Do you have a world-changing idea? Are you managing a venture?
Launched for Black, Indigenous, People of Colour (BIPOC), and Women entrepreneurs, Elevate Entrepreneurship, a project developed by TechAlliance of Southwestern Ontario and Fanshawe College Corporate Training Solutions, will support entrepreneurs in acquiring the knowledge to build and scale a business. Elevate Entrepreneurship is a micro-certification taught by serial entrepreneurs and subject matter experts who share the lived experiences of BIPOC and Women-led businesses.
What exactly is it?
Beginning in January 2022, this 5 week micro-certification and incubator with three distinct cohorts of 20 participants each, will equip entrepreneurs like you with the tools you need to manage startup challenges and growth while developing a fluid network of peers and mentors. Throughout this learning experience you will also be invited to keynotes and roundtable panel discussions to learn directly from others who have similar entrepreneurial journeys.
Women Founders Cohort
January 11 – February 9
Tuesdays 4-7 pm
5 weekly live virtual learning sessions coupled with self guided learning modules and peer group meetings.
Black/POC Founders Cohort
January 12 – February 10
Wednesdays 4-7 pm
5 weekly live virtual learning sessions coupled with self guided learning modules and peer group meetings.
Indigenous Founders Cohort
January 13 – February 11
Thursdays 4-7 pm
5 weekly live virtual learning sessions coupled with self guided learning modules and peer group meetings.
When you sign up for this NO-COST (yes, we mean FREE) experience, you will learn how to:
- Develop product-market fit for your Made-in-Ontario idea
- Create a marketing plan with a sales strategy to generate recurring revenue
- Attract investors and build out finance fundamentals and an IP strategy
- Access TechAlliance founders network
Elevate Entrepreneurship provides resources every entrepreneur needs to launch, manage, and grow your business, while navigating the journey in a post-pandemic world. Additionally, you will work one-to-one with our expert venture growth coaches and benefit from a suite of services designed with the founder in mind.
If you are an aspiring entrepreneur
or know someone who is, apply now!
Developed in partnership with:
“Think of it as you’re joining an incubator plus you get the added benefit of earning a micro-certification in Entrepreneurship. You get the best of both worlds!
—Trevor Shorte
TechAlliance, Venture Growth & Storytelling Specialist
Questions?
Apply online for Elevate Entrepreneurship by 5:00 p.m. ET on Sunday, January 2, 2022.
Elevate Entrepreneurship program is open to all Black, Indigenous, Person of Colour, or woman founder that is launching a venture or operating a business.
A micro-certification course is industry-specific training delivered in a defined timeframe with smaller courses stacked together to create a certificate. Upon successful completion, participants receive a digital badge per course and an electronic Fanshawe CTS Certification of Completion.
Elevate Entrepreneurship is a unique blend of learning that features two different formats of delivery.
There will be virtual in-class sessions (or as some people call it, synchronous online learning). Participants will be able to interact with the instructor and classmates in real time. Plus we’ve got a stellar lineup of entrepreneurs that will be participating on panels and keynotes where you can learn directly from them and what they’ve gone through as they have built their businesses!
The other is a self guided format (also called asynchronous online learning). Participants will learn material on your own schedule, at your own pace. The course content may include video lectures, podcasts, readings, and assignments that would have to be completed within the given timeline for the section.
There are 5 areas of focus that will be covered in the Micro-Certification course:
Entrepreneurship: idea validation, product or service development, how to access resources to raise capital and seek investment
Business Finance: analyzing the market opportunity, developing a pricing strategy, how to navigate business and government financial reporting, working with funding sources
Marketing & Sales: competitive analysis, building a brand, creating a sales strategy, public speaking and presentation skills
Operations: supply chain management, project management, legal, intellectual property strategy development, human resources and people management
Business Strategy: company mission and values, short and long-term goal setting, corporate social responsibility, leadership development, company culture
All participants of Elevate Entrepreneurship must agree to TechAlliance’s Terms & Conditions. Participants will co-design an advisory schedule with their growth coach following the micro-certification.
Experience the Innovation Economy
Explore opportunities to learn from thought-leaders, engage with industry experts and grow within Southwestern Ontario’s vibrant community through TechAlliance experiences.