“If you are a Black woman founder or aspiring founder, this conference is a must-go.”
Roadmap to Billions is designed for you, by women like you. Full of exciting, engaging, and enlightening experiences, you’ll leave the conference feeling powerful, motivated and ready to take the next steps on your journey.
2025 has been an absolute roller coaster already, but there's a space being created just for you. A space where your brilliance, your resilience, and your entrepreneurial spirit will not only be recognized—but celebrated and elevated. We’ve designed a new experience where your dreams, challenges, and triumphs will find resonance among innovators who understand your journey like no one else can.
This year’s 9th Annual Roadmap to Billions Conference is Invite-Only with a focus on black women entrepreneurs. Applications will be reviewed and accepted on a rolling basis.
We’re bringing 8 years (!) of learnings, networks, connections, insights, failures and opportunities to an exclusive group of high growth companies. Think powerful workshop intensives with actionable takeaways led by the brightest minds in the industry, and masterclasses with real-world operators who know what it takes to scale.
Apply now to access valuable resources for your business, networks to build clientele, and design your own Roadmap to generational wealth for your family and community.
VC OFFICE HOURS💸
RETREAT🧖🏾♀️
3:00 pm - Welcome Reception, DMZ 10 Dundas Street, 6th Floor
6:00 pm
The Story of Black Women Talk Tech, Founder Panel
All
9:00 am - VIP Breakfast
10:00 am
10:00 am - Welcome Address from The Founders
10:10 am
10:10 am - Wellness Moment
10:15 am
10:15 am - Land Acknowledgement
10:20 am
10:20 am - Welcome Remarks, MPP Charmaine Williams
10:40 am
10:40 am - Morning Keynote, Claudette McGowan
11:20 am
11:20 am - The State of the Black Canadian Tech Ecosystem
12:00 pm
12:00 pm - Life's a Pitch: Nail Your Story With Every Audience!
12:40 pm
12:40 pm - Lunch, Networking, Partner Expo
1:50 pm
1:50 pm - Building a Sustainable Funding Path
2:30 pm
2:30 pm - Unleash the Power of AI
3:10 pm
3:10 pm - Next Level Career Moves
3:50 pm
4:00 pm - Pitch Competition!!
5:00 pm
5:40 pm - Afternoon Keynote, Lauren Maillian
5:40 pm
5:40 pm - Closing Remarks
6:00 pm
6:00 pm - Closing Reception
8:00 pm
Thursday May 15th 2025
Founders, it's time to prioritize YOU. Join us for an exclusive wellness retreat to reset and refocus. Enjoy yoga, meditation, and mindfulness, while connecting with fellow visionary leaders.
• Reclaim clarity through restorative practices
• Build resilience to thrive under pressure
• Network with like-minded founders
• Leave re-energized with new strategies
• Connect with other leaders in industry meetups
• Enjoy Happy Hour cocktails
Take a break, recharge, and return with purpose. Ready to reset? Your journey starts here.
Friday May 16th 2025
Workshop Sessions
The funding gap will continue to plague us, but what else is new? We have to rewrite the rules, so hear from the ladies who are changing the game. The funding gap is real, but Black women founders are rewriting the rules. Hear from those who’ve cracked the code on raising millions.
AI isn’t the future—it’s now. Discover how to create an AI agent tailored to your business, automate workflows, and enhance decision-making. From selecting the right model to training and deployment, this session will demystify AI so you can integrate it seamlessly into your operations.
Startup Enterprise clients are sitting on billion-dollar budgets—let’s get you a piece of that. Learn how to sell into Fortune 500s and secure high-value deals.
Master the strategic pivot - a critical skill for business survival and innovation. This workshop examines successful pivot case studies, teaches methodologies for identifying pivot triggers, and provides frameworks for executing change while maintaining team alignment and customer trust. Learn when to persist and when to pivot for maximum business impact.
Investors are changing the game—are you playing it right? Get inside tips on structuring your round, securing early checks, and avoiding rookie mistakes.
