Entrepreneur News

Collision panel looks at impact running of a start-up can have on a founder

The timing of a virtual roundtable at the recent Collision tech conference could not have been better: The effects that running a start-up can have on an individual’s mental health, why it is important to talk about it and the tools available to help through any number of issues.

Tech-AdaptiKa launches ‘first virtual incubator’ in Northern Ontario

Tech-AdaptiKa, a Toronto-based firm that specializes in e-learning, conferences, and training through virtual technology, today launched what it described...

Indigenous entrepreneurs set to gain from Federal Budget 2021: NACCA

The National Aboriginal Capital Corporations Association (NACCA) on Monday threw its support behind the recent federal budget saying it...

Federal budget provided some good news for hard-hit small businesses: CFIB

The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) has described a decision by the federal government to extend the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) and Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy (CERS) into the fall as a positive step.

Tech-Access Canada throws its support behind Budget 2021

Tech-Access Canada, the national network of Canada’s 60 Technology Access Centres (TACs), has said it “welcomes Budget 2021’s support for the Interactive Visits Program and the numerous initiatives to support innovation and applied research.”

Ottawa urged to step in as strike notice filed at the Port of Montreal

Six organizations said this morning they are extremely concerned about the impact “weeks of labour uncertainty” at the Port of Montreal will have on all organizations regardless of size.

Canadian marketers value diversity but problems exist: CMA survey

Canadian marketers are almost universal in their belief that diversity and inclusion are good for business, benefit everyone and show alignment with people and with the community, according to findings released today by the Canadian Marketing Association (CMA).

Endeavor launches in Canada, Calgary selected as HQ

A Canadian division of Endeavor, an organization that describes itself as the “world’s leading community of high-impact entrepreneurs,” has been created with the head office to be located in Calgary.

Plume targets small business owners with release of WorkPass

Software firm Plume this week released WorkPass, a suite of intelligent services and management tools developed specifically for small business owners (SBOs).

Supreme Court ruling on federal carbon tax unfair to small business: CFIB

A ruling by the Supreme Court of Canada announced today upholding the federal carbon tax is “deeply disappointing for small businesses in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta,” says the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB).

Futurpreneur initiative with RBC set to assist young Black entrepreneurs

Futurpreneur Canada on Wednesday announced a new funding collaboration with Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) to deliver the Black Entrepreneur Startup Program, an initiative that supports “aspiring, young Black entrepreneurs launching successful, new businesses in communities across Canada.”

New report probes resilience of small business ‘one year into pandemic’

Wagepoint, makers of online payroll software for small businesses, today announced the availability of their 2021 Canadian Small Business Resilience Report.

Alberta Enterprise invests US$15 million in fund aimed at tech firm growth

Alberta Enterprise announced this week that it has invested US$15 million into Inovia Capital Growth Fund II to support Alberta-based technology companies in scaling beyond the start-up stage.

MEI calls entrepreneurs the ‘unsung heroes’ of the past year

A new position paper released by the public think thank forum Montreal Economic Institute “lifts the veil on the efforts made by entrepreneurs to reinvent themselves, pick up the pace, and help us meet this challenge,” during the past year. Twelve months ago, today, the World Health Organization declared a pandemic.

BDC launches six new partnerships to support Black entrepreneurs

BDC, the bank for Canadian entrepreneurs, announced this week it is “expanding its commitment” to address anti-Black systemic racism and to support Black business owners by partnering with six new partners across Canada: Black Business Initiative (BBI) (Atlantic), Groupe 3737 (QC), Audace au Féminin (QC), Founders Fund (Ontario), Black Business Association of British Columbia (BBABC) (BC), and the Canadian Black Chamber of Commerce (CBCC).

GoDaddy Canada survey probes state of women entrepreneurship in Canada

GoDaddy Inc. has released a new survey ahead of International Women’s Day that provides insights into what it means...

BMO commits $1.2 million to firm that funds women-led ventures

BMO Bank of Montreal said today it was deepening its “commitment to women entrepreneurs and business owners” with $1.2...

Canada’s BETA-i launches ‘world first’ with incubator catering to Black entrepreneurs

Black Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition Incubator (BETA-i) said today it is equipping Black Canadians that are passionate about entrepreneurship with the tools to become CEO’s through the acquisition of existing private, small-to-medium sized businesses.

Elevate and Moneris launch Canada’s first e-commerce accelerator

Elevate and Moneris Solutions Corp. have announced plan to launch what they describe as Canada’s “first e-commerce accelerator,” which will be known as eCommerce North.

Xero survey finds millennial small business owners overestimate their financial literacy

Xero, the global small business platform, has released the results of a Canadian small business survey which evaluated the financial literacy of business owners by generation and explored the factors barring their path to success and eventual economic recovery.

HackNotice bundles security tech with small businesses in mind

Threat-intelligence platform provider HackNotice this week released its first SMB (small and midsized business) Package, which it said makes the same security intelligence provided to the world’s largest organizations accessible to companies of any size.

