Authored by: Rosie Digout

Rosie Digout is leading Startup Canada’s next initiative to support and promote Aboriginal entrepreneurship by empowering and equipping Aboriginal individuals and business owners with all the requirements to become successful entrepreneurs and leaders of their communities.  Rosie, an entrepreneur herself, owns a digital marketing company that provides workshops, training and consultancy services to her clients. 

The Aboriginal Entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well in Canada. According to Census Canada, there are more than 37,000 self-employed Aboriginal (First Nations, Métis and Inuit) people in Canada, up from just over 27,000 in 2001 – an increase of 38%. During this period, the rate of growth of self-employed Aboriginal people was 5 times that of self-employed Canadians overall (7%).

Starting a business may seem especially overwhelming if you are unsure where to get advice or answers to questions. Aboriginal business owners often face the same challenges that non-aboriginal people face when starting their business, such as: managing issues related to financing, cash flow, budgeting and payroll.

However Aboriginal business owners also face unique challenges. Aboriginal entrepreneurs rely primarily on their own resources for both start-up and ongoing financing, and access to financing is considered one obstacle to growth. Many Aboriginal entrepreneurs are navigating their business planning (or growth) without outside advice or support. Perhaps many are unaware of what services/support that are available to them. Most importantly, Aboriginal business owners are looking for answers to further both their personal and business development skills.

Startup Canada has a vast interest in supporting Aboriginal participation in the nation's economy by encouraging, supporting and promoting the growth and development of Aboriginal entrepreneurship. Over the last couple of months, Startup Canada has embarked on developing a strategy to support and promote Aboriginal entrepreneurship on a national level. This initiative, called Startup Circle, is based on a response to the call-to-action from the Aboriginal Community during last year’s Startup Canada’s National Tour (more than 20,000 entrepreneurs in 40 communities).

 Startup Circle’s goal is to be the national leader in Aboriginal entrepreneurship; its blog will provide articles and share resources that are relevant to the Aboriginal business community. By providing this much needed content, will hope to inspire Aboriginal to start their own business. Startup Circle will provide an opportunity for Aboriginal Entrepreneurs to build stronger networks – nationally, provincially and locally. Building stronger networks will lead to sharing of expertise and knowledge among and between Aboriginal businesses. Startup Circle will share success stories of Aboriginal businesses.

With any sustainable initiative, building and strengthening relationships is vital. Startup Circle will continue to develop and build relationships with all government parties, Aboriginal governments and communities, Aboriginal organizations, and other interest parties in supporting and encouraging  Aboriginal business development. As well, Startup Circle will have an Advisory group. Members of the Advisory group will be effective Aboriginal business leaders,  who have been selected to help advise a business owner regarding any number of business issues, including marketing, sales, financing, and expansion.

It is clear that the time is right to enhance the creation, development, support, and promotion of Aboriginal entrepreneurs and small businesses in Canada. 

Authored by: Alex Brown

Alex Brown is leading Startup Canada`s push for a more entrepreneurial and empowered Canadian youth through the establishment of Startup Generation Canada.  An entrepreneur from Barrie, Ontario, Alex is a consultant for small, medium and large organizations in marketing, global business development & licensing, and business strategy.

We are going through some tough economic times and Millenials are arguably the hardest hit by the crunch.  Youth unemployment is double the rest of the population at 14.2% and there are there are currently 250,000 fewer young people in the workforce than in 2008.  Underemployment is an even deeper problem with 1 in 3 graduates between the ages of 25 and 29 in low skilled jobs.

The labour pool is over supplied yet 254,000 students are expected to graduate from universities/colleges in 2013 in Canada, and this number grows each year.  New entrants to the workforce also  face intense competition from 30 & 40 something’s with relevant experience, baby boomers that are delaying retirement , new automation and technology and a globalized workforce.

Part time, temporary and project based work compose most employment opportunities.  The average 30 year old has had 11 different jobs, and most experts expect this number to magnify greatly, and to become focused on project based employment.  An increasing number of jobs can be done remotely from anywhere on the planet with an internet connection or wireless signal.