Make informed technical decisions that won't limit your growth. This workshop guides non-technical and technical founders through critical early architecture choices, covering scalability considerations, build vs. buy decisions, and technical debt management. Learn how to balance speed-to-market with building for future scale without overengineering your initial product.
AI powered hustle. Learn how to build custom GPTs that work for you, from automating customer service to supercharging product innovation.
Hiring the right accountants and consultants can make or break your business. This session covers how to think about hiring for key financial roles, what to manage in your first accounting team, and how to choose the right consultant for your needs. Whether you’re bringing in outside expertise or stepping into a consulting role yourself, learn how to build a strong foundation for success.
Learn proven strategies to make the most of your first big investment. This workshop covers risk assessment, diversification techniques, market timing considerations, and how to align investment choices with your long-term goals. Perfect for new investors looking to build a strong foundation for financial growth.
Unlock the power of network effects with platform business models. This strategic workshop explores marketplace dynamics, solving the cold start problem, balancing supply and demand, and monetization strategies for different platform types. Learn from successful and failed tech marketplaces to design your own platform for sustainable growth.
Elevate your operational leadership to drive exceptional results. This advanced masterclass workshop covers operational frameworks, decision-making models, resource optimization, and performance management systems used by elite operators. Designed for experienced leaders ready to refine their execution capabilities and build high-performing organizations.
Sessions Group 1
The funding gap will continue to plague us, but what else is new? We have to rewrite the rules, so hear from the ladies who are changing the game. The funding gap is real, but Black women founders are rewriting the rules. Hear from those who’ve cracked the code on raising millions.
AI isn’t the future—it’s now. Discover how to create an AI agent tailored to your business, automate workflows, and enhance decision-making. From selecting the right model to training and deployment, this session will demystify AI so you can integrate it seamlessly into your operations.
Startup Enterprise clients are sitting on billion-dollar budgets—let’s get you a piece of that. Learn how to sell into Fortune 500s and secure high-value deals.
Sessions Group 2
Master the strategic pivot - a critical skill for business survival and innovation. This workshop examines successful pivot case studies, teaches methodologies for identifying pivot triggers, and provides frameworks for executing change while maintaining team alignment and customer trust. Learn when to persist and when to pivot for maximum business impact.
Investors are changing the game—are you playing it right? Get inside tips on structuring your round, securing early checks, and avoiding rookie mistakes.
Make informed technical decisions that won't limit your growth. This workshop guides non-technical and technical founders through critical early architecture choices, covering scalability considerations, build vs. buy decisions, and technical debt management. Learn how to balance speed-to-market with building for future scale without overengineering your initial product.
AI powered hustle. Learn how to build custom GPTs that work for you, from automating customer service to supercharging product innovation.
Sessions Group 3
Hiring the right accountants and consultants can make or break your business. This session covers how to think about hiring for key financial roles, what to manage in your first accounting team, and how to choose the right consultant for your needs. Whether you’re bringing in outside expertise or stepping into a consulting role yourself, learn how to build a strong foundation for success.
Learn proven strategies to make the most of your first big investment. This workshop covers risk assessment, diversification techniques, market timing considerations, and how to align investment choices with your long-term goals. Perfect for new investors looking to build a strong foundation for financial growth.
Unlock the power of network effects with platform business models. This strategic workshop explores marketplace dynamics, solving the cold start problem, balancing supply and demand, and monetization strategies for different platform types. Learn from successful and failed tech marketplaces to design your own platform for sustainable growth.
Elevate your operational leadership to drive exceptional results. This advanced masterclass workshop covers operational frameworks, decision-making models, resource optimization, and performance management systems used by elite operators. Designed for experienced leaders ready to refine their execution capabilities and build high-performing organizations.
Experiences
Looking for funding advice? Join the Ask a Venture Capitalist session to get expert tips on market validation, team building, and fundraising strategies.
Refresh your profile pic with a professional headshot! Quick sessions, high-quality results will be available on-site.