Neurotech start-up Zentrela receives $850K to build database on effects of cannabis

Canadian neurotech start-up Zentrela today announced the completion of an $850,000 seed round led by Jornic Ventures.

Report IDs 8 trends shaping future of work in a post-COVID Canada

A new report released today from the Brookfield Institute for Innovation + Entrepreneurship (BII+E) at Ryerson University explores the biggest social, political, economic, environmental and technological trends driving Canada’s labour market in the decade ahead.

Cyberfraud a growing concern for small business as pandemic forces them to digitize

The pandemic has made Canadian small businesses more vulnerable to cyberattacks, new research from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) reveals.

Anytime Fitness Franchises call on provinces to safely reopen gyms

Owners of independently-operated Anytime Fitness locations across Canada are sending letters to provincial leaders and health officials in Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec – where health clubs remain closed – inviting them to work together with the health club industry to establish province-approved safety and sanitation protocols that permit these essential businesses to reopen.

Desjardins Insurance earmarks $1 million in support of small businesses

Desjardins Insurance is supporting small businesses across the country through an innovative program called the GoodSpark Small Business Grants...

BlackNorth Initiative, We Are Womxn join forces to help Black female entrepreneurs

We Are Womxn and BlackNorth Initiative have partnered to help end what they describe as “systemic anti-Black racism in the Canadian food and beverage industry” by empowering young Black women to see themselves as successful entrepreneurs and to offer them the tools to start them on their journey.

181,000 Canadian small business owners may have to shut down: CFIB

One in six or a staggering 181,000 Canadian small business owners are seriously contemplating permanently closing, putting more than...

Webinar to explore the power of Emotional Intelligence

A Wikipedia posting describes Emotional Intelligence as the capability of individuals to recognize their own emotions and those of others, discern between different feelings and label them appropriately, use emotional information to guide thinking and behavior, and manage and/or adjust emotions to adapt to environments or achieve one’s goals.

The National Bank SME Growth Fund, L.P. up and running

With the participation of more than 245 private investors, National Bank Private Investment says it has completed the initial capitalization of $200 million for the National Bank SME Growth Fund, L.P.

Rapid COVID-19 vaccination critical for key group of essential workforce: FHCP

New resources released by Food, Health & Consumer Products of Canada (FHCP) will help employers understand evolving public health guidance on vaccination as the sector continues to work to ensure prioritized distribution of COVID-19 vaccines for food, health, and consumer goods manufacturing workers, the organization said this week.

EY’s Wong message to MOMENTUM delegates: ‘Time to return to better’

There is much work to be done for any organization when it comes to responding to the effects of COVID-19, but moving forward the focus should be squarely directed on innovation, says EY global chief innovation officer Jeff Wong.

Canadian IPO market: 2020 was a good year in spite of COVID-19

The Canadian IPO market surprised in 2020 with proceeds in excess of $5 billion for the year, despite fewer new issuances than in previous years, PWC Canada said in a release issued today.

EY releases five tax saving tips for Canadian private business owners

Canadian private business owners can reduce balance owing and increase the potential for a refund by preparing for their tax return now instead of waiting until April, according to EY Canada’s Top 5 year-end tax considerations for private companies that outlines the opportunities for savings.

OPSEU to Ontarians: Support local businesses during lockdown

Ontario Public Services Employees Union (OPSEU) president Warren (Smokey) Thomas is calling on everyone in Ontario to support local businesses during the province-wide COVID-19 lockdown that takes effect Boxing Day.

Exploring COVID-19’s impact on mental health of entrepreneurs: Marie’s story

Editor’s Note: This is the third in a three-part series based on new research from the Business Development Bank...

Repeated lockdowns will create depression, not recession: MEI

The Quebec government this week announced new stricter lockdown rules before the holidays, yet repeated lockdowns, even if partial, are likely to inflict the effects of an economic depression on SMEs rather than those of a simple recession, an economic note prepared by Peter St. Onge in collaboration with Maria Lily Shaw on behalf of the Montreal Economic Institute (MEI) warns.

Exploring COVID-19’s impact on mental health of entrepreneurs: Michael’s story

Editor’s Note: This is the second in a three-part series based on new research from the Business Development Bank...

Canada’s Main Streets and small businesses face extreme uncertainty: Study

Vancity, Vancity Community Investment Bank (VCIB), and the Canadian Urban Institute, this week released research that examines seven of Canada’s main streets, offering insight into how small businesses have been impacted by COVID-19 since April.

Exploring COVID-19’s impact on mental health of entrepreneurs: Part 1

Last month, BDC released some alarming, but certainly not surprising findings on the overall mental state of Canadian entrepreneurs many of whom are grappling with a pandemic that has caused untold harm.

Black Entrepreneurship Program receives major funding boost

The federal government this week announced a pledge valued at $221 million to the Black Entrepreneurship Program.

See It Be It campaign and new research released by WEKH

The Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub (WEKH) is releasing a new research report Women Entrepreneurs Beyond the Stereotypes and awareness campaign it said is designed to “celebrate women entrepreneur success stories and crush male-dominated stereotypes of entrepreneurship.”

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