Startup and Small Business Events You Don’t Want to Miss in October 2015

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. Business 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

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: Lived It Lecture with Isadore Sharp – Entrepreneurship 101
When: October 7, 2015, 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Where: MaRS Centre, 101 College Street, Toronto
Price: Free

InboundCon

Get ready to perfect your marketing plan with a single event. Expect to see keynotes, a full stack panel, a fireside chat and worksheets concentrating on search, social advertising, content marketing, growth hacking, landing pages, inbound marketing, conversion optimization, ppc advertising and digital marketing.

When: October 8, 2015
Where: Jane Mallett Theatre, 27 Front St E, Toronto
Price: $699.00 (Student $199.00)

Hustle: Speak and Sell with Confidence

Hustle is a community of like-minded professionals who want a fun, inclusive environment to practice the communication and people skills to develop rewarding careers and opportunities for advancement.

Event: Build Your Networking Skills
When: October 14, 2015, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Where: Centre for Social Innovation, 215 Spadina Avenue, Whole Connector Room 1st floor, Toronto
Price: $10.00

Accessibility Camp Toronto

We provide an open, collaborative, informal space with tons of presentations, demos, networking and much more.

Event: A11yTO – Accessibility Awesomeness
When: October 17, 2015, 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Where: OCAD University, 100 McCaul Street, Toronto

Ladies Learning Code

Whether you want to start your own blog, or your company website is run on it, WordPress allows you to update and create content easily, while allowing for your own style and customization. In this workshop, we will show you how to install WordPress, what it all means, and of course, how to edit a theme to make it your own.

Event: WordPress for Beginners
When: October 17, 2015, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Where: 483 Queen Street West, 3rd floor, Toronto
Price: $55.00

Camp Tech

Camp Tech is a tech skills training hub. They provide half and full-day in-person workshops for adults who want to learn web and digital skills. They create a welcoming environment for those who are hesitant around technology, and we emphasize skills that can be put into practice right away. Camp Tech was founded in August 2012.

Event: Business Blogging and Content Marketing
When: October 19, 2015, 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Where: Centre for Social Innovation, 215 Spadina Avenue, Toronto
Price: $85.00

Rails Pub Night

This great informal social event in Toronto is perfect for anyone interested in web development. People in the industry, as well as interested recruits are able to gather in Toronto’s exciting web development and startup community.

Event: Toronto Rails Pub Night
When: October 19, 2015, 7:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.
Where: The Rhino, 1249 Queen Street West (Queen & Dufferin), Toronto
Price: Free

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: Young Professional Networking
When: October 20, 2015, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Where: CC Lounge, 45 Front St. East, Toronto
Price: $30 (Members); $40 (Non-members)

RIC Centre

As the Entrepreneur and Innovation Hub for Mississauga, Brampton and Caledon, the RIC Centre offers a comprehensive range of support services to entrepreneurs for free, including mentorship and advisory services, hands-on workshops and networking events.

Event: Lunch&Learn on Strategic Selling
When: October 26, 2015, 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Where: Xerox Research Centre of Canada, 2660 Speakman Drive, Mississauga
Price: $10.00 (Member), $40,00 (General Admission)

Enterprise Toronto

Enterprise Toronto is a one-stop source to start and grow your small business. Their team of small business advisors can help you make the right decisions during your business start-up and help develop your management capabilities as your business venture grows.

Event: Ask-the-Expert – Digital Marketing with Yellow Pages
When: October 29, 2015, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Where: North York Civic Centre, 5100 Yonge Street, Main Floor Toronto
Price: Free

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.

Event: Techtoberfest 2015
When: October 13, 2015, 5:30 p.m. – October 14, 2015 7:30 p.m.
Where: Communitech Hub, 151 Charles Street West, Kitchener
Price: $80.00

Waterloo Region Small Business Centre

The Waterloo Region Small Business Centre encourages and contributes to the enterprising spirit and economic vitality of our community by assisting entrepreneurs with the development of new or existing businesses.

Event: Marketing (E101)
When: October 20, 2015, 9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Where: 200 King Street West, Kitchener
Price: $20.00

Halton Events

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: Meetup #72: Co-Accelerate your Business
When: October 1, 2015, 7:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Where: Milton Education Village – Innovation Centre, 555 Industrial Drive, Milton
Price: $9.95

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: Halton Region Small Business Centre: Financial Basics 
When: October 21, 2015, 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Where: Burlington Central Library, 2331 New Street‚ Burlington
Price: $25.00

Give and Learn Digital Marketing Workshop

Learn how to engage your audience and concert visitors into customers. Topics of discussion include social media, blogging strategy, influence marketing, and conversion optimization.

When: October 29, 2015, 7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Where: O’Finn’s Irish Temper (Lower Floor), 136 Church Street, Oakville
Price: $50.00

Hamilton Events

Software Hamilton

Software Hamilton covers the Hamilton, Ontario technology and startup community.

Event: Demo Camp Hamilton
When: October 7, 2015, 6:30p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Where: The Art Gallery of Hamilton – Joey and Toby Tanebaum Pavilion, 123 King Street West, Hamilton
Price: Free

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: Sales Peer2Peer – Growing Your Sales Team
When: October 14, 2015, 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Where: McMaster Innovation Park, 175 Longwood Road South, #101a, Hamilton
Price: Free

Guelph Events

Innovation Guelph

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.

Event: Startup Drinks Guelph
When: October 6, 2015, 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Where: The Brass Taps, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph
Price: Free

Niagara Events

Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce

Businesses in Niagara are looking for leadership to address the real issues that are facing businesses and communities in Niagara. After extensive discussion and research the decision was made by a group of business people to create the Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce. The goal is that this organization can bring together business leaders who are ready to help position Niagara’s economy for the 21st Century.

Event: Business After Five 
When: October 6, 2015, 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m.
Where: 6400 Lundy’s Lane, Niagara Falls
Price: Free

Innovate Niagara

Innovate Niagara is a member of the Ontario Network of Entrepreneurs (ONE), a network of regional and provincial not-for-profit organizations that deliver services and programs to help entrepreneurs start, grow and succeed.

Event: Contacts to Contracts 2015
When: October 19, 2015, 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Where: Coppola’s Ristorante and Banquet Facility, 203 Carlton Street, St Catharines
Price: $25.00

Niagara Falls Small Business Enterprise Centre – Steps to Starting

The Niagara Falls Small Business Enterprise Centre runs events geared towards both new start-up businesses as well as existing businesses. This 2 hour seminar will describe marketing techniques that are critical to the success of your business. Investing in a good marketing plan will generate excellent returns and provide long-term benefits to your business.

Event: Marketing Research and Advertising
When: October 29, 2015, 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Where: City of Niagara Falls, 4310 Queen Street, Niagara Falls
Price: $20.00

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 October 2015