What is BAIDS?
At Kushtie Trade Inc., we believe in social economic empowerment and equity through capability building — and the BAIDS Program is a flagship example of our social impact in action.
A $4 million dollar program funded by the Government of Canada, BAIDS was designed to support 220 Black-led businesses across Canada over 4 years. In less than 18 months, with a 40% budget savings, we exceeded this target by delivering over 331 high-impact services — turning strategy into tangible results.
Kushtie’s Role: From Vision to Scalable Infrastructure
We served as the strategic engine behind the program. Kushtie translated a bold national initiative into a fully operational and measurable platform by:
- Defining the Program Model: Shaping and simplifying the delivery concept of a $4M advisory fund.
- Service Network Development: Vetting and onboarding 28+ Black-led service providers via robust RFI/RFP processes.
- Building a National Ecosystem: Collaborating with over 40 organizations within a broader $200M+ Black Entrepreneurship funding landscape.
- End-to-End Management: Delivering full-service execution including:
- Program design, infrastructure & team formation
- National outreach & marketing campaigns
- Sponsor engagement (private & governmental)
- Ongoing surveys, assessments, and reporting
BAIDS Success in Numbers
Building intergenerational wealth. This is the heart of our Social Impact Strategy. Numbers don't lie, look at the key metrics driving our company's achievements
$4M
Total Fund
40%
Budget Saved
220+
Empowered Businesses
BAIDS Business Incubators: From Advisory to Capital Access
As part of our holistic transformation strategy, Kushtie developed embedded business incubators within the BAIDS delivery model. These incubators didn't just provide training — they prepared businesses to successfully access financing, including securing bank loans and building sustainable credit capacity.
Several of our supported businesses went on to secure product placement with major Canadian retailers, including success stories such as selling their products at Loblaws — a milestone in retail access for Black-owned brands.
331+ Services
High-impact advisory services delivered in business planning, legal, marketing, compliance, accounting, and HR
700+ Applications
Reviewed across diverse sectors including startups, early-stage ventures, and scaling SMEs
28 Black-led service providers
Professionally managed and activated through the national fund
40+ partners
Ecosystem mobilized within Canada’s Black Entrepreneurship and NGO transformation space
Human-Centered, Professionally Engineered
Kushtie’s contribution to BAIDS is not just measured in numbers — it’s seen in stories of empowerment, growth, and trust-building across underserved communities. Through our NGO transformation model, we uplift organizations to become engines of opportunity.
This is the heart of our Social Impact Strategy — building stronger societies by unlocking business potential.
" We had a hard time operating the association and running our own businesses. The BBPA’s BAIDS Program helped us acquire a $500,000 grant from Ontario’s Skills Development Fund"
" The BAIDS program stepped in and helped us expand our fleet. We were also able to generate over $200,000 in revenue by the end of 2021."
" The BAIDS Program is one of a kind and an excellent opportunity for the Black community to grow their businesses and receive access to support through a range of essential services. "
Sponsors
BAIDS is funded by strategic partners who are driven by impact
