Every month our team compiles a list of startup and small business events that we’re interested in attending for the upcoming month which we believe are 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 startup and small business 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. Here are the upcoming startup and small business events in October 2012:
FP REACH 2012, organized by the Financial Post, is a three-city Canadian tour connecting SMBs, marketing experts, and successful entrepreneurs who will share the latest marketing trends, strategies and best practices to help you grow your business. Featured speakers include Gary Vaynerchuk, Amber MacArthur, W. Brett Wilson, and Jeff Quipp.
Event: FP REACH 2012 Toronto
When: October 23, from 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Where: Roy Thomson Hall, Toronto
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: Techtoberfest
When: October 11, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Where: The Communitech Hub & The Tannery, 151 Charles Street West, Kitchener
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 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: October 17, from 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Where: MaRS Auditorium, 101 College Street, Toronto
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: Milton Chamber of Commerce Small Business Week
When: October 17, from 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Where: Teatro Conference & Event Centre, 121 Chisholm Drive, Milton, ON
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 in a number of locations such as Toronto, Hamilton, and Waterloo.
Featured Event: Startup Drinks Waterloo
When: October 2, at 6:00 p.m.
Where: Chainsaw Saloon, 28 King Street North, Waterloo
Event: Startup Drinks Toronto
When: October 31, at 8:00 p.m.
Where: Hotel Ocho – 2nd floor, 195 Spadina Avenue, Toronto
Event: Startup Drinks Hamilton
When: October 11, 6:00 p.m.
Where: The Winking Judge, 25 Augusta Street, Hamilton
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: The MarCom Toolkit (1/3)
When: October 10, 12:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Where: Innovation Guelph, 111 Farquhar Street, 3rd Floor, Guelph
Events at Haltech target startup businesses in the technology industry that are looking to develop new ideas, establish their business or continue to grow it. The events by Haltech are held in the region of Halton, and provide training for entrepreneurs as well as a chance to network.
Event: Haltech Advanced Hands-On Social Media Workshop
When: October 2, from 8:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Where: Sheridan College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning, 1430 Trafalgar Rd, Oakville
Rails Pub Night
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: October 15, from 7:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.
Where: The Rhino, 1249 Queen Street West, 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:October 19, 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Where: North York Civic Centre – Member’s Lounge, 5100 Yonge Street, North York
In September, the Innovation Factory launched the first in a series of rotating Peer2Peer sessions for Human Resources and Sales. This is the first Sales Peer2Peer and VA Partners’ Mark Elliott will be helping to organize the group. Innovation Factory events are always incredible learning opportunities and great networking events.
Event: Sales Peer to Peer
When: October 17, 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Where: McMaster Innovation Park (exact location TBD, visit website for more)
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: Exchange: Ideas, Advice, Learning
When: October 9, 7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Where: Toronto Board of Trade Downtown Centre, Toronto
You’re Next is a career network that focuses on enhancing the relationship between students, industry professionals, organizations, alumni and faculty through a series of great networking and development events. This is a great opportunity to find and connect with young talent for your small business or startup.
Event: Startup Career Expo
When: October 11, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Where: Hart House, The University of Toronto, Toronto
Golden Horseshoe Venture Forum
The GHVF is a non-profit organization that fosters the growth of entrepreneurs by connecting new businesses to investors and business service providers across the Golden Horseshoe. Since 2000, the GHVF has connected 139 new businesses to local investors and featured 55 amazing keynote speakers.
Event: GHVF October.3rd Breakfast Session with Keynote by Dr. Michael Lee-Chin
When: October 3, 7:15 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Where: The Burlington Golf and Country Club, Burlington, ON
#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.
Event: #torontoB2B Marketers Meetup IX
When: October 4, 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Where: 386 Huron Street, Toronto
For further information about any of these events contact our team and don’t forget to sign up for next month’s newsletter for more great events around the GTA.