Post a topic you'd love to explore or need help with and others who share your curiosity or experience can book time to connect and dive in with you at the Brain Date marketplace. Whether you're looking to explore a new idea, swap strategies, or dive into a shared challenge, others will discover your topic and book a 1-on-1 or group chat to connect. It's not just networking—it’s intentional, purpose-driven dialogue with people who get it.
More to come!
Antonia Dean
Principal of Black Ops VC
Tricia Taitt
CEO of FinCore
Dreena Whitfield
CEO and Founder of WhitPR
Regina Gwynn
Co-founder of Black Women Talk Tech
Estelle Inack
Research Scientist at Perimeter Institute
Kanishia Mensah
Program & Event Coordinator at Black Entrepreneurship Alliance
Melisa Ellis
Founder & C.E.O of Nobellum
Nunu Francisco
Tech Program Officer at
Black Entrepreneurship Alliance
Tashua Case
Director, Business Intelligence at Bluum
MPP Charmaine Williams
MPP for Brampton Centre, Associate Minister of Women’s Social and Economic Opportunity
Claudette McGowan
Founder & CEO, Protexxa & Co-founder, The Firehood
Kishawna Peck
Founder & CEO at Women in Data Science
Stacey Ann Berry
Chapter President, BIT Toronto
Amoye Henry
Co-Founder & Lead Investment Manager at Pitch Better
Ashley Wright
Founder at Blacks On Blockchain
Giselle Melo
Managing Partner at MATR (matter) Ventures
Lauren Maillian
Founder and CEO, LMB GROUP
Faizah Balogun
Program Coordinator at Black Founder Network
Treasa Brown
Founder, Professionelle House, Inc
Chi-Chi Egbo
Founder and Principal Consultant, Workthrough
Vania Abdul-Badee
CMO, 360, Advertising and Communications
Gayle Jennings
CEO, Wocstar Capital LLC
Modupe Olufemi
Advisor, Business Development, MITAC Inc
Jael Joseph
Founder & Creator of Black Island Girl Multimedia
Alexia Beckford
Program Manager at Jamaica Technology & Digital Alliance
Yinka Adesesan
Black Innovation Programs Manager DMZ
Dwania Peele
Founder of Canadian Small Business Women
Estelle Inack
Research Scientist at Perimeter Institute
Kanishia Mensah
Program & Event Coordinator at Black Entrepreneurship Alliance
Melisa Ellis
Founder & C.E.O of Nobellum
Nunu Francisco
Tech Program Officer at Black Entrepreneurship Alliance
Tashua Case
Director, Business Intelligence at Bluum
MPP Charmaine Williams
MPP for Brampton Centre, Associate Minister of Women’s Social and Economic Opportunity
Claudette McGowan
Founder & CEO, Protexxa & Co-founder, The Firehood
Kishawna Peck
Founder & CEO at Women in Data Science
Stacey Ann Berry
Chapter President, BIT Toronto
Amoye Henry
Co-Founder & Lead Investment Manager at Pitch Better
Ashley Wright
Founder at Blacks On Blockchain
Giselle Melo
Managing Partner at MATR (matter) Ventures
Lauren Maillian
Founder and CEO, LMB GROUP
Faizah Balogun
Program Coordinator at Black Founder Network
Treasa Brown
Founder, Professionelle House, Inc
Chi-Chi Egbo
Founder and Principal Consultant, Workthrough
Vania Abdul-Badee
CMO, 360, Advertising and Communications
Gayle Jennings
CEO, Wocstar Capital LLC
Modupe Olufemi
Advisor, Business Development, MITAC Inc
Esosa Ighodaro, Co-founder
Regina Gwynn, Co-founder
We have a unique understanding of the challenges Black women founders face and the advantages we bring in the industry. We’re here to identify, support and encourage Black women to build the next billion dollar business.
We’re unapologetic in our support because we believe Black is worth the investment. It’s time we are heard and seen because we know different perspectives bring new opportunities. We’re building community and profitable, scalable businesses for self-identified Black women in tech, together.
Community
May 15-16, 2025
August 21-22, 2025
© 2025 Roadmap to Billions | Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy