Black Creator Academy is Back – Leveling Up the Next Generation of Black Youth Creators

TrainingGround.AI Drops New Programming for Groundbreaking Program This Fall

TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--After a groundbreaking first year that helped to launch the careers of emerging Black creators, the Black Creator Academy announced today the opening of applications for its second cohort.

The $250 billion creator economy is booming, but too many Black youth are being left on the sidelines. Black Creator Academy is a one-of-a-kind bootcamp designed to equip Black youth with the skills, mentorship, and funding to claim their place in this fast-growing industry.

The Academy is presented by TrainingGround.AI and powered by Ontario’s Black Youth Action Plan, launched in 2018 to fuel economic empowerment and education for Black communities.

The program’s groundbreaking first year awarded more than $15,000 in grants to launch the careers of several emerging Black creators from the GTA including

• Juzzy – a first time creator who is now collaborating on daily new content with major brands like Wingstop
• Mice – a former athlete and barber, dramatically grew his audience and follower engagement and is now producing content with a range of paid collaborations
• Meshae - a beauty influencer, she won top prize in the first cohort and has grown her business by 20% since the program was completed.

“The Black Creator Academy is about more than just teaching content skills—it’s about empowerment, ownership, and building futures,” said Randy Osei, Founder of TrainingGround.AI. “The creator economy is one of the fastest-growing industries in the world, and Black youth deserve to be leaders in it. Our goal is to provide the tools, the network, and the financial backing to ensure they’re not just participants, but pioneers shaping what comes next.”

The free six-month program, designed for Black creators aged 15–24 in the Greater Toronto Area, offers mentorship, industry training, and funding opportunities to help participants build their personal brands. Beyond technical skills, the Academy focuses on personal development—giving young talent the confidence, financial literacy, and long-term growth mindset needed to succeed in the creator economy.

Black Creator Academy Program Overview

• 20-week hybrid experience built to supercharge skills and confidence
• Weekly Learning + Bi-Weekly Workshops on content, business, and entrepreneurship with TrainingGround.AI
• Monthly Mentorship from industry pros who’ve been there, done that
• Experiential Learning through TrainingGround.AI’s partner network
• Portfolio Building to showcase creativity and hustle
• Capstone Project Showdown with a $10,000 prize

Applications are open now until October 13, 2025. Apply at: www.athletetechgroup.com/bca