Terms & Conditions

Thank you for visiting BlackNorth BEGIN.

BlackNorth BEGIN (the “Service”) is a program of the BlackNorth Initiative (the “BlackNorth Initiative,” “we,” “us,” “our”), a non-profit organization located in Toronto, Ontario. As applicable and unless otherwise specified, reference to the BlackNorth Initiative includes its Members, directors, officers, mentors, employees, contractors, subcontractors, freelancers, agents, representatives, successors, assigns, and affiliated, related, and subsidiary organizations.

By visiting or using this website (or otherwise using our services), you agree to these Terms & Conditions of service (“Terms”). Please review them carefully. These Terms are a binding legal contract between you and us.

If you cannot agree to these Terms, please do not use this Service. If you have questions about these Terms, contact us by email

Please review our Privacy Policy. If you do not consent to our collection and use of personal information as explained in our Privacy Policy, please follow the procedures in that Policy.

We may amend these Terms without notice. Check them from time to time. If the Date of Last Amendment is more recent than your last visit, please review them again. Your continued use of the Service or use of our services after an amendment means you accept the new Terms.

Please review our Privacy Policy. If you do not consent to our collection and use of personal information as explained in our Privacy Policy, please follow the procedures in that Policy.

Please review our Privacy Policy. If you do not consent to our collection and use of personal information as explained in our Privacy Policy, please follow the procedures in that Policy.

We may amend these Terms without notice. Check them from time to time. If the Date of Last Amendment is more recent than your last visit, please review them again. Your continued use of the Service or use of our services after an amendment means you accept the new Terms.

• Purpose

  The Service is a “one-stop-shop” directory of resources and services available from Partners (the “Content,” described in section 5) to help Black entrepreneurs start, grow, and operate their businesses. Partners are third-party organizations and companies that provide Content.

  The Service is free to Black entrepreneurs.

• Notice

  Some of the resources or services referenced in these Terms may not yet be offered. All are likely to be expanded over time.

• Members

  The BlackNorth Initiative is a Black-led, Black-serving non-profit organization taking a business-first approach to combating anti-Black systemic racism in Canada. Its programs and services aim to remove barriers that negatively impact Black Canadians’ pursuit of rewarding careers and business owners.

  The Service is offered in furtherance of the BlackNorth Initiative’s overall mandate. Therefore, its use (i.e., membership) is limited to individuals who identify as Black or who are co-founders of businesses in which more than 50% of the co-founders are Black.

• Membership

  Visitors to the website wishing to access the Content must first create an account, i.e., a membership. Our Privacy Policy outlines how we store, use, and share Members’ information.

• Content

  The Content is:

  • Information about and links to Partners that provide (1) educational/training resources in areas such as business basics (business formation, business law), marketing (market identification, customer analysis), leadership & management, funding & financing, and accounting & tax matters, (2) professional services such as Legal Services, Marketing Services, Leadership & Management (Executive Coaching) Services, Bookkeeping & Accounting Services, and Funding Services (Loans, Grants, Venture Capital), and (3) Mentorship opportunities;
  • Other information of value to Black entrepreneurs that may be added from time to time.

• Use of the Service

  Rights. Anyone may browse the public areas of the website. However, to access Content, you must create an account, which includes confirming that you qualify for membership (see section 3).

  Your Obligations.

  You will only use the Service for lawful purposes.
  Without our prior written consent, you may not:

  • copy, reproduce, use, or sell Content found on the website.

  • modify, distribute, or re-post Content on the Service for any purpose other than to share it with your business’s co-founders or employees.

  • use the Content on the Service for any commercial purpose. You will not:

  • disrupt or interfere with the security of, or otherwise abuse, the website or any Services, system resources, accounts, servers, or networks connected to or accessible through the website or an affiliated or linked website.

  • disrupt or interfere with any other user's use or enjoyment of the Service or an affiliated or linked website.

