“One critical thing I took away from this was that it created a community. It also created a space to be confident, because I could see all the great ideas that were presented there. Where else do you get the chance to be surrounded by so many people who look like you, think like you, and are all committed to contributing to the economy and the communities they live in, just like we did today?”
“What I really enjoyed about the program, I think, was the facilitators, the organizing team, the leadership, and the people behind the scenes. They’re real people who understood where I came from as an individual and as a Black entrepreneur. I really appreciated how they tailored everything in a way that felt relatable. That was the biggest thing for me, it felt like community was developing community.”
“I am honored, humbled, and blessed to have this opportunity to know that there’s a space for people of color. I’ve never really had a space where we could come together, share, and empower one another, and to know that we’re not islands on our own. We can uplift each other, because we need each other to thrive.”
Pitch Masters is a program that supports emerging entrepreneurs, startups, and SMEs through training, mentorship, funding, and exposure opportunities. Spearheaded by Casa Foundation and delivered in partnership with Black Advisory Hub and other ecosystem collaborators, the program equips participants with the skills, tools, and networks needed to grow sustainable, investor-ready businesses.
At the heart of the program is the Pitch Masters Contest, an annual event where founders showcase their ventures to investors, industry experts, and a live audience. Participants compete for 10 seed grants of $5,000 each, with select international participants eligible for an additional $2,000.
Beyond the competition, Pitch Masters provides mentorship, investor connections, peer networking, market validation, and post-event business development support, helping founders build scalable, sustainable businesses.
Open to founders of early-stage and small-to-medium businesses.
Applicants may be based in Canada or internationally.
Local participants: 10 winners receive $5,000 each in seed funding.
International participants: Selected participants may receive an additional $2,000.
Applicants submit a business overview or executive summary via the online form for selection. The Pitch Masters Contest is held annually in the fall, with applications opening a few weeks before the event. While applications are currently closed, stay tuned for the next intake in 2026.
