#LATechWeek: SoCal Black Tech Express Pitch Competition
📅 October 16, 2025
📍 Los Angeles, CA
CALL FOR APPLICATIONS
The Consulate General of Canada in Los Angeles, in partnership with the Daraja Collective, is proud to launch Cohort 4 of the SoCal Black Tech Express—a strategic initiative designed to accelerate the U.S. market entry of Canadian tech companies led by Black entrepreneurs.
This year’s program will anchor in LA Tech Week, one of the most influential gatherings of investors, innovators, and founders in Southern California’s tech ecosystem. On October 16th, selected startups will participate in high-impact programming focused on business development, fundraising, and strategic partnerships.
As part of the 2025 experience, we’re thrilled to announce a new Pitch Competition, where cohort participants will showcase their companies to a panel of investors and ecosystem leaders.
🚀 The winner will be reviewed for a $50,000 USD investment from Musa Capital, with potential matching funds from Arizona Venture Capital Inc.
Application Criteria
To be eligible, startups must:
Be early-stage Canadian tech companies led or operated by a Black entrepreneur or have at least one Black team member in a management role
Be revenue-generating or have previously raised capital (preferred: CAD $100K+ ARR and/or prior funding from Angels or VCs)
Be preparing for or actively raising a U.S.-focused VC round (typically between $500K–$5M USD)
Have a defined MVP or service and be actively seeking U.S. expansion opportunities
Be able to participate in:
Virtual prep sessions: October 6–10 (4–6 hours total)
In-person programming: October 13–15 in Los Angeles
All applicants requesting investment will automatically be considered for a $50K–$100K USD investment by Musa Capital as part of the review process.
Key Dates
Applications Due: August 18, 2025
Companies Selected: August 29, 2025
Intake Calls: Week of September 1, 2025
Virtual Prep Week: October 6–10, 2025
In-Person Visit to LA: October 13–16, 2025