The Boomer Labour Market:

• Degree’s/Diploma’s provided differentiation
• Individuals worked for a handful of companies
• Full time, permanent employment was common

The Millenial Labour Market:

• Degree’s/Diploma’s provide little differentiation
• Individuals will work for many companies
• Part time, temporary and project based employment are common

To succeed in the Millenial labour market one must:

• Remain nimble, and be ready to adapt to the many changes and challenges you will face
• Develop a competitive advantage and effectively differentiate your brand
•  Take intelligent risks and peruse breakout opportunities
• Build a strong network of professional connections
• Establish credibility through quality work
• Utilize appropriate media channels to gain exposure

Looking at these vital components of career success, it very closely resembles the general rules that guide a successful business.  Schools, hospitals and many more institutions must adhere to the principles of New Public Management and are managed like businesses, so why haven’t we taken the cue and followed suit?

Would you rather think of yourself as an entrepreneur, or reduce your identity to the labour that you contribute to someone else’s company?  In today’s world successful people work with companies, not for companies.  You do not need to start your own business in order to act like an entrepreneur.  You need to realize that you already are an entrepreneur, and that you are currently running the business of you

By Alexander Sidhu | Startup Canada Researcher and Blogger

Following each #startupchats session, we recap the topic with a summary blog post. On Wednesday, May 15, #startupchats talked with Davender Gupta, Venture Catalyst – Accélérateur d’entrepreneuriat, Startup-Académie about the art of the pitch. He shared some key do's and don'ts, and what essential elements are needed for a winning pitch.

[embed]https://twitter.com/coachdavender/status/334712470411292674[/embed] 

An entrepreneur’s pitch can be as important as their business plan. Your pitch is defined as the verbal presentation of your project. Keep in mind that your pitch is not just about getting money; it’s how you turn your idea into a business. People don’t want to know what you do, they want to know what you can do for them.

Your pitch is the story of your idea. It gets clients, investors, partners and stakeholders excited because it communicates your value proposition to your target audience. It’s a way of showing them why they should care about your project.

Grab People's Attention

In order to produce an effective pitch, you need a story that carries a “boom” effect. Most pitches fall flat because they start with generalities. You have to grab your audience in the first 30 seconds of your pitch so that they maintain interest. Make sure your pitch is simple, clear and understandable in the context in which it is being told.

Tell a Story

Story-telling is also important when pitching an idea. People remember stories because they evoke emotion, and in turn trigger action; reasoning justifies actions. However it also depends on the audience that you are presenting to. The emotional response that you want to trigger depends on the audience. There is no “one pitch fits all”.

Different audiences are triggered by different emotions.
Examples include:

• Business to Consumers:
  Make me better, stronger, smarter, sexier, more rich

   

• Business to Business:
  Make me more profitable, stronger, better than competition, remove risk

There has to be a logical flow to the points for it to be made into a story. Make sure that it isn’t too complicated and that the story is being told from the true audience’s perspective.

Know Your Audience

Make sure to know your audience beforehand so that you can get the message out effectively! Knowing your target audience is essential to tailor your pitch, so research is a must. Some entrepreneurs want to wing it, but saying the wrong word can trigger the wrong emotion. Each word needs to be weighed, measured and tested.

Different pitches are definitely used for different target audiences. Make sure to prepare your pitch so that it meets your specific audiences’ criteria. It’s easy to lose potential clients!

Practice Makes Perfect

You should expect to write and rewrite your script many times. Presentation is a fundamental skill for all startups. Take the time to master it: practice your pitch in front of someone else so that you are provided with feedback. It’s bad when you are not prepared enough for your pitch because it was left to the last minute.

Hint: Don’t try to answer all the questions in the pitch. Choose words that trigger the questions you want. You will run into mistakes that could have been initially avoided.

Top Do's and Don'ts

DO:

• Write your script
• Practice
• Use more pictures than text
• Write big text
• Use a graphic designer
• Got a team? Make ONE person responsible for the pitch and delivery

DON'T:

• Try to say everything (or not enough). This is why practice and testing is needed to get balance
• Pull an all-nighter before delivering your pitch
• Try to be an entertainer. If you say a joke and it falls flat (it probably will) then you're done.
• Leave pitch prep to the last minute. Start early, get help (presentation, graphics, feedback).
• Wear ratty clothing (aka, leave your jeans and hoodie at home)

Best Way to Close

You should always start your pitch with: My name is (name), this is (biz name). We (one-sentence branding stmt). At the end of your pitch, you should finish with the same. The first words set the stage, the last words should echo in their minds.

Tip: Memorize your first and last sentences. This helps to anchor your presentation and will reduce nervousness. And NEVER end with "Thank You". (Too Canadian!!)

