Startup Women Events
Throughout the year, Startup Canada will host topic-focused webinars, interactive workshops, and Industry Advisory Circles designed to connect you with leading industry experts and give you access to practical resources. Register for an opportunity to connect with entrepreneurs in your industry and join Canada’s wider women entrepreneurship community!
Webinars
From Women-Led Investment Funds to Building Customer Trust with a Solid Brand Strategy to Financial Fitness, our webinars are geared towards supporting the business development of early stage entrepreneurs. Check out what we have planned this year, and remember to reserve your spot!
Event Description/Learning Objectives: There is a growing number of women-led investment funds in Canada that are specifically interested in funding women founders, a group often grossly underinvested in. Research shows that when a woman is at the table, a fund is twice as likely to invest in a women-led start-up. Meet some of the women leaders who sit at these funding tables.
Event Description/Learning Objectives: This webinar will focus on what goes into building a confident and authentic brand that will stand out from the crowd and earn the trust of your customer base. Discover how to set clear and measurable goals for your brand and the power of harnessing your customers’ experience.
Date: Wednesday, July 26, 2023 at 12 pm (ET)
Event Description/Learning Objectives: Drive growth for your business through strategic storytelling. Learn how to better understand your customers and create content for them. Then convert your stories into sales! Hone in on your brand story and explore creative ways to communicate it with your customers.
Date: Wednesday, September 27, 2023 at 12 pm (ET)
Event Description/Learning Objectives: Learn from women founders about how they secured their first $100k/round of funding, from building their pitch deck to getting the signature on the cheque! Learn how they achieved their funding goals and how you can apply what they learned in your own fundraising journey.
Date: Wednesday, November 29, 2023 at 12 pm (EST)
Event Description/Learning Objectives: This webinar will focus on providing guidance and clarity about all things financials when starting your business. Explore ways to set yourself up for a healthy and sustainable future! From determining the right revenue model, to figuring out your break-even point, and creating a solid sales strategy. Learn where and how to save money when starting out and what tools you can use to monitor your overall business performance.
Industry Advisory Circles
These closed-door, two-hour Industry Advisory Circles will have limited attendance and will be held once a month. Hosted by the Startup Women Program Lead, each session will feature two expert talks from later-stage founders, a panel discussion with relevant support organizations, and networking between attendees and speakers.
Date: Wednesday, July 19, 2023 at 12 pm (ET)
Date: Wednesday, August 16, 2023 at 12 pm (ET)
Date: Wednesday, September 20, 2023 at 12 pm (ET)
Date: Wednesday, October 11, 2023 at 12pm (ET)
Date: Wednesday, November 15, 2023 at 12 pm (EST)
Workshops
These interactive workshops will be hosted by subject matter experts who will provide best practices and actionable takeaways that entrepreneurs can implement straight into their businesses. These workshops will be closed-door and have limited attendance. Workshops will also feature breakout rooms, giving attendees the opportunity to discuss the topic at hand with the speakers and each other. We encourage all attendees to come ready to engage with each other!
Date: Wednesday, October 18, 2023 at 12 pm (ET)
Event Description/ Learning Objectives: As you grow and scale your business, hiring the right talent is crucial to your success. For many startups, it’s important to both find and retain the right team members. This workshop will walk you through what you need to know when hiring your first employee, including understanding the difference between an employee and a contractor, the importance of well-built employment agreements, and key employment compliances to be aware of.
Past Events
Event Description: Taking the plunge into funding can be intimidating, especially for early-stage women entrepreneurs! In fact, gender imbalance is still very much prevalent in venture capitalism, with 65% of U.S. venture capital firms lacking in female partners and only a mere 9.5% of decision-making positions in venture capital firms are held by women. That’s why we’ve set up a stellar panel to talk through the different grants and funding options available to women entrepreneurs in Canada, how to choose the route that best suits you and your business, discuss on-going barriers, and how we can help bring change from the top down.
Event Description: For any entrepreneur first starting out, it can be difficult navigating the legal side of the business and knowing what’s best for you. But have no fear! This webinar will take you through the practical steps you can take when starting your business to ensure protection for both you and your business, as well as sustainability for your future.
Event Description: As a founder, you become your business’ first ambassador. Creating your own personal brand forms trust with your audience, helps broaden your network, and builds a lasting platform for you as your business evolves. This webinar will equip you with the tools to map out your personal brand and identify what distinguishes you from your competition. Register today and learn how to leverage your personal brand to bring your business more exposure.
Event Description: Entrepreneurship is not a solo endeavor. It’s important to build a community of people around you who can offer you advice and support to help you in achieving your goals. In this webinar, we’ll provide a wide range of communities and organizations across Canada that cater to women entrepreneurs from different regions, industries, and demographic backgrounds. Come to listen to the array of support organizations available in Canada and how they are building their communities.
Event Description: Negotiation is an integral skill every business owner should have in their toolbox, whether it’s negotiating with a manufacturer, with an investor, or even with a customer. But, historically, negotiation is a collective experience that women have struggled with unlike their male counterparts. Come register for this webinar to equip yourself with the tools and strategies to successfully and confidently negotiate your next deal.
Date: Wednesday, February 22, 2023 at 12 pm (EST)
Date: Wednesday, March 15, 2023 at 12 pm (ET)
Date: Wednesday, April 19, 2023 at 12 pm (ET)
Date: Wednesday, May 24, 2023 at 12 pm (ET)
Date: Wednesday, June 14, 2023 at 12 pm (ET)
Date: Wednesday, May 10, 2023 at 12 pm (ET)
Event Description/Learning Objectives: The Zendesk for Startups Team will bring a high-energy, interactive workshop featuring 40 minutes of content and 20 minutes of Q&A. This workshop will feature lessons and tactics Zendesk has gathered by researching high-performing startups and unicorns!