TORONTO, July 27, 2026 /CNW/ -- The Federation of African Canadian Economics (FACE), will bring Melamoon 2026 to Toronto on Aug. 14, 2026, marking the fifth and final qualifying stop of Canada's largest Black-focused no-equity pitch competition.

The Toronto qualifying event will take place at the Globe and Mail Centre and will close out a five-city national tour that has featured qualifying events in Montréal, Halifax, Vancouver and Edmonton. Winning founders from across the country will then advance to the Melamoon 2026 grand finale, set for Oct. 16-17, 2026, at Steam Whistle Brewing in Toronto, where they will compete for a share of $200,000 in non-dilutive funding.

"Melamoon exists to create real opportunities for Black founders to be seen, supported and financed," said Tiffany Callender, CEO and co-founder, FACE Coalition. "When Black entrepreneurs have access to visibility, networks and capital, the benefits extend far beyond individual businesses and strengthen the broader Canadian economy."

Melamoon is designed to help Black entrepreneurs build visibility, strengthen investor readiness and connect with capital and support networks. The platform builds on the momentum of its successful inaugural year in 2025 and continues FACE's broader work to expand access to opportunity for Black business owners across Canada.

At a time when Black founders continue to face barriers in accessing capital, networks and visibility, Melamoon is positioning Black entrepreneurship as a national economic growth story. The tour is designed not only to spotlight founders, but also to strengthen the ecosystem around them by bringing together investors, business leaders, institutional partners and community champions in each city.

"As the final stop, Toronto represents a pivotal moment in the Melamoon 2026 journey," said Callender. "Founders here are competing not only for visibility in one of Canada's most dynamic business markets, but also for a chance to advance to the national grand finale and compete for a transformational $200,000."

Toronto will build on the momentum generated by the first four stops on the tour, bringing together founders, ecosystem partners, professionals and supporters for a day of live pitching, networking and programming focused on business growth and access to capital.

The road to $200,000

Melamoon 2026 is a five-city cross-Canada qualifying road show. Each city hosts a live pitch event where Black founders compete before a panel of expert judges, with top performers advancing to the national grand finale in Toronto. The national prize pool includes:

• Grand prize: $100,000
• Second prize: $50,000
• Third prize: $25,000
• Public choice award: $25,000

About FACE Coalition

Founded in 2021, FACE Coalition is a national, bilingual, Black-led non-profit dedicated to stimulating economic growth and creating generational wealth for Canadians of African descent. As administrator of the Black Entrepreneurship Loan Fund, a $160-million fund backed by the Government of Canada and the Business Development Bank of Canada, FACE has approved over $67 million in loans and disbursed more than $50 million to nearly 600 Black-owned businesses across Canada. Visit www.facecoalition.com.

About Melamoon

Melamoon is more than a pitch competition. It is a national movement for Black economic power. Presented by FACE Coalition and powered by Interac, Melamoon 2026 tours five Canadian cities before culminating in a grand national final in Toronto, where $200,000 in non-dilutive capital will be awarded to Black founders. No equity. No catch. Just fuel. Visit www.melamoon.ca.

About Interac

Interac Corp. is a trusted and safe way to pay and get paid in Canada, deeply committed to enabling inclusive financial participation for all Canadians. As a proud powering sponsor of Melamoon 2026, Interac stands behind the next generation of Black founders from coast to coast. Visit www.interac.ca.

SOURCE Federation of African Canadian Economics