Check Out These Resources

• Presentation Zen (@PresentationZen) 
• MaRS (@MarsDD)

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For more information on how to craft the perfect pitch, contact Davender Gupta.

Join us every Wednesday and Friday at 12pm EST for #startupchats. During each #startupchats we will talk with one subject matter expert on a topic of interest to Canadian entrepreneurs. Details on upcoming chat topics can be found here.
 

STRONG 2013 just that. Real. Relevant. Robust.

Lanis Anthony, Founding Board Member Startup Canada

STRONG is the First Nations Technology Council's Summit of Technology, Resources, Opportunities, Networks and Growth. http://strong.fntc.info

The conference was held May 6 – 9 in Coast Salish Traditional Territories at the Sheraton Vancouver Airport Hotel in Richmond, BC, attracting delegates from across Canada to its broad spectrum program. The sixth annual event featured technology topics that are of critical importance to the well-being of British Columbia’s First Nations communities such as health services, natural resources, career education and entrepreneurship.

“Strong 2013 has been a reflection of the leadership of the FNTC by building on the inclusion, participation and knowledge sharing of ICT. With the FNTC's mandate of building capacity of First Nations, Strong 2013 has been an ideal venue in showcasing and sharing successful practices in a way that is effective and meaningful to participants,” says First Nations Technology Council (FNTC) President Tyrone McNeil. “With continued knowledge transfer the capacity of First Nations in British Columbia will elevate, constantly raising the bar of such conferences.”

Two days of interactive workshops highlighted innovative ways to increase productivity with the use of technology and software throughout the community – from the band office to the delivery of health services, and in building “smart systems” for economic development, communications, connectivity and skills training.

First Nations Technology Council (FNTC) Executive Director Norm Leech defines the event as both contemporary learning for Aboriginal people: “The STRONG 2013 conference reflects the shifting relationship between First Nations and Technology. First Nations have moved well beyond seeking computers and connectivity toward the solutions that will leapfrog them to the advanced solutions that business and industry have taken advantage of.

“The need for advanced skills and training in cloud computing, virtual servers, digital and social media, Web-Apps, e-Health services, digital intellectual property, geographic information systems, and distance education solutions highlights the accelerated gains that First Nations have made in technology. This is a true reflection of the resilient and adaptive character of First Nations people that has enabled their survival in the face of monumental changes over these past few centuries.”

Of great significance was the topic of Language Preservation. In the Opening presentation, Grand Chief Edward John (Akile Ch’Oh) spoke in his native language and English about the importance of capturing and conveying First Nations’ language. His poignant address was an inspiration to all. Work is underway on the Indigitization Toolkit for the Digitization of First Nations Knowledge at the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre at UBC. The website is live May 15 at www.indigitization.ca

Also of importance is the Project Raven initiative, providing technical skills development and employment opportunities to under-employed Aboriginal people in BC. A partnership with Aboriginal Skills and Employment Strategy (ASETS), Aboriginal Training to Employment (ATEP), First Nation communities and organizations, post-secondary institutions, government and industry, FNTC is mobilizing skills and career training that will empower First Nations people to become active participants, and leaders, in today’s knowledge economy.

Project Raven Manager Carolyn Stock, is an enthusiastic promoter of the initiative: “FNTC’s Project Raven provides computer training for unemployed or underemployed Aboriginal adults in BC.  It’s a fantastic opportunity for Aboriginal learners to upgrade skills necessary for todays’ job market.  Training is 100% mobile, free to participants and available through FNTC until March 2015.”

Norm Leech has seen the interest in and impact of the Summit increase exponentially, stating proudly, “We have grown the conference beyond a forum to inform communities of what is possible and how to begin change into an event that delivers tangible and valuable skills and hands-on training to eager participants. These are assets that can go directly onto resumes and lead to jobs or further training.

“It is inspiring to see the younger faces engaged in social media strategies and adopting the newest technologies available to them in their everyday life. These are the new survival skills and tools that citizens will need to succeed in the digital age. We have no idea what is next, we can only do our best to keep up with what is here today.”

Well said – and even better done Norm. To all involved in the First Nations’ Technology Council STRONG 2013 Summit – congratulations on a tremendous event that can be embraced across the country! 

Alex Brown represented Startup Canada at the Government of Ontario's "Youth Jobs Strategy Roundtable" on May 10th alongside the Minister of Economic Development, Trade and Employment, the Minister of Training, Colleges and Education, and representatives from over 40 influential organizations in the youth employment space. 

