Invest Ottawa's extensive range of programs and services to help you launch, grow and scale your business.
Real-world guidance from experienced business experts specific to your business needs and challenges.
A three-month training program for entrepreneurs who have launched or are ready to launch a new business.
Secondary and post-secondary students learn the skills and knowledge needed to start up a successful business.
Validate a tech startup idea and establish a solid foundation to build your business on.
Access to early-stage advisors, cost-saving start-up perks, and a network of like-minded peers.
Expert guidance to help you establish and grow your business in multiple markets.
For high-growth, Ottawa-based technology firms that have reached $2 million in revenue or capital and are on track to generating $100 million or more.
Connect with a community of more than 100 women leaders from Ottawa’s tech ecosystem.
Learn how to pitch your business and secure investment with SheBoot, a women-led program for women founders jointly established by Invest Ottawa and the Capital Angel Network.
Tips, advice, programs, services and other resources to help all women succeed in business.
For businesses seeking to expand their global footprint in Ottawa and those already established in the city scale up their enterprises.
Discover why Ottawa’s multinational giants, homegrown successes, and high-growth startups are the ideal spot to secure your future.
Real-world guidance from experienced business experts specific to your business needs and challenges.
A three-month training program for entrepreneurs who have launched or are ready to launch a new business.
Secondary and post-secondary students learn the skills and knowledge needed to start up a successful business.
Validate a tech startup idea and establish a solid foundation to build your business on.
Access to early-stage advisors, cost-saving start-up perks, and a network of like-minded peers.
Expert guidance to help you establish and grow your business in multiple markets.
For high-growth, Ottawa-based technology firms that have reached $2 million in revenue or capital and are on track to generating $100 million or more.
Connect with a community of more than 100 women leaders from Ottawa’s tech ecosystem.
Learn how to pitch your business and secure investment with SheBoot, a women-led program for women founders jointly established by Invest Ottawa and the Capital Angel Network.
Tips, advice, programs, services and other resources to help all women succeed in business.
For businesses seeking to expand their global footprint in Ottawa and those already established in the city scale up their enterprises.
Discover why Ottawa’s multinational giants, homegrown successes, and high-growth startups are the ideal spot to secure your future.
Our expansive facility at Bayview Yards equips the most promising entrepreneurs and technology firms with technical, business and market capabilities to take on the world.
Accelerate the market readiness of your tech solution at Area X.O, a technology-rich, secure R&D complex for next-gen smart mobility, autonomy and connectivity technologies created for all-weather experimentation.
Explore the inspiration, actionable insight and impact that helps make Ottawa a world-class tech hub and thriving, inclusive business community.
Keep up to date with all the industry, startup, and community news, as well as features profiling some of Ottawa's leading success stories.
Invested in Our New Reality features an intimate one-on-one conversations with the leaders of some of the country’s fastest-growing companies
Read about the programs and services that help fuel the growth and success of the entrepreneurs, community and companies we serve, and our collaborative economic impact.
We are here for all women. Invest Ottawa is determined to move the dial and to create long-lasting change.
We are together on this critical journey. Invest Ottawa is here for you and all members of our community.
Workshops, networking events, and community events supporting our local entrepreneurs and businesses.
Browse Invest Ottawa's complete calendar of both local and international events.
Multi-day events that bring together the best business minds world-wide in one place.
If you have an event which may fit, please submit and it will be reviewed within two business days.
Whether you are looking to host a special event or meeting, Bayview Yards offers a bright and energizing environment, perfect for any occasion.
Subscribe to our newsletter receive updates in your inbox
Take a step closer to building an amazing career—and an even better life—in Ottawa.
Ottawa offers some of the best tech jobs in the world – and one of these opportunities might be a life-changing career for you.
Learn about one of the most diverse tech hubs in North America, ranked #1 in North America for tech talent concentration in 2020.
Downloads and online resources to help when considering an international career change.
Explore why Ottawa is a center of innovation and globally recognized as innovative, future-ready, and the best place to work and live.
Invest Ottawa helps you accelerate your growth and success in one of the fastest-growing global tech hubs.
See how we drive job creation and economic growth in our nation’s capital.
Our plan for creating new high-value jobs, attracting new investment, and driving the growth of Ottawa’s economy
Find your success in Ottawa.
What is your business?
Eight50 Coffee is a proud female-owned Canadian coffee company. Our focus is to provide responsibly sourced, locally-roasted coffee from around the world. From flexible subscription options to brewing method resources, we provide an array of online coffee learning tools, and a digital shopping experience so customers can truly enjoy our single origin and unique blends at home.
Why did you start your business?
Coffee is so much more than a cup of caffeine; it’s a vehicle which creates connections with communities, places, nature, and relationships. I started this business to continue my own family legacy as coffee is an important part of my heritage. With deep roots from the birthplace of coffee as well as coming from an Oromo coffee producing family in the Harar highlands of Eastern Ethiopia, I wanted to make an impact by offering responsibly sourced coffee, sharing ancient coffee traditions, coffee history and working with coffee farmers and local artisans to create various sustainable coffee by-products, just as my ancestors did to minimize coffee waste.
I always knew that as a coffee brand, being on the opposite end of the supply chain from my coffee producing family would allow me to have a platform and more control over the messaging, the imagery and the stories being told about coffee. This is especially important to me to contribute to the much needed supplier diversity in coffee, particularly from a retail level. In addition to representation, my goal is to continue to build an inclusive brand that celebrates daily coffee moments , because I believe each day is a new day to connect with the things that matter most! Through Coffee, we find our moments, and I hope that you do too!
Tell us about yourself as an entrepreneur.
I’m driven by passion, stories, building strong relationships and making a difference. I’m always working towards connecting with customers and evolving through the journey of entrepreneurship. I try to find a balance between the hustle it takes to run this business and making time for my family as they fuel me to keep going. I also take my own advice and pause each day for a coffee moment as a form of self-care.
When did you launch your business?
We launched in April 2020.
Where do you see your business in 3 to 5 years?
We see our business expanding into more retail spaces and our products sold in different markets.
What did you learn from the Starter Company Plus program?
I was most impressed with how well-structured and tailored the programming is. The advice I received from the advisory and mentorship services gave my business more clarity and helped me map out long-term business objectives.
What advice would you give other entrepreneurs who are starting their businesses?
Create a business that you’re passionate about; one that will drive you every day. It can be tempting to launch a business prematurely but don’t forget to focus on the key aspects that will help propel your business and minimize risk. Finally, create a business plan and understand your financials. It’s not the most glamorous part of starting a business but it will be worth it!
Cookie | Duration | Description |
---|---|---|
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics | 11 months | This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". |
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional | 11 months | The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". |
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary | 11 months | This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". |
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others | 11 months | This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. |
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance | 11 months | This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". |
viewed_cookie_policy | 11 months | The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data. |