TrainingGround.AI has announced the return of its Black Creator Academy program, with applications now open for its second cohort until October 13, 2025.

According to a press release, the free six-month program targets Black youth aged 15-24 in the Greater Toronto Area, offering:

• A 20-week hybrid learning experience
• Weekly learning sessions and biweekly workshops
• Monthly mentorship from industry professionals
• Experiential learning through partner networks
• Portfolio development opportunities
• A capstone project competition with a $10,000 prize

The program’s first year awarded more than $15,000 in grants to launch the careers of emerging Black creators from the Greater Toronto Area.

The program launch comes amid concerning industry trends. According to a report by UK-based SevenSix Agency, Black influencers earn 34% less than their white counterparts, with the gap widening from 22% in 2022. This aligns with U.S. findings showing a 35% pay gap between white and Black creators.

“Black creators earn 34% less than their white counterparts,” TrainingGround.AI founder Randy Osei recently told Net Influencer. “And it’s not that they’re not as skilled or don’t have the audiences or know how to engage with the platforms. There’s a disconnect between something that they’re doing and something that’s creating value.”

First Cohort Success Stories

Initial participants have already achieved notable success:

• Juzzy, a first-time creator who now collaborates with major brands like Wingstop.
• Mice, a former athlete and barber who grew his audience engagement and secured paid collaborations.
• Meshae, a beauty influencer who won the top prize and has grown her business by 20% since completing the program.

Comprehensive Curriculum

The program’s curriculum is structured in phases, focusing on distinct skill areas:

“The first four weeks are based on content creation and production: storyboarding, leveraging algorithms, and just the basic content creator knowledge,” Osei explains.

This is followed by financial education: “How are you financing your creator business or idea if you’re a creator? Are you looking at loans, or should you be a nonprofit? Should you be a for-profit? Should you look for government grants?”

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

Applications for the second cohort are open now until October 13, 2025, at athletetechgroup.com.

Checkout Our Latest Podcast