The Youth Jobs Strategy Roundtable marked an important milestone in the race to combat youth unemployment and underemployment in Ontario.   Opening the channels of communication to a delegation of many of the most influential organizations relating to youth employment shows that Ontario is serious about finding solutions to this deeply engrained economic issue.

The session opened with highlights of the depth of the crisis, presented the funding that will be allotted to alleviate it, and moved to a guided roundtable discussion on some of the major issues at play.

Proposed Programs

Ontario Youth Employment Fund - $195 million to create new job opportunities for youth across Ontario.  This is intended to offer employers incentives to hire and train promising young people with a focus on communities that face the greatest unemployment rates.

Ontario Youth Entrepreneurship Fund - $45 million to encourage the next generation of entrepreneurs through mentorship, startup capital and outreach.  This will take the form of targeted investments to enable mentorship programs, seed-stage capital, and high school outreach.

Ontario Youth Investment Fund - $30 million to boost youth-led industrial research, development and commercialization.  Part of these funds will support on-campus accelerator centres to turn more students into entrepreneurs.

Roundtable Solutions

Although time was extremely limited, several attendees including myself had a chance to offer some solutions to the problem.  Here are some notable highlights:

• Facilitating greater collaboration and partnering between service providers in the youth space
• Organizing the fractured and confusing landscape of resources for young entrepreneurs
• Facilitating an entrepreneurial spirit with Canadians from their elementary through to their post secondary education
• Equipping Canadians at an early age with the basic skills they need to be entrepreneurial (marketing, PR, finance, etc)
• Bringing industry and education closer together and creating opportunities for students to learn by doing and develop essential and in-demand skills
• Positioning colleges and universities as incubators, accelerators and entrepreneurial hubs

Impeccable Timing

Many of the proposed solutions to the youth employment crisis dovetail perfectly with the launch of Startup Canada NextGen.  Similar to Startup Communities, we are launching a national network of university, college and high-school based community leaders who will facilitate an entrepreneurial culture within their schools. 

These NextGen Champions will set up student clubs, keynote events, connect students with various resources, facilitate connections between schools and local industry, run events that allow students to work with businesses to gain valuable skills, and more.

NextGen will map out the landscape of resources and support services, and help to ensure that our partners can communicate and work effectively with one another.  Canadian youth will soon have local entrepreneurial hubs at all Canadian universities and colleges, as well as online platforms to connect them with resources, with one another, and with the tools they need to succeed in the new economy.

Conclusion

Our current youth training and employment system is not working.  Rather than complain and point fingers, the time has come to act entrepreneurial; to view this challenge as an opportunity to reposition Canada as a world leader in youth employment.  The collective resources and expertise of hundreds of organizations coming together will help us create a bright future for the next generation of Canadians.  Our youth is being prepared for the labour market of previous generations, and Startup Canada looks forward to empowering the NextGen of Canadians for success.

By Alexander Sidhu | Startup Canada Researcher and Blogger

Following each #startupchats session, we recap the topic with a summary blog post. On Friday, May 10, #startupchats talked with Rosie Digout (@rdigout), President, Digout Business Solutions, and Sharon Bond (@kekulicafe), Owner, Kekuli Cafe, about Entrepreneurship and Aboriginal Persons. The discussion explored the opportunities entrepreneurship presents to aboriginal persons, and the challenges they may face in the pursuit of entrepreneurship.

[embed]https://twitter.com/First_Power/status/332901138951200770[/embed] 

In 2006, a census revealed that over 37,000 First Nation, Metis and Inuit persons have their own businesses. In Canada, a vibrant group of Aboriginal entrepreneurs is rapidly emerging. The number of Aboriginal businesses is growing at nearly five times the rate of self-employed Canadians overall. 

A Closer Look at the Aboriginal Community

The words “Aboriginal Persons” refer to more than just one group of people. Communities of Aboriginal Persons are diverse and located all over the world. Within Canada, the term "Aboriginal Persons" generally refers to the First Nations, Metis and Inuit peoples.

Why Pursue Entrepreneurship?

Many aboriginal persons are turning to entrepreneurship as a way to improve their economic position, and also as a way to preserve their heritage. Entrepreneurial ventures are creating opportunities for new businesses, jobs and economic development on First Nations reserves across Canada. Overall, Aboriginal persons are highly passionate entrepreneurs and this passion is driving them to launch successful businesses.

