Trailblazing Black Canadian Entrepreneurs You Should Know
Vivian Kaye – Founder, KinkyCurlyYaki
Vivian Kaye turned a personal insight into a thriving business by noticing a gap in the hair extensions market for Black women. She launched KinkyCurlyYaki and, within its first year, achieved significant sales, eventually breaking the US$1 million mark as her brand grew. Beyond her product success, Vivian now mentors other founders through business coaching, speaks on entrepreneurship in media, and hosts a podcast that shares practical business lessons with a wider audience.
Tamar Huggins – Tech Innovator and Founder
Tamar Huggins is a tech entrepreneur and educator committed to expanding opportunities for underrepresented founders. She started DRIVEN Accelerator Group, a program that has helped raise funding for Black and women-led startups across Canada. She also created Tech Spark, a technology school aimed at closing the digital divide for Black youth and girls of colour, and has steered AI-driven educational tools into wider use.
Alexandra McCalla – Tech and Innovation Leader
Toronto-based entrepreneur Alexandra McCalla co-founded AirMatrix, a company focused on advanced 3D drone navigation technology. Her work has earned high-level investment and recognition, and she’s also a vocal advocate for equity in innovation spaces, including helping build programs that support early-stage Black tech founders.
Aurora James – Fashion and Advocacy Changemaker
Born in Ontario, Aurora James is a creative director and founder of Brother Vellies, a fashion brand that celebrates traditional African design. She also launched the 15 Percent Pledge, a campaign asking major retailers to commit 15 % of their shelf space to Black-owned businesses, pushing the industry to rethink procurement and representation.
Ricky Neckles – Serial Entrepreneur
Grenadian-Canadian entrepreneur Ricky Neckles is the founder of Neckles Global Enterprise Inc. and other ventures across manufacturing, communications, and services. From engineering beginnings to building a diversified business portfolio, Ricky’s story highlights the power of technical skill, creative problem-solving, and community leadership.
Catherine Addai – Fashion Brand Builder
Ghanaian-Canadian Catherine Addai founded Kaela Kay, a women’s fashion brand known for blending African textiles with contemporary design. Starting from her home and growing into a boutique operation in Toronto, her work reflects cultural heritage while creating jobs and fashion visibility in Canada.
Why These Stories Matter
Black entrepreneurs in Canada are still underrepresented relative to their share of the population, yet their contributions are increasingly visible across industries. Supporting and celebrating these leaders helps create role models, expand economic opportunity, and strengthen pathways for future founders.
Recent Comments