Every month our team compiles a list of startup and small business events that we’re interested in attending for the upcoming month. We believe these events are highly useful to the startup and small business community. A number of the organizations listed host a number of great events, but we’ve chosen to feature one event that we feel will be particularity interesting and useful. This blog is posted during the first week of every month.
The events we focus on are in Toronto, the GTA, Guelph, Kitchener, Niagara, St. Catharines and Hamilton. Please note that the events may sell out fast, so if you are interested in attending please contact the organization to register quickly. If you’re hosting an event or have come across one you think we should mention, please feel free to contact us with your suggestions and event information.
#torontoB2B Marketers Meetup IX
This is an ongoing series of peer networking and knowledge-sharing meetups exclusively for B2B marketers. Expect some exciting guest speakers sharing their expertise and experiences in focused 20-minute presentations, followed by an open networking session fuelled by light munchies and beverages. Come and introduce yourself to VA Partners’ Sam Brennand at this month’s event.
Event: #torontoB2B Marketers Meetup XI
When: January 24, 2012, 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Where: 386 Huron Street, Toronto
EntrepreneursDen
EntrepreneursDen takes a keen interest in exploring entrepreneurship related issues. Expect to participate in activities, review recent trends and industry news, hear from dynamic guest speakers, participate in Q&A, and a host of quality networking opportunities.
Event: Innovator Introductions: Pitches & Networking Event
When: January 4, 2012, 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Where: Metro Hall – Room #308, Toronto
MaRS is where entrepreneurs get the help they need, where all kinds of people meet to spark new ideas, and where a global reputation for innovation is being earned, one success story at a time.The often-free events at MaRS are ideal for start-ups, science, technology and social entrepreneurs looking to make connections and learn more about a particular aspect of business. Look for VA Partners’ own Sam Brennand at this month’s event.
Event: MaRS Best Practices: Building an Enduring Company
When: January 9, 2013, 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Where: MaRS Centre (Auditorium), 101 College Street, Toronto
Startup Drinks
Startup Drinks provides an open space for entrepreneurs and small business owners to connect and share ideas. There are no presentations or pitches, just conversation and networking. To meet some of the up-and-coming people in the startup community, this is a great event to attend. These events are held regularly in a number of locations, including Toronto, Hamilton, and Waterloo.
Event: Startup Drinks Hamilton
When: January 10, 2012, at 6:00 p.m.
Where: The Winking Judge, 25 Augusta Street, Hamilton
Event: Startup Drinks Toronto
When: January 30, 2012, 8:00 p.m.
Where: Hotel Ocho, 195 Spadina Avenue, Toronto
Inbound Marketing Toronto is a monthly meetup group that focuses its discussion on hot topics within the world of Inbound Marketing. It brings together Digital Marketing, SEO, Social Media, Content Marketing, Media Relations, Start-up Founders, and Online Business Development professionals
Event: InboundMarketingTO #1: Supercharge Your Inbound Marketing in 2013
When: January 17, 2012, 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Where: TBD (Join group for more information)
Innovation Guelph provides educational programs, events, and services to help entrepreneurs, community organizations, researchers and business leaders develop their ideas. They also have expert advisors to help with your development.
Featured Event: Social Media Networking Event (3/3)
When:January 9, 2012, 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Where:Innovation Guelph, 111 Farquhar Street, 3rd Floor, Guelph
The Toronto Board of Trade facilitates opportunities for knowledge sharing, networking, business development, and city building. It is the authoritative voice of Canada’s most prominent business community.
Event: Innovation Series, Loyalty Panel
When: January 22, 2012, 11:30 a.m. – 1:45 p.m.
Where: Toronto Board of Trade, 77 Adelaide Street West, 4th Floor Ballroom, Toronto
The Hamilton Chamber of Commerce, the “Voice of Hamilton Business” is committed to making the City of Hamilton a great place to live, work, play, visit and invest. The Hamilton Chamber of Commerce, in concert with other community groups and various local businesses, regularly puts on a number of great events.
Event: Monday Morning Marketing with Double Barrel Studios
When: January 28, 2012, 7:45 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Where: Hamilton Chamber Office Boardroom, 120 King Street West, Plaza Level 507, Hamilton
Innovation Factory helps advance Hamilton's innovation community and serves as an inspiring, expert resource for entrepreneurs that fosters connections across the community and accelerates growth. VA Partners’ own Mark Elliott is heavily involved with the Innovation Factory’s Sales Peer to Peer group, frequently planning events.
Event: Online Go To Market Strategy and Tactics with KKT Interactive
When: January 24, 2012, 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Where: TBD (For more information please contact Tammy Hwang at [email protected])
Communitech events are focused on being engaging and interactive, providing useful information for companies of many sizes. Communitech is based in the Waterloo region and these events are varied and include peer2peer, Hub for Grub, Techworking Breakfast and Communitech Connect and more.
Event: UpStart Breakfast Series with Randy Bird, Jay El-Kaake, and Ivan Lukianchuk
When: January 23, 7:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
Where: The Delta – Kitchener, 105 King Street East, Kitchener
nGen
nGen is a hub for innovation, incubation and business development in Niagara. nGen is Niagara’s Regional Innovation Centre and a member of the Ontario Network of Excellence, which connects technology-based business, entrepreneurs and researchers with services and programs to help innovate and gain a competitive advantage.
Event: Pitching to Investors (2 Part Workshop)
When:
Part 1 – January 8, 12:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Part 2 – January 10, 12:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Where: nGen-Niagara Interactive Media Generator, 1 St. Paul Street #10, St. Catherines
Silicon Halton organizes a number of events throughout the year in the region Halton which including Burlington, Oakville, and Milton. Their monthly meetups and Peer2Peer include three main components; a key notes presentation, a get to know a member presentation, and time set out for networking. These events are catered to anyone at a startup – especially in the tech industry – that want to learn more about business best practices.
Event: Meetup #39: Enabling the Creative Campus
When: January 8, 12:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Where: nGen-Niagara Interactive Media Generator, 1 St. Paul Street #10, St. Catherines
This informal social event in Toronto is perfect for anyone interesting in web development. People in the industry are able to gather along with both recruits as people in the web development start up community.
Event: Toronto Rails Pub Night
When: January 21, 2012, 7:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.
Where: The Rhino, 1249 Queen Street West, Toronto
International Startup Festival
Aspiring entrepreneurs and startups will be provided a unique opportunity to pitch their business to investors while riding the elevator of the CN Tower! Pitches will be filmed by award-winning documentary filmmaker, Ondi Timoner, and selected pitches will be featured in her current project, A Total Disruption, a documentary and web series about innovators and entrepreneurs who are using technology to transform our lives
Event: Elevator Tour Toronto
When: January 31, 2013, 4:30 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.
Where: CN Tower, 301 Front Street West, Toronto
Find out what relationship marketing is all about from Mark Morin, President, Strategies Marketing Direct. Discover how to build, manage and scale customer relationships efficiently and effectively.
Get the knowledge, skills and tools to design and deliver an integrated cross-media strategy combining physical – specifically direct mail – with digital and traditional media to produce more sales and better ROI.
Event: FFWD Advertising & Marketing Week 2013: Physical Meets Digital – How to Increase Your Marketing ROI With Integrated Cross-Media Communications
When: January 31, 2013, 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Where: TIFF Bell Lightbox, 350 King Street West, Toronto
Did we forget your event or an event you’re attending? Let us know and we’ll add it to the list!
For further information about any of these events contact our team, and don’t forget to sign up for this month’s newsletter for more great events around the GTA.