Entrepreneurship also presents viable business opportunities that can contribute to the future prosperity of Aboriginal communities. One of the best way to address current socio-economic challenges is to create wealth through business activity. 

Resources for Aboriginal Entrepreneurs

For Aboriginal peoples who wish to pursue a startup venture, there are a number of national, regional and local organizations that help support and promote entrepreneurship. Unfortunately, many Aboriginal people may not know that such resources exist or understand how these services can help their business.

The best places to start are the Community Futures offices, or small business and economic development organizations in your local communities. Also, keep your eyes peeled for conferences and trade shows targeted specifically for Aboriginal -- they're out there! Government agencies also provide financial resources. For example, the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) provides services and even specialized funding opportunities.

Another key organization is the Council for the Advancement of Native Development Officers (Cando - @CandoEDO), a federally registered, non-profit society that is Aboriginal controlled, community based, and membership driven. Cando has been instrumental in facilitating partnerships with Economic Development Officers (EDOs), academics, Aboriginal leaders and senior corporate and government representatives. Cando is unique because it is the only national organization that focuses on education and professional development for EDOs working in Aboriginal communities or organizations.

The local opportunities exist but it takes due diligence to do the research and put in the groundwork to pursue your dream.

The Benefits of Partnerships

One of the best ways to encourage more Aboriginal Persons to consider entrepreneurship is to facilitate more holistic approaches to partnerships between financial institutions, governments, and other entrepreneurs. Aboriginal Persons need to know that there are people and organizations out there to help them, and everyone needs to work together to make this happen.

Partnerships between Aboriginal and Non-Aboriginal business can be win-win situations, it's just a matter of finding the synergies, making the connections, and everyone working together to bring the ideas to life.

Education is Key

One of the best ways to encourage startup activity within Aboriginal communities and contribute to that community's viability, is to place a greater emphasis on entrepreneurship within the school system.

Aboriginal Persons, especially the youth demographic, need to know that entrepreneurship is a viable career option, ready and waiting for them to pursue it. 

Inspiring Role Models Are All Around Us

Local entrepreneurs, whether they are Aboriginal or Non-Aboriginal, are a great source of both education and inspiration. Calvin Helin (@CalvinHelin), son of Tsimshian Nation Chief and a best-selling author, wrote a book called Dances with Dependency that has a message of self-reliance and is a must read for anyone wanting to become an entrepreneur.

Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada also hosts an Aboriginal Success Stories YouTube Channel, featuring short video profiles and case studies from First Nations, Inuit, Métis and Northern communities across Canada.

Three young Aboriginal Canadians to watch are Gabrielle Scrimshaw, Jarret Leaman and Lisa Charleyboy. They were recently featured in a Huffington Post article on Canada’s indigenous millennials. 

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For more information on how Startup Canada is supporting Aboriginal entrepreneurship, contact Rosie Digout.

Join us every Wednesday and Friday at 12pm EST for #startupchats. During each #startupchats we will talk with one subject matter expert on a topic of interest to Canadian entrepreneurs. Details on upcoming chat topics can be found here.
 

By Victoria Lennox

We have long known that flooding a country with aid can be detrimental to development. While foreign aid can sometimes account for more than 75 percent of some countries’ GDP, it should be a short-term tool to help with major humanitarian troubles, not a long-term solution to underlying social, environmental and economic challenges.

 According to PovertyEducation.org, more than $2 trillion has been spent in aid to address poverty since the 1950s, with little direct impact – underscored by hydro dams that never operated, crops that never sprouted, and roads that went nowhere.

 Study after study from the United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research has demonstrated that aid often leads to corruption and lessens the need for governments to cultivate relationships of trust with citizens. Aid and traditional investment approaches are ineffective in producing lasting security, stability, and sustainable growth.

 Beyond Aid

 Contrasting with traditional aid structures of donor-recipient and rich-poor, entrepreneurs are quietly, yet strongly achieving gains in terms of quality of life, job creation, and wealth generation – the very challenges that aid institutions have long been trying to solve.

Entrepreneurship is the long-term path to success for developing nations. Entrepreneurship not only democratizes states by increasing the role of individuals and the private sector in relation to the state, but it also elevates the mindsets, capacities, and ambitions of individuals and entire nations.

 For entrepreneurship to sustain itself, it must come from the bottom-up. While foreign capital can be integral in building local capacity, introducing new technologies, and developing new industries; it is built on a top-down approach. Without local participation or ownership, profits and resources do not remain in the developing country.

