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About this workshop:

Join us for Grow Your Leads: Client Acquisition Strategies, a practical workshop designed for small business owners and entrepreneurs who want to attract better leads, convert more customers, and grow sustainably.

This session will explore the power of 360° marketing – a holistic approach that connects your digital presence, social media, email marketing, content, and offline efforts into one seamless customer journey. Instead of chasing leads across disconnected channels, you’ll learn how to create a unified strategy that works together to drive consistent results.

You’ll discover how to:

• Build omnichannel marketing campaigns that meet customers where they are
• Use data-driven insights to attract higher-quality leads
• Create personalized engagement that increases trust and conversion
• Align online and offline marketing to maximize reach and ROI
• Turn prospects into loyal, repeat customers

Whether you’re launching a startup or scaling an established business, this workshop will give you actionable strategies you can apply immediately – without needing a massive marketing budget.

Note: This event page is for the virtual option of our hybrid model. Click here to go to the in-person event page.

About this workshop:

This seminar will provide a broad outline of what you need to know to start importing goods from abroad:

• financial issues (Incoterms, payments, exchange rates, insurance), Canadian import regulations, labelling, quotas.
• permits and licences, logistics costs, the documentation required for smooth customs clearance, how duties and taxes work,.
• Free Trade Agreements and their impact, the role of the customs broker and other intermediaries.
• Learn the basics as well as the important details impacting your bottom line and avoid mistakes, minimize costs/risks and maximize revenue.

About the speaker:

Following a + 30-year international logistics career, Christian Sivière started a Montréal-based import-export consultancy in 2010, Solimpex, active in two areas:

• consulting to help SMEs grow internationally; and
• training on the regulatory, customs and logistics aspects of Importing and Exporting, Free Trade Agreements and Supply Chain Optimization.

Christian is a subject-matter expert and lectures for the Canadian International Freight Forwarders Association in Toronto, gives seminars and webinars for various trade organizations like the Montreal Chamber of Commerce, Export Québec, Invest Ottawa, Supply Chain Canada and similar, and personalized training for importers and exporters. He publishes articles in Inside Logistics and Supply Professional.

Note: This event page is for the in-person option of our hybrid model. Click here to go to the virtual event page.

About this workshop:

This seminar will provide a broad outline of what you need to know to start importing goods from abroad:

• financial issues (Incoterms, payments, exchange rates, insurance), Canadian import regulations, labelling, quotas.
• permits and licences, logistics costs, the documentation required for smooth customs clearance, how duties and taxes work,.
• Free Trade Agreements and their impact, the role of the customs broker and other intermediaries.
• Learn the basics as well as the important details impacting your bottom line and avoid mistakes, minimize costs/risks and maximize revenue.

About the speaker:

Following a + 30-year international logistics career, Christian Sivière started a Montréal-based import-export consultancy in 2010, Solimpex, active in two areas:

• consulting to help SMEs grow internationally; and
• training on the regulatory, customs and logistics aspects of Importing and Exporting, Free Trade Agreements and Supply Chain Optimization.

Christian is a subject-matter expert and lectures for the Canadian International Freight Forwarders Association in Toronto, gives seminars and webinars for various trade organizations like the Montreal Chamber of Commerce, Export Québec, Invest Ottawa, Supply Chain Canada and similar, and personalized training for importers and exporters. He publishes articles in Inside Logistics and Supply Professional.

Note: This event page is for the in-person option of our hybrid model. Click here to go to the virtual event page.

About this workshop:

Do you have a great idea, but aren’t sure if it could become a great business?

This interactive 75-minute session is designed for aspiring entrepreneurs who are ready to explore whether their idea has the potential to become a successful venture. Whether you’re at the very beginning of your entrepreneurial journey or re-evaluating an existing concept, this webinar will help you take a critical first step.

What You’ll Learn:

• Assessing Your Business Idea: Learn how to evaluate your idea through key questions that entrepreneurs should ask before launching. We’ll discuss factors such as customer needs, value proposition, market fit, and feasibility.
• Introduction to the Lean Startup Canvas: You’ll be introduced to the Lean Startup Canvas – a powerful, one-page tool designed to help you visually map out the key components of your business model. We’ll guide you through each section, helping you start validating your idea right away.
• Understanding Basic Cash Flow: Finances are critical, especially in the early stages of a business. We’ll walk you through a simple cash flow projection tool to help you understand your potential income, expenses, and financial runway. cash flow template will be provided to all attendees for ongoing use.

