Melisa Ellis
Founder & CEO
Nobellum
Melisa Ellis is an award-winning philanthropist, technology professional, and the Founder & CEO of Nobellum Enterprise, a social and technology enterprise with a mandate to support the startup of at least 100 Black-owned businesses in STEM by 2025. In recognition of her amazing work, Melisa was recently awarded the BMO Black Tech Community Builder of the Year and “Alumni of the Year” by the University of Toronto Scarborough.
Schedule
75 mins
Meridian Hall - Lower Lobby
Rocket Pitches: Black Innovation Zone Showcase
Discover the brightest Black entrepreneurs as they take center stage in this electrifying pitch showcase! This lightning round features trailblazing early-stage founders and Black women in STEM and who are shaping the future with their innovative startups. Featuring standout ventures from Nobellum, BFN, and FBC, this is your chance to witness groundbreaking ideas that are redefining industries and empowering the next generation of diverse innovators.
45 mins
Meridian Hall - Lower Lobby
Roundtables - Block 2
Roundtables are exclusive to attendees with Startup Passes or access to the Startup platform. Spots are limited to 10 attendees per table, and pre-registration is required via the Startup platform.
Roundtable 1: VC Strategies for Black Innovation Founders
Host: Melisa Ellis, Founder & CEO, Nobellum
Roundtable 2: Raising Your Pre-Seed Round
Host: Prashant Matta, Partner, Panache Ventures
Roundtable 3: Early Stage Fundraising: Canadian vs US Fundraising
Host: Sumeet Trehan, CEO, Starboard
Roundtable 4: SR&ED Tax Incentives – Helping Canadian StartUps Innovate!
Hosts: Nanda Nagarajan, Manager of National Outreach and Engagement, SR&ED & Jason Sousa, Policy Coordinator, Canada Revenue Agency
