competition.

“As the final stop, Toronto represents a pivotal moment in the Melamoon 2026 journey,” she said. “Founders here are competing not only for visibility in one of Canada’s most dynamic business markets, but also for a chance to advance to the national grand finale and compete for a transformational $200,000.”

The Toronto program will feature live business pitches, networking sessions and programming designed to improve access to investment opportunities and support business growth.

Established in 2021, FACE Coalition is a national, bilingual, Black led non profit organization focused on promoting economic growth and creating generational wealth for Canadians of African descent. Since its founding, nearly 600 Black owned businesses across the country have received funding through the organization, underscoring its commitment to expanding entrepreneurial opportunities nationwide.

#Melamoon2026 #FACECoalition #BlackEntrepreneurs #TorontoBusiness #BlackExcellence #CanadianBusiness #StartupCanada #Entrepreneurship #BusinessFunding #TorontoEvents