Thierry Lindor

Background

About Thierry Lindor

I’m the oldest of 10 siblings—Yep same mom same dad—lol. We grew up in Hochelaga & St-Michel, upper working class or lower middle class, depending on your perspective. Nevertheless, my parents instilled in us values that continue to resonate with me: Passion, Inclusion, Justice, & the everlasting power of Knowledge. Growing up in a neighborhood that idolized illicit lifestyles & sports, I initially believed my options were limited to those paths. However, the entrepreneurs I encountered were far from choirboys, & it was through basketball that my life took a transformative turn. Having excelled in basketball, I earned a professional contract at the age of 19. However, my dream career was abruptly halted due to injuries. Yet, that moment marked the beginning of my true calling. You see, the traits that make a great point guard in basketball—vision, communication, empathy, hardwork & leadership—are also fundamental to being an entrepreneur. Entrepreneurship runs deep in my DNA, serving as a form of resistance against a system that often does not favor individuals who resemble me or come from where I do. My journey has been filled with remarkable milestones & collaborations with influential figures. I am honored to have closely worked with Nobel Peace Prize laureates Malala & Vice President Al Gore. In 2019, I was recognized as the "Innovative Entrepreneur of the Year" by Black Tech Matters in Washington DC. The same year, I was acknowledged by the United Nations as one of the Global Top 100 under 40 Most Influential People of African Descent, alongside remarkable individuals such as Naomi Osaka, Drake, & Meghan Markle. When the pandemic hit, I launched "Colors Of COVID," a platform that collects race-based data. The findings were published in a top European scientific journal. In 2021, I co-founded the Federation of African Canadian Economics (FACE), which secured $330M from the Canadian Government to support entrepreneurs of African descent in Canada. My latest venture, Happly, aims to combat economic inequalities by democratizing funding opportunities for entrepreneurs. In 2022, I was honored to be named Valedictorian of the prestigious Next Ai & HEC Accelerator, while my company received the 2022 TOP Venture award from BMO & the DMZ AMEX award. Most recently, in 2023, my team & I secured first place at the University of Toronto BCC National competition. I am deeply grateful for the journey I have embarked upon, & I remain committed to driving positive change, breaking barriers, & empowering aspiring entrepreneurs to impact their communities.