  • transmit through or on the website any viruses or other harmful, disruptive, or destructive files;

  • use, frame, or utilize framing techniques to enclose the trademark, logo, or other proprietary information of BlackNorth BEGIN or the BlackNorth Initiative (including Content, images/text found on the website, or the layout/design of any page or form on the website) without our prior written consent.

  • reverse engineer or create derivative works based on the website or any content (including Content) available through the website, including, without limitation, any software.

  • use meta tags or any other "hidden text" utilizing the name, trademark, logo, or other proprietary information of BlackNorth BEGIN or the BlackNorth Initiative without our prior written consent.

  • obtain or attempt to obtain unauthorized access to the areas of the website that are restricted from public access.

• Our Intellectual Property Rights and Your License to Use the Website

  You agree that the website, including text, graphics, software, sound (including spoken words and music), photographs, video clips, and content provided by sponsors, advertisers, or other users ("Intellectual Property rights") is owned by the BlackNorth Initiative or, in the case of Content, the applicable third party and is protected by copyright, trademark, patent, or other proprietary rights and laws.

  You may not use or display any of our trademarks, logos, or service marks without our prior written consent. You may not use or display any other trademarks, logos, or service marks displayed on the website without the permission of the owners.

  You are granted a non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable, limited license to view content on the website (including, if you are a Member, Content). Except as expressly provided in these Terms, nothing on the website will be construed as conferring any other license or right expressly, by implication, estoppel, or otherwise to any of the BlackNorth Initiative’s or a third party's Intellectual Property rights. All rights not expressly granted herein are reserved.

• Disclaimer of all Warranties with respect to the website, its Use, and the Content

  The Service is provided on an “as-is” and “as-available” basis. Except as provided in these Terms and to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the BlackNorth Initiative expressly disclaims all warranties, express or implied, with respect to the Service or the use thereof, including, without limitation, any warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, or non-infringement.

  The BlackNorth Initiative does not warrant that the Service will meet your requirements or that access to it will be uninterrupted, timely, secure, and error-free, or that defects, if any, will be corrected.

  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the BlackNorth Initiative makes no representations and provides no warranty with respect to Content. The BlackNorth Initiative makes efforts that are reasonable given its resources to verify Content but Members rely on it entirely at their own risk. Members are required to make their own independent inquiries concerning the veracity of Content and to exercise due diligence when hiring a service provider found on the website. The BlackNorth Initiative neither assumes nor accepts liability for failure to do so.

  You agree that any material and/or data downloaded or otherwise obtained from or by way of the website or a linked website is used at your own risk and that you will be solely responsible for any damage to your computer or device, or for loss of data, that results from the download.

• Limitations on Our Liability Related to Use of the Service or Content

  • You understand and agree that under no circumstances will the BlackNorth Initiative or its subsidiaries, affiliates, directors, officers, employees, contractors, subcontractors, or agents be liable for economic or commercial loss (including without limitation loss of revenue, profits, contracts, business, savings or anticipated savings), loss of reputation or goodwill, loss of data, loss of employment or employment opportunities, loss of scholarships or bursaries, poor or inadequate mentorship, or for the use of or changes to personal information/Content uploaded to the website, or any other direct, indirect, special, incidental, or consequential damages resulting from or associated with the use of the Service. This limitation expressly applies to losses experienced as a result of hiring a service provider found on the website or otherwise in reliance on Content (including Content that contains misrepresentations or is fraudulent), or the cost of procuring substitute services. This limitation applies regardless of who suffered the loss (you, your business/organization, a third party), the manner in which damages were caused, or the theory of liability, whether for breach of contract, tort (including negligence and strict liability), or otherwise resulting from the use of, or the inability to use, the Service.
  • You also understand and agree that under no circumstances will the BlackNorth Initiative or its subsidiaries, affiliates, directors, officers, employees, contractors, subcontractors, or agents be liable for the outcome of any off-website interactions you have with someone you made contact with (or who contacted you) by way of the Service. For example, if you meet in person with someone who has represented themselves as a service provider or representative of a service provider identified on the website and you suffer harm as a result of that interaction (including bodily harm), you understand and agree that the BlackNorth Initiative and its subsidiaries, affiliates, directors, officers, employees, contractors, or subcontractors are not liable to you for the harm suffered.
  • In any event, in connection with the Service, its use, Content, or these Terms, the BlackNorth Initiative’s maximum liability is the lesser of $100 and the total of any fees paid or payable to a service provider you connected with through or by way of the website.