 Local entrepreneurs are best placed to spot local opportunities and keep profits in the country. They are relentless in their efforts to translate their ideas into wealth, jobs and opportunity, and over time they become a positive pressure on governments, advocating for positive political and economic reforms.

 For instance, recently Forbes recognised a number of young African change makers, which included Patrick Ngowi, a 28-year-old Tanzanian entrepreneur who set upHelvetic Solar Contractors Limited, which supplies, installs and maintains solar systems throughout the Northern Circuit of Tanzania. The company did about $3 million in revenues last year.

 Joel Mwale, is a young entrepreneur from Kenya who runs SkyDrop Enterprises, a rainwater filtration and bottling company which produces low-cost purified drinking water and dairy products. Mwale founded Skydrop in December 2009 and the company now employs over 20 people.

 Most foreign aid winds up with outside consultants, local military, bureaucrats, and non-profit administrators that adopt the entrepreneurial rhetoric to secure aid funding for their institutions. This leads to the futile development of products by entire villages without any consideration to market pulls.

 Foreign aid organizations are involved, whereas entrepreneurs are committed. You cannot bring about sustainable change without having skin in the game. What we really need is professional business partnerships.

 Entrepreneurship is what will drive growth – not aid spending.

 Adapting to the New Order

 Our thinking about international development needs to reflect the realities of the new global entrepreneurial order.

 In this new order, globalization and technological changes have contributed to the shift of the specialization pattern of the global economy. Today, developing nations have the comparative advantage for economic activity in the late stages of the product lifecycle, while advanced economies are moving away from mature industries and towards economic activity in the early stage of the product life cycle.

 If we are able to harness an understanding of the new order and the productive energy of local entrepreneurial citizens – supported by mobile, Internet and cloud-network technology and global diaspora networks to gain knowledge about market opportunities and infrastructural gaps – we will have a more effective force than any World Bank project or aid program can ever hope to create.

 For instance, Ola Orekunrin, a 25-year-old Nigerian healthcare entrepreneur and medical doctor, is the founder of Flying Doctors Nigeria, West Africa’s first Air Ambulance Service. Flying Doctors Nigeria provides urgent helicopter, airplane ambulance and evacuation services in Nigeria and other countries across West Africa.

The Way Forward for Canada

Recently, Canadian Minister of International Cooperation responsible for CIDA, Julian Fantino, indicated a shift of the foreign aid policy agenda towards the private sector. This is the one policy that can be shown to deliver lasting advantages. Entrepreneurs, by their flexibility and resilience, can help adapt to possible future shocks.

There are three additional areas that would position Canada as a leader in entrepreneur-led international development policy.

1.    CIDA can encourage a culture of entrepreneurship and service provision through partnerships with local entrepreneurs and agencies that provide proof of micro-entrepreneurial programs to solve endemic local issues.

 2.   CIDA can develop a Global Entrepreneurship Program that works towards building and sustaining entrepreneurial capabilities through entrepreneur promotion, support, education, connections, finance, seller-buyer marketplaces, soft landings support, and entrepreneur ecosystem development.

 3.   CIDA can support and connect foreign and Canadian startup community leaders to foster connectivity and learning. CIDA can partner with these community leaders to support the development of co-working spaces with Wi-Fi availability and provide grants or seed funds in the range of $25k to local entrepreneurs.

 Bottom-Up Entrepreneurship, Not Aid

We need to shift the way in which Canada relates to the world and contributes to the global entrepreneurship economy. We need to move away from aid and charity to supporting the development of entrepreneurial capacity, investing in local entrepreneurs and partnering in real business relationships.

In short, Canada should stop dispensing billions into bureaucracies. Investing in entrepreneurship would increase Canada’s reputation as a leading startup nation in foreign development, alleviate poverty, and transform the role of CIDA into an enabler of sustainable economic development through bottom-up entrepreneurship.

 Victoria Lennox is the co-founder and CEO of Startup Canada, a national, grassroots non-profit organisations to drive forward entrepreneurial success in Canada (www.startupcan.ca). Victoria is a serial social entrepreneur and the 2011 recipient of the Queen’s Award for Enterprise Promotion on the recommendation of the British Prime Minister for pioneering a grassroots entrepreneurship movement in the UK. Victoria graduated from the University of Oxford’s MSc. Global Governance & Diplomacy, Development Studies.