Who Should Attend:

• Individuals with a new business idea they’d like to explore
• Early-stage entrepreneurs seeking validation tools
• Anyone considering self-employment or launching a small business

What You’ll Leave With:

• A solid understanding of what makes an idea viable
• A draft version of your Lean Startup Canvas
• A cash flow worksheet tailored to small businesses
• Greater confidence in deciding whether to move forward

Note: All attendees will be receiving a copy of the lean startup canvas & cash flow worksheet (with formulas pre-saved) live through chat during the session.

About the speaker:

Paula Hopkins is a passionate entrepreneurship advocate. She is the Director of the Entrepreneurship Team, and has worked with Invest Ottawa for over 10 years to help people start and grow their businesses.

Note: This event page is for the virtual option of our hybrid model. Click here to go to the in-person event page.

About this workshop:

Do you have a great idea, but aren’t sure if it could become a great business?

This interactive 75-minute session is designed for aspiring entrepreneurs who are ready to explore whether their idea has the potential to become a successful venture. Whether you’re at the very beginning of your entrepreneurial journey or re-evaluating an existing concept, this webinar will help you take a critical first step.

What You’ll Learn:

• Assessing Your Business Idea: Learn how to evaluate your idea through key questions that entrepreneurs should ask before launching. We’ll discuss factors such as customer needs, value proposition, market fit, and feasibility.
• Introduction to the Lean Startup Canvas: You’ll be introduced to the Lean Startup Canvas – a powerful, one-page tool designed to help you visually map out the key components of your business model. We’ll guide you through each section, helping you start validating your idea right away.
• Understanding Basic Cash Flow: Finances are critical, especially in the early stages of a business. We’ll walk you through a simple cash flow projection tool to help you understand your potential income, expenses, and financial runway. cash flow template will be provided to all attendees for ongoing use.

Who Should Attend:

• Individuals with a new business idea they’d like to explore
• Early-stage entrepreneurs seeking validation tools
• Anyone considering self-employment or launching a small business

What You’ll Leave With:

• A solid understanding of what makes an idea viable
• A draft version of your Lean Startup Canvas
• A cash flow worksheet tailored to small businesses
• Greater confidence in deciding whether to move forward

Note: All attendees will be receiving a copy of the lean startup canvas & cash flow worksheet (with formulas pre-saved) live through chat during the session.

About the speaker:

Paula Hopkins is a passionate entrepreneurship advocate. She is the Director of the Entrepreneurship Team, and has worked with Invest Ottawa for over 10 years to help people start and grow their businesses.

About this workshop:

This one‑hour workshop is designed for retail and service‑based businesses navigating early funding decisions when cash is tight. From a practical legal perspective, the session examines common financing paths for new businesses – including bootstrapping, loans from friends and family, small‑business banking, equipment financing, alternative or high‑interest lenders, and situations where landlords effectively act as lenders through rent deferrals, guarantees, or security arrangements.

Particular focus is given to legal risk areas that frequently catch business owners off guard, including personal guarantees, indemnities, security interests over equipment or inventory, and lease‑related financing provisions.

The workshop also explores how lenders, suppliers, and landlords allocate risk when a business lacks leverage, and what legal priorities founders should focus on when capital is limited and decisions must be made quickly.

Participants will leave with practical legal tips to help identify red flags, understand where personal liability can arise, and make more informed financing choices that protect both the business and the owner.

About the speakers:

Naomi Morisawa De Koven is the managing lawyer of Navio Law. She and her co-presenter Evan Young regularly advise entrepreneurs and knowledge-based businesses on legal issues relating to corporate, commercial, employment, financing and M&A transactions.

Note: This event page is for the virtual option of our hybrid model. Click here to go to the in-person event page.

About this workshop:

Choosing the right business structure is one of the most important decisions you’ll make as an entrepreneur. In this workshop, you’ll gain a clear, practical overview of the legal and strategic considerations behind structuring your business from day one.

We’ll break down the key types of business organizations and what they mean for you:

• Sole Proprietorships – Understand how this simple structure works, along with its advantages, risks, and when it makes sense.
• Partnerships – Learn how partnerships are formed, the different types available, and the benefits and potential pitfalls of sharing ownership.
• Incorporation – Take a deeper dive into corporations, including ownership, limited liability, tax considerations, continuity, and tools like employee stock options.

We’ll also explore how early decisions (like ownership splits and founder contributions) can shape your company’s future, and why putting a shareholders’ agreement in place early (while everyone is aligned) is critical.

By the end of this session, you’ll have the knowledge to confidently choose a structure that supports your goals and avoids common early-stage mistakes.