• Indemnification

  You, on your own behalf and on behalf of the business/organization you represent, if any, agree to indemnify and hold harmless the BlackNorth Initiative and its Members, directors, officers, employees, contractors, subcontractors, freelancers, agents, representatives, successors, assigns, and affiliated, related, and subsidiary organizations from any and all liabilities, losses, claims (including, but not limited to, claims for injunctive relief), demands, disputes, damages, losses, liens, causes of action, suits, civil, criminal, statutory, or administrative actions or proceedings, fines, taxes, assessments, penalties, judgments, and/or other expenses of any kind, nature, or description whatsoever (including, but not limited to, the BlackNorth Initiative’s legal fees and expenses and costs of investigation) resulting from or in any way connected with your use of the Service, your use of or reliance on Content, privacy, tort, or other claims relating to the provision of personal information to the BlackNorth Initiative, whether or not that information is publicly available on the Service, and your breach of these Terms. You warrant that you have the authority to bind yourself and the business/organization you represent, if any, in connection with this Indemnification.

• Other Terms and Conditions

  • Access to Partners’ Services.

    Access to and use of Partners’ resources and services will require Members to create accounts on the Partners’ websites, including the disclosure of personal information. Partners’ privacy policies can be found on their websites. The BlackNorth Initiative does not monitor or control how Partners use Members’ personal information and accepts no liability with respect to that use. Members are encouraged to review Partners’ privacy policies before disclosing personal information.

    Members may also be required to comply with Partners’ authentication requirements to confirm their eligibility to the use of Partners’ resources and services. Examples of authentication requirements are completion of surveys or application forms, submission of documents, and interviews.

    Partners may limit Members’ access to/use of services in accordance with their own policies. For example, some services may be provided without cost to Members, and other services may only be provided for a fee.

  • Assignment. The BlackNorth Initiative may, at our discretion, assign, transfer, or subcontract any of our rights or obligations under these Terms to any third party. Representations, warranties, or indemnification obligations made or undertaken by you on your own behalf or on behalf of your business/organization will survive such assignment, transfer, or subcontract.
  • Communication. You confirm that the contact information provided to us is true and accurate. If you reach out to us or sign up (create an account/membership), you consent to us contacting you. If you so indicate, you also consent to receive e-mails or other electronic communication from us or on our behalf relating to BlackNorth Initiative programs or services. For further information, please review our Privacy Policy.
  • Our Remedies. In order to avoid irreparable injury to the BlackNorth Initiative, in the event of your breach or threatened breach of these Terms, we may seek an injunction and/or other equitable relief restraining such breach or threatened breach in a court of law. Nothing in these Terms shall be construed as prohibiting us from pursuing any other remedies available for such breach or threatened breach, including the recovery of monetary damages from you and/or the organization/institution you represent, if any.
  • No Waiver. Our delay in exercising any right or remedy under these Terms shall never operate as a waiver of that right or remedy and shall not affect our ability to subsequently exercise that right or remedy. We must agree to any waiver in writing.
  • Dispute Resolution. These Terms and any other agreement of purchase and sale between you and the BlackNorth Initiative will be construed and governed by the laws of the province of Ontario, Canada. Any matters in dispute between you, on your own behalf or on behalf of your business/organization, and the BlackNorth Initiative will be submitted to and determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in the province of Ontario. You irrevocably waive any claim of inconvenient forum.
  • Supersession. These Terms supersede any other terms previously published by us and any other representations or statements made by us to you, whether oral, written, or otherwise.
  • Termination of the Service

    We may, in our sole discretion, terminate or suspend the operation of our Service or your use of our Service without prior notice to you. We may do so for any reason that we, in our sole discretion, determine to be appropriate.