Photo credit - TNW - Four African girls create pee-powered generator

By Alexander Sidhu | Startup Canada Researcher and Blogger

Following each #startupchats session, we recap the topic with a summary blog post. On Wednesday, May 8, #startupchats talked with Jan Ditchfield, Founder, Won with One, Canadian Paratriathlon and PARA-Promotions, and Leona Emberson, Co-Founder, Canadian Paratriathlon. The topic of the day was social entrepreneurship and some of the challenges faced when innovating within sectors that are traditionally known as charitable.

The social entrepreneurship sector has been buzzing recently, with more and more people developing entrepreneurial ventures to match their desires to create social change and sustainable solutions.

Social entrepreneurs find ways to solve social problems without having profit be the main purpose of their venture. These entrepreneurs see social needs and create innovative ways to fill them in a meaningful way. Thus, issues in society can be solved through driven purpose and passion, which create new opportunities overall.

Engaging Communities

Social entrepreneurship in the charitable space is one of the best ways to engage a whole community. Traditional institutions don’t always see every void that needs to be filled and addressed by communities. However, there are reasons for not always filling these voids. Customers are not the same as your client – this is one of the biggest challenges. Innovative business models are needed in order to also satisfy customers.

In terms of actual “profit”, we must overcome the old notion that not-for-profit means “charity” and that it isn’t a business model that can be profitable. This notion leads some people to turn away from opportunities to innovate in a sector that is known to be charitable. Education is key to help people get over that stereotype.

Measuring Success

Ensuring success as a social entrepreneur is to have a sustainable business while serving a social need. Social innovation is about solving problems and addressing needs because a problem solved = success. Success is the capacity for having the greatest impact, constantly innovating, and becoming sustainable. For a social entrepreneur, that could mean filling a social need while generating income.

Also, seeing a social problem addressed and eventually diminished can be highly rewarding as well, since an innovation that is no longer needed is a measure of success. If you are creating desired social change and supporting your community, all the while finding a way to financially support yourself, that is truly a measure of success.

Funding Your Venture

Methods for funding a social business are different from those used to fund a for-profit business. Generally, a combined approach using traditional business channels, stewardship and sponsorship support is needed. Funders who will connect with the social gains instead of the financial gains should be engaged. In order to do that, it is important to underline the cause that you’re serving and address it to the right entities. Being affiliated to certain causes may enhance the image of an organization towards its customers. See the people, not the money.

Don't Lose Sight of What's Important

For someone who is considering becoming a social entrepreneur, remember to never forget yourself. Enabling change is important, but taking care of yourself is important too. Once you do that, you should make sure that you are always equally addressing the need, the people, and the financial viability. Keep your inspiration and supporters close and don’t be afraid to reach out to them when in doubt or to celebrate the success that you have created.

Last words of advice: Be bold. Make change.

Join Kelly McGregor every Wednesday and Friday at 12pm EST for #startupchats. During each #startupchats she will talk with one subject matter expert on a topic of interest to Canadian entrepreneurs. Details on each week’s chat topics can be found here.
 

ALISTAIR MCINNIS, PRINCE GEORGE FREE PRESS

Wednesday, May 8th, 2013

Click here to read the article

To become a successful entrepreneur, a viable business model is crucial.

Access to sources within the community is important to become successful. But recourses across the country can also provide a major boost.

As Prince George adapts to its new label as a Startup Canada Community, more opportunities may be coming. LiveWorkPG online marketing and communications strategist Shauna Harper says joining the national network as a pilot city provides more visibility.

Harper is the leader of Startup PG, a grassroots driven group in the city offering entrepreneurs opportunities to connect with business leaders. Individuals meet to discuss ideas and create a community passionate about collaboration, innovation and learning.

They can share stories in a different way than organizations would allow.

“We can’t do it through organizations because organizations, when they send that stuff out, it looks like marketing,” Harper says. “But when we create it and we sent it out via the actual stories of our communities, it then becomes the truth.”

An official Startup Canada Community launch event unfolded on Thursday. In Prince George, people gathered at the Innovation Central Society.

Prince George is one of 15 pilot communities on the national network.

“What we need is a grassroots driving part of it to develop the energy and the momentum that is needed to support people to initially start businesses and to really think about innovating and to think about creating, and that’s what the community is really about,” Harper says.

As a city that relies on industry to drive the economic engine, Harper believes entrepreneurs need to utilize the strength of those companies. She says they can follow Edmonton, Alberta’s capital city.

