Selected by CFC Media Lab for Second Cohort of Fifth Wave Initiative

Proud to be one of CFC’s Media Lab Women-Led/Owned Companies selected for second cohort of Fifth Wave Labs—Canada’s first feminist business accelerator dedicated specifically to supporting Black, Indigenous and women of Colour entrepreneurs working in digital media.

Canadian Film Centre’s Media Lab (CFC Media Lab) announced Director Sonia Godding Togobo of Sunstar Worldwide Studio as one of eight selected for the second cohort of Fifth Wave Labs, a four-month business bootcamp for women-owned/led businesses, and one component of the larger Fifth Wave Initiative. The Fifth Wave Initiative was created to address the significant gaps that women entrepreneurs face in equitable access to capital, connections and opportunities in the digital media industry, creating tailored programming through a feminist lens for women-owned businesses. Cohort 2 will also see Alison Duke and Ngardy Conteh George, alumnae of the inaugural cohort of Fifth Wave, as Entrepreneurs-in-Residence, sharing their industry expertise on a peer-to-peer level from their experiences leading Oya Media Group, a successful production company with high-growth potential in the creation of socially relevant diverse non-fiction content.

This mentorship-based program runs from January to April 2021, and will be delivered virtually through a range of webinars, virtual workshops and events, online sessions, and expert presentations, all designed specifically for women-owned/led digital media businesses seeking sustainable growth plans and scalable business models. In addition to receiving mentorship from the Entrepreneurs-in-Residence, the founders/companies will also be connected with a Lead Guide mentor and will receive bespoke coaching in business development and modelling, market, sales, strategy, partner development, financing, planning for scale, staffing, company culture and wellness, and fundraising, all delivered through a feminist lens.

About CFC Media Lab
The Canadian Film Centre’s Media Lab (CFC Media Lab) is an internationally acclaimed production think tank, training institute and business accelerator that supports hundreds of emerging digital content creators, practitioners, entrepreneurs and companies. It offers programs and initiatives that provide visionary leadership and extensive expertise in strategy, product, business, finance, and ethics needed by Canadians involved in the digital revolution, including an innovative suite of programs focused on radically inclusive feminist business practices.