Startup and Small Business Events You Don’t Want to Miss in April 2014

Startup and Small Business events

Every month our team compiles a list of startup and small business events in Toronto and Southwestern Ontario that we’re interested in attending and think will be useful to the startup and small business community.

Some of these events may fill up fast, so if you’re interested in attending please register quickly. Events are generally free of charge, unless a price is listed. If you’re hosting an event or come across one that you think should be included here, feel free to contact us with your suggestion.

Toronto Events

PwC Vision to Reality Conference

The Vision to Reality Conference is tailored to companies with extraordinary potential. The event brings together over 400 startup founders, CEOs, VCs and key decision makers and influencers in the technology ecosystem to share perspectives and collaborate on how to create success.

Event: PwC Vision to Reality Conference
When: April 10, 2014, 1:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Conference, 5:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. After Party
Where: Arcadian Court, 401 Bay St., Toronto

Inbound Marketing 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: #InboundTO 15: How to Crack the Code of SME Lead Generation
When: April 24, 2014, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Where: BNOTIONS Office, 106 Front Street East Suite 200, Toronto

MaRS Discovery District

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.

Event:Entrepreneurship 101
When: April 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Where: MaRS Discovery District, 101 College Street, Toronto

Rails Pub Night

This great 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: April 21, 2014, 7:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.
Where: The Rhino, 1249 Queen Street West (Queen & Dufferin), Toronto, ON

Startup Drinks

Startup Drinks provides an open space for entrepreneurs and small business owners to connect and share ideas. The event includes a handful of pitches from local startups, and opportunities to meet and network with attendees.

Event: Startup Drinks Toronto
When: April 30, 2014, 6:00 p.m. – late, startup pitches at 8:00 p.m.
Where: Hotel Ocho, 195 Spadina Avenue, Toronto

Toronto Business Development Centre

TBDC is an independent non-profit, non-government organization dedicated to nurturing the growth of new and emerging businesses. The Centre has been recognized at home and internationally for achievements in the field of business incubation. Over the past twenty plus years, TBDC has helped more than 4500 businesses through our various programs.

Event: Business Research: Will Your Idea Work? (Start A Business Seminar Series)
When: April 8, 2014
Where: 1 Yonge Street, Toronto, ON
Price: $60

Toronto Board of Trade

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: Book Launch: Strategy & Planning Toolkit for Small and Medium Businesses
When: April 7, 2014, 7:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
Where: 1st Canadian Place, 3rd Floor, Toronto, ON
Price: $69 – $89

Waterloo Region events

Communitech

Founded by a group of dedicated entrepreneurs in 1997, Communitech is Waterloo Region’s hub for the commercialization of innovative technologies. Over the years, they have supported and helped build a tech cluster of nearly 1,000 companies that now generates more than $30 billion in revenue. This month, Mark Elliott will be presenting Social Selling at the Peer2Peer Business Development & Senior Sales group.

Event: Peer2Peer Business Development & Senior Sales (select the Business Development & Senior Sales checkbox)
When: April 15, 2014, 8:00 a.m.
Where: Accelerator Centre, 295 Hagey Blvd., 1st Floor, West Entrance, Waterloo, ON

Event: Upstart Breakfast Series
When: April 23, 2014, 8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
Where: Waterloo Inn, Regent Room, 475 King Street, Waterloo, ON
Price: Free for Communitech Network members, $40 for non-members

Startup Weekend

Startup Weekend is a global network of passionate leaders and entrepreneurs on a mission to inspire, educate, and empower individuals, teams and communities.

Event: Startup Weekend Waterloo
When: April 4, 2014 6:00 p.m. – April 6, 9:00 p.m.
Where: Communitech Hub, 151 Charles St W, Kitchener, ON
Price: $99

Startup Drinks

Startup Drinks provides an open space for entrepreneurs and small business owners to connect and share ideas. The event includes a handful of pitches from local startups, and opportunities to meet and network with attendees.

Event: Startup Drinks Waterloo
When: April 1, 2014, 6:00 p.m.
Where: Chainsaw, 28 King Street North, Waterloo, ON

Halton Events

Haltech

HalTech is the leading source of support and personal service for tech and advanced manufacturing entrepreneurs in Halton. They assist Halton’s entrepreneurs and technology companies with developing their ideas, commercializing their products/services and establishing and expanding their businesses.

Event: Valuing and Structuring your Company for Success
When: April 17, 2014, 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Where: Ron Joyce Centre, S Service Rd, Burlington, ON

Silicon Halton

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 has 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: Solopreneur Peer-2-Peer #34
When: April 17, 2014, 8:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Where: Hampton Restaurant at the Quality Suites Holtel, Oakville, ON

Event: Meetup #54 – New Tech
When: April 8, 2014, 7:00 p.m.
Where: Queen Ellizabeth Park Community & Cultural Centre, Black Box room, 2302 Bridge Rd, Oakville, ON

Hamilton Events

Innovation Factory

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.

Event: KPMG Lunch ‘n Learn: Digital Marketing Strategies Every Business Should Be Using
When: April 15, 2014, 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Where:McMaster Innovation Park, 175 Longwood Road South, Hamilton, ON

Software Hamilton

Software Hamilton was created with the aim of uniting the Greater Hamilton software community. Software Hamilton organizes several monthly events including DemoCamp Hamilton and Startup Drinks. They operate under the belief that software development is a creative skill which can provide relatively clean, high-paying jobs with work that can make the world a better place to live.

Event: DemoCampHamilton16
When: April 2, 2014, 6:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Where: TwelvEighty student pub, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON

Event: Hacker Saturdays
When: April 12 & 26, 2014, 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Where: Radius Cafe, 151 James Street South Hamilton, ON

Startup Weekend

Startup Weekend is a global network of passionate leaders and entrepreneurs on a mission to inspire, educate, and empower individuals, teams and communities.

Event: Startup Weekend Hamilton
When: April 25, 2014, 6:30 p.m. – April 27, 2014, 7:30 p.m.
Where: McMaster Innovation Park, 175 Longwood Rd S, Hamilton, ON
Price: $99

Startup Drinks

Startup Drinks provides an open space for entrepreneurs and small business owners to connect and share ideas. The event includes a handful of pitches from local startups, and opportunities to meet and network with attendees.

Event: Startup Drinks Hamilton
When: April 9, 2014, 6:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Where: The Pheasant Plucker, 20 Augusta Street 2nd floor, Hamilton

Niagara Events

Software Niagara

Software Niagara was started in 2012 with the goal of organizing technology and startup events to build a community that fostered innovation and excellence in the Niagara region.

Event: Coffee & Code – Coworking
When: Every Monday excluding the third Monday of the month, 7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Where: FueledMinds, One St. Paul Street, Suite 303A, St. Catharines, ON

Startup Drinks

Startup Drinks provides an open space for entrepreneurs and small business owners to connect and share ideas. The event includes a handful of pitches from local startups, and opportunities to meet and network with attendees.

Event:Startup Drinks Niagara
When: April 30, 2014, 7:00 p.m.
Where: Mahtay Cafe, 241 St. Paul Street, St. Catharines, ON

Are we missing any startup or small business events? Let us know and we’ll add it to the list.

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Startup and Small Business Events You Don’t Want to Miss in April 2014