As a Startup Canada Community, individuals may see more opportunities to grow their business outside the community.

One Prince George entrepreneur who could stand to benefit from the national network is Kevin Pederson, who completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree in finance and accounting at UNBC. Pederson is a co-founder of Firepar, a technology company dedicated to automated golf tournament scoring.

“If people grow their businesses outside, they’re going to be able to grow it, especially because it’s tech,” Harper says.

The Startup movement has gained a lot of momentum in Prince George. Harper notes that they began Startup Drinks, an ongoing networking event at the Copper Pig, only a year ago. Individuals meet on the last Tuesday of each month for Startup Drinks.

After attending an event in Kelowna last year, Harper led the movement towards Prince George’s inaugural Startup Weekend, which took place March 1 to 3. Startup PG is looking into holding another Startup Weekend in November. 

“Imagine what we can accomplish, especially because we have teachers in the community of Startup Canada that is going to pull us ahead,” Harper says.

Harper is one of the guest speakers at the Sisterhood of Women Leaders in Prince George event scheduled for this Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the UNBC Canfor Theatre. Tickets are $55 each.

 For more information on Saturday’s event is available through the Startup PG website at www.startuppg.org. You can also visit LiveWorkPG at www.liveworkpg.com.

 Both websites provide links to ticket purchasing information.

SPRINGBOARD

Thursday, May 2nd, 2013

Click here to read the article

Startup Canada Communities will provide entrepreneurs with everything they need to succeed

Thursday, May 2
Startup Canada Communities launches across Canada (www.startupcommunities.ca)

Social Media Launch

• 1 – 2pm: Re-Inventing Canada – The Case for Startup Communities
Twitter Chat: #startupc2c – Featuring Rivers Corbett (Startup Fredericton), Shauna Harper (Startup Prince George) and Chris Johnson (Ramp Up Manitoba)

• 3 – 4pm EST: From the Ground Up – Building a Startup Community
Twitter Chat: #startupc2c – Featuring Ken Bautista (Startup Edmonton)

• 4 – 5pm EST: Startup Canada Communities – The New Social Network
Twitter Chat: #startupc2c – Featuring Startup Canada co-founder and CEO Victoria Lennox

• 6 – 7 pm EST: FEATURE EVENT – The Global Startup Movement
Google Hangout – Chaired by Rick Spence (Entrepreneur Columnist with the National Post)
Featuring a special video from Brad Feld (VC and Tech Stars co-founder) and Panel with Jonathan Ortmans (President of Global Entrepreneurship Week) and Bjoern Herrmann (Founder of Startup Genome)

See the calendar of events for the day: http://www.startupcan.ca/2013/04/24/join-the-startup-canada-communities-launch/ 
 

Interview Opportunities

Startup Canada and the Startup Canada Communities Project Advisors will be available for interviews on May 2:

• Adam Chowaniec, Founding Chair, Startup Canada
• Victoria Lennox, Co-Founder and CEO, Startup Canada
• Brad Feld, Entrepreneur, Author & Venture Capitalist (Project Advisor)
• Jonathan Ortmans, President, Global Entrepreneurship Week (Project Advisor)
• Ken Bautista, Co-Founder and CEO, Startup Edmonton (Project Advisor)
• Bjoern Hermann, Founder, Startup Compass (Project Advisor)

Interviews can also be arranged with the project leads and local entrepreneurs in each of the 15 pilot communities.

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For more information or to pre-schedule interviews, contact:

Leo Valiquette
press@startupcan.ca
613-769-9479

About Startup Canada Communities
Startup Canada Communities is an intensely connected national grassroots network that gives
entrepreneurs a single doorway to enter their local entrepreneur community to access mentors, space, funding and support to start and grow their businesses and to connect with other startup founders. It does this through local networked websites and entrepreneur-led events and activities that unite the entire community. Visit: www.startupcommunities.ca

About Startup Canada
Startup Canada is an entrepreneur-led movement to enhance the nation’s competitiveness and prosperity by supporting and celebrating Canadian entrepreneurship. Startup Canada is the first Canadian organization to harness the collective energies of entrepreneurs and enterprise support communities from coast to coast to promote a vibrant entrepreneurial culture and to create a unified brand as a rallying point for Canadians. Startup Canada founding sponsors include Microsoft, Gowlings and Ernst & Young. Visit: www.startupcan.ca