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A hands-on bootcamp for tech founders ready to validate their idea and build the right thing.

Have a tech startup idea but not sure what to build, who it’s for, or where to start?

This one-day, in-person Startup Fundamentals Bootcamp is designed for early-stage founders who want to move from idea to action. You’ll spend a full Sunday working through the core building blocks of a startup, with hands-on exercises, real examples, and practical tools you can use immediately.

In this bootcamp, you will:

• Use AI to pressure-test and sharpen a business idea before building a Lean Canvas
• Use AI to prepare for and get more out of customer discovery conversations
• Build and refine your business model with the Lean Canvas
• Clearly define your target customer and problem
• Learn how to run effective customer discovery interviews

This is not a lecture series—it’s a working session. You will leave with concrete next steps.

You’ll also get:

• Direct access to experts
• Peer learning from other founders at a similar stage
• Breakfast, lunch, and caffeine ☕

This bootcamp is ideal for:

• Aspiring and first-time founders
• Early-stage tech founders at the idea or early MVP stage
• Founders considering applying to IO Ignition
• Anyone feeling stuck and looking for clarity on bringing their idea to life

You do not need:

• A registered company
• A co-founder or team
• A finished product

You do need:

• An idea you’re willing to test
• Openness to feedback
• Willingness to do the work

Note: If you have attended our standalone Customer Discovery or Lean Canvas Workshops in the past the content being presented may be similar.

This business model master class will explore how to validate your business with lean startup methodology.

This workshop series is an exclusive opportunity only offered to Ottawa based, early–stage tech companies interested in the IO Ignition Program or those interested in learning the basics of building a tech startup.

If you are interested in attending, please secure your spot now.

Overview

Building a Lean Canvas workshop is a hands-on session where participants learn to create a concise, one-page business plan using the Lean Canvas framework. The workshop covers key components such as identifying customer problems, crafting a unique value proposition, defining target customer segments, choosing effective channels, determining revenue streams, estimating costs, and establishing key metrics. Through interactive activities and real-world examples, participants will learn the practical components of lean startup methodology. The workshop emphasizes continuous improvement and adaptation. Finally, you will have the opportunity to connect with like-minded founders and build your network in the startup ecosystem.

Workshop Logistics

Workshops will take place in person at Bayview Yards, 7 Bayview Station Road

Requirements:

Tech or Tech Enabled Company/Product

Located in Ottawa

Please note that to benefit from the peer-to-peer nature of these sessions, all attendees are expected to engage and remain for the full session.

Turn customer insights into real-world experiments — without writing code.

This hands-on, 2-hour workshop is part of Invest Ottawa’s Startup Fundamentals series, designed to help early-stage founders move from idea to evidence.

If you’ve completed Build Your Lean Canvas and Customer Discovery, this session is your next step: learning how to use AI to quickly test your assumptions and bring your idea to life.

Who This Is For

Idea-stage founders (especially first-time or non-technical)

Founders who have completed:

• Build Your Lean Canvas
• Customer Discovery

What You’ll Learn

This session focuses on thinking, not tools. You’ll learn how to use AI as a partner to:

Make Sense of What You’ve Learned Through Customer Discovery

• Synthesize customer interview insights into clear patterns
• Pressure-test your assumptions
• Identify the riskiest thing you still need to prove

Design the Right Experiment

• Define the cheapest, fastest test of your idea
• Explore multiple ways to validate before committing
• Focus on learning — not building a perfect product

Build a Lightweight Prototype with AI

• Turn insights into a simple test (landing page, mockup, flow, or MVP concept)
• Use AI tools to rapidly create and iterate
• Understand what to measure and how to interpret results

Event Details

• Duration: 2 hours
• Format: Interactive, in-person workshop at Bayview Yards, 7 Bayview Station Rd.
• Capacity: Limited to 25 participants