Justin Sweeney is a social entrepreneur and social finance professional who has been leading the social finance activities of Kaléidoscope Social Impact since 2018. Building on Kaléidoscope’s success as a micro-lender in Saint John, New Brunswick, Justin lead the creation of two new investment programs that have launched dozens of social enterprises and created 100’s of affordable housing units across the province of New Brunswick.

Justin has been the lead on all aspects of their fund development, including creating their place-based investment thesis, raising capital, building out their administrative policies and processes, and tackling their impact measurement and reporting in alignment with global standards. He firmly believes that investing local will be a natural evolution of the buy local movement, and that supportive policies, open-source knowledge hubs, and improved administrative software will enable place-based funds to channel billions into local communities over the next decade.

He lives with his wife in rural Kings County, raising their two young children close to nature.

Filsan has a background in community development, livelihood programs, and supporting entrepreneurs. She is dedicated to contributing to the creation of more inclusive and just systems. Filsan is passionate about connecting with people, places and communities.

Ryan has built multiple businesses over the last 10 years and spends a great deal of his time leading and mentoring young entrepreneurs in the community.  After starting a social enterprise Detailing Knights, a mobile waterless car cleaning company, Ryan was able to launch his first youth entrepreneurship program called Knighthood Academy. 

Knighthood Academy was designed to help at risk youth in the community develop their leadership skills through an entrepreneurship bootcamp. Various youth with multiple barriers have accessed the program ranging from high school dropouts, past gang members, and those recently released from detention.

“I have realized that entrepreneurship is a tool that gives a level playing field to all those that want to partake. I envision helping youth all over the world experience entrepreneurship at least once during their learning journey.

To this end Ryan is an active board member with the Peel Learning Foundation. Helping to bring alternative resources to youth in the Peel District School Board.  

Ryan has been named one of Brampton’s top 40 under 40 and twice nominated for a Business Excellence Award by the Brampton Board of Trade in 2014 and winning in 2019. In 2013 Ryan won the Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year award from the Toronto Region Board of Trade.

Ryan has a deep passion for his community and is one of the cofounders of the Afro Caribbean Business Network Foundation. A non profit organization created to help entrepreneurs of African and Caribbean heritage to not only start businesses but help their companies grow and become assets for future generations. Ryan now leads Ontario’s first Black Led Microloan Fund.

Along with the vision of helping youth in every city around the world experience entrepreneurship, he is bringing years of startup expertise, award-winning youth work, marketing, advertising, and business operations.

Knight is a current contributor on CFRB NewsTalk1010 appearing each Monday morning with host Jerry Agar to address current affairs from a African and Caribbean heritage business owner perspective.

Ryan is an avid community advocate and devoted family man married to Cherriton and they have two wonderful children Jasmine and Christian.