Rainbow Entrepreneurship Program
A one-year project providing workshops and mentorship for queer entrepreneurs.
A workshop and consultation program supporting 2SLGBTQI+ entrepreneurs, self-employed artists, and creatives in the Saint John region.
In partnership with Fusion Saint John and Envision Saint John, Chroma NB is bringing you a groundbreaking initiative designed to support and empower 2SLGBTQI+ entrepreneurs, self-employed artists, and creatives in the Saint John region. We would like to thank Canada’s 2SLGBTQI+ Chamber of Commerce and the Government of Canada for supporting this impactful work through the 2SLGBTQI+ Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Fund.
In partnership with Fusion Saint John and Envision Saint John, Chroma NB is bringing you a groundbreaking initiative designed to support and empower 2SLGBTQI+ entrepreneurs, self-employed artists, and creatives in the Saint John region. We would like to thank Canada’s 2SLGBTQI+ Chamber of Commerce and the Government of Canada for supporting this impactful work through the 2SLGBTQI+ Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Fund.
Workshop Series
Elizabeth Murphy (she/her)
The Bloom Funding Formula
In this workshop, Elizabeth offered in-depth advice on prospecting, getting investment-ready, creating your go-to business documents, building relationships with investors, and positioning your venture for funding.
CJ Norris (he/him)
The Confidence Lab
Help for 2SLGBTQI+ entrepreneurs to level-up their public speaking and conversational abilities. From exhibitions, to conferences, and even coffee meetings, carrying yourself with clarity and confidence can fully shift how you feel about yourself, and how you’re perceived.
Rae Hill (they/them)
Gender-Expansive Work Attire
Help with finding your style outside the binary, advocating for gender-affirming workplace policies, and more involving ethical fashion, trans business, and gender-affirming gear.
Katie Buckley (she/her)
Grant Writing For Artists Q&A
“Ask Me Anything” for 2SLGBTQI+ artists, craftspeople, musicians, and other creatives looking to get assistance with grant writing to elevate their business/entrepreneurship.
Julia Wright (she/her)
Media Training
In this workshop, Julia covered topics such as how to pitch to different types of outlets, how to give a quality interview, and do’s & don’ts of press releases.
PJay Fortin-Daigle (any pronouns)
Bilingual Accounting Workshop
Pascale Joëlle is a gender-fluid, non-binary transmasculine person. This workshop will cover areas such as tracking income & expenses, invoicing basics, getting paid and managing cash flow, and more!
Sochi Azuh (he/him)
Marketing and Brand Storytelling Workshop
Sochi is a communications strategist, storytelling coach, and host of the Lead with Storytelling podcast. He helps mission-driven leaders craft compelling, human-centred narratives that drive connection, clarity, and change. This workshop covered areas such as strategic storytelling foundations, story-led communications, storytelling in marketing, and communicating impact.
Abigail Herrington (she/her)
Employment Law Workshop
Abigail is a labour, employment, and regulatory lawyer at McInnes Cooper in Saint John. This workshop gave the legal basics to help protect your business and support your workforce. Designed for small business owners and startups, it covered five critical areas of employment law using real-life examples.
Naisola Letoya (she/her)
E-Commerce: Basics & Beyond
Naisola Letoya, founder of Manyanat Inc., is a South African-born, Moncton-based entrepreneur with Maasai roots. Delivering tailored marketing solutions for small and medium businesses, Manyanat uses creative digital tools to help their clients. This workshop covered a range of topics including an introduction to eCommerce, product strategy, and digital marketing.
PRUDE Inc.
Anti-Racism in the Workplace
In the last workshop of the REP series, PRUDE Inc. employees Rachael Ahadzi (Anti-Racism Program Coordinator) and Grace Meade (Anti-Hate Project Coordinator), co-facilitated an engaging anti-racism training session. This session explored foundational anti-racist pedagogies, examined how racism operates in Canada at individual, social, and institutional levels, and equips participants with practical tools to identify and challenge racism in Canadian contexts.
One-on-One Consultations
Consultants
Naisola Letoya (she/her)
CJ Norris (he/him)
Dr. Gemma Marr, PhD (she/her)
Colúm Connolly, PhD (he/him)
Co-CEO – Bloom Funding
Rae Hill (they/them)
Kathleen Buckley, GPC (she/her)
Project Partners: Envision Saint John, Fusion SJ
Project funded by: Canadian Queer Chamber of Commerce