About the BIPOC Foundation Excellence Awards Categories:
We are proud to recognize the superb achievements of BIPOC entrepreneurs and BIPOC-led businesses across Western Canada!
BIPOC Foundation community members are among the most creative driven, passionate, and talented contributors to local, provincial, and national economies.
They deserve to be celebrated, so what are you waiting for?
Nominate some of your favourite BIPOC-led businesses and the BIPOC founders in your network today!
Top 5 Black Businesses
Description
The Top 5 Black Businesses award category recognizes the outstanding achievements of Black Businesses across Western Canada.
Eligibility
Please read the eligibility requirements and criteria below before submitting a nomination. If you're unsure, you can submit anyways and we will follow up with the business owner or entrepreneur.
Requirements
- Founder team / Ownership must identify predominantly as Black (50+%)
- Must have a business with a formal structure
- Must have been operating for a minimum of 3 years as of August 16, 2024
- Must have year over year growth in revenue or profits and have sales
- Must have at least 1 additional employee besides the founder(s) on payroll
- Must have validated the business model by being able to demonstrate product/market fit
- Must demonstrate how leadership and quality standards are driving the business forward
- Must be headquartered in Canada with primary operations in Canadian markets
- Must demonstrate how strategy, as well as Scale Up & Growth planning has impacted the company's goals and outlook while furthering brand presence and brand value
- Must demonstrate how barriers to Black-led businesses have been overcome since the company was founded and how being a Black Founder has been leveraged to enhance business activities, opportunities, and outcomes
*If you aren't sure whether a business is eligible, please nominate them anyways and we will work with the founder/entrepreneur to confirm information and discuss their nomination!
**Companies or Entrepreneurs can nominate themselves or via internal team members as a 1st Party Nomination. Candidates can also be nominated via 3rd party, but the organization will need to confirm their participation once reached in order to proceed with publishing the nomination in order to gain votes.
Top 5 Indigenous Businesses
Description
The Top 5 Indigenous Businesses award category recognizes the outstanding achievements of Indigenous Businesses across Western Canada.
Eligibility
Please read the eligibility requirements and criteria below before submitting a nomination. If you're unsure, you can submit anyways and we will follow up with the business owner or entrepreneur.
Requirements
- Founder team / Ownership must identify predominantly as Indigenous (50+%)
- Must have a business with a formal structure
- Must have been operating for a minimum of 3 years as of August 16, 2024
- Must have year over year growth in revenue or profits and have sales
- Must have at least 1 additional employee besides the founder(s) on payroll
- Must have validated the business model by being able to demonstrate product/market fit
- Must demonstrate how leadership and quality standards are driving the business forward
- Must be headquartered in Canada with primary operations in Canadian markets
- Must demonstrate how strategy, as well as Scale Up & Growth planning has impacted the company's goals and outlook while furthering brand presence and brand value
- Must demonstrate how barriers to Indigenous businesses have been overcome since the company was founded and how being an Indigenous Founder has been leveraged to enhance business activities, opportunities, and outcomes
*If you aren't sure whether a business is eligible, please nominate them anyways and we will work with the founder/entrepreneur to confirm information and discuss their nomination!
**Companies or Entrepreneurs can nominate themselves or via internal team members as a 1st Party Nomination. Candidates can also be nominated via 3rd party, but the organization will need to confirm their participation once reached in order to proceed with publishing the nomination in order to gain votes.
Top 5 BIPOC Entrepreneurs
Description
The Top 5 BIPOC Entrepreneurs award category recognizes the amazing founders who have taken steps to create impact as BIPOC Entrepreneurs in Western Canada.
Eligibility
Please read the eligibility requirements and criteria below before submitting a nomination. If you're unsure, you can submit anyways and we will follow up with the business owner or entrepreneur.
Requirements
- Must identify as a BIPOC Entrepreneur
- Must have a business with a formal structure
- Must have been operating for a minimum of 2 years as of August 16, 2024
- Must have year over year growth in revenue or profits and have sales
- Must have validated the business model by being able to demonstrate product/market fit
- Must demonstrate how leadership and quality standards are driving the business forward
- Must be headquartered in Canada with primary operations in Canadian markets
- Must demonstrate how entrepreneurship has impacted the entrepreneurs goals and aspirations as well as enhanced local and regional business communities and networks
- Must demonstrate how innovation is being enacted to enhance business activities and products/services
*If you aren't sure whether a business is eligible, please nominate them anyways and we will work with the founder/entrepreneur to confirm information and discuss their nomination!
**Companies or Entrepreneurs can nominate themselves or via internal team members as a 1st Party Nomination. Candidates can also be nominated via 3rd party, but the organization will need to confirm their participation once reached in order to proceed with publishing the nomination in order to gain votes.
Top 5 Black Women Businesses
Description
The Top 5 Black Women Businesses award category recognizes the resilient leadership of the best female-led Black Businesses in Western Canada.
Eligibility
Please read the eligibility requirements and criteria below before submitting a nomination. If you're unsure, you can submit anyways and we will follow up with the business owner or entrepreneur.
Requirements
- Founder team / Ownership must identify predominantly as Black and as majority Woman-led (51+%)
- Must have a business with a formal structure
- Must have been operating for a minimum of 3 years as of August 16, 2024
- Must have year over year growth in revenue or profits and have sales
- Must have at least 1 additional employee besides the founder(s) on payroll
- Must have validated the business model by being able to demonstrate product/market fit
- Must demonstrate how leadership and quality standards are driving the business forward
- Must be headquartered in Canada with primary operations in Canadian markets
- Must demonstrate how strategy, as well as Scale Up & Growth planning has impacted the company's goals and outlook while furthering brand presence and brand value
- Must demonstrate how barriers to Black Women in business have been overcome since the company was founded and how being a Black Woman entrepreneur has been leveraged to enhance business activities, opportunities, and outcomes.
*If you aren't sure whether a business is eligible, please nominate them anyways and we will work with the founder/entrepreneur to confirm information and discuss their nomination!
**Companies or Entrepreneurs can nominate themselves or via internal team members as a 1st Party Nomination. Candidates can also be nominated via 3rd party, but the organization will need to confirm their participation once reached in order to proceed with publishing the nomination in order to gain votes.
