We’re here to help you navigate this new reality. A part of that is empowering you with information, opportunities, and resources. These resources have been vetted for quality and are updated by our team on a regular basis. Whatever stage you’re at, use these to manage your business. 

Podcast: Invested in our New Reality

General Resources

• Tips for ergonomics at home during COVID-19. (Excel HR, April 6)
• What to Think About When Considering Temporary Layoffs (Note: please consider the Federal Government’s Temporary Wage Subsidy for Employers before making layoff decisions). (Mccarthy, Mar 16)
• 13 Helpful Cybersecurity Tips for Staff Working Remotely: A detailed list on how to stay safe online while working from home during the COVID-19 outbreak. (Comparitech, Mar 13)
• Layoffs, salary, EI and more: Your coronavirus and employment questions answered.
• Carleton Professor Jennifer Robson’s plain-language guide for getting government aid.

Thought Leadership

• Karla Briones, Mexican-Canadian serial entrepreneur independent business advisor for Invest Ottawa and Local business owner was interviewed on CTV Morning Live concerning the recently announced Digital Mainstreet Program. (June 23)
• Business leaders in Ottawa, including Invest Ottawa CEO Michael Tremblay, are praising Shopify for the company’s decision to move to a permanent work-from-home model. (CBC May 22)
• The Conference Board of Canada has released a report on how the pandemic is reshaping the economic picture for canadian cities including Ottawa. (May 12)
• The Innovation Economy Council (IEC) including Invest Ottawa’s Mike Tremblay, recently took part a special discussion on how Canadian startups can renew the country’s economic standing post-COVID-19. (May 11)
• Invest Ottawa Vice President of Strategy, Marketing and Communications for Invest Ottawa and Bayview Yards has recently been featured on the podcast The Loudspeaker on an episode on How To Effectively Manage Your Business’ Internal Communications: Invest Ottawa. (May 8)
• Ottawa Business Leaders Urge Feds, Province to Provide More Aid for Hard-hit Local Sectors. (Ottawa Business Journal, April 15)
• Ottawa’s Business Leaders Issue Open Letter to Governments. (CTV, April 15)
• CTV Morning Live: Michael Tremblay joins Leslie Roberts with more about the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the city’s tech companies. (Mar 31)
• How the COVID-19 pandemic is ‘driving innovation’ in Canada and around the world. (CBC, Mar 29)

Entrepreneurship – Start to Scale

• Preserving cash and talent: A practical guide to decision making about workforce retention and cost reduction measures
• A guide for you to reference as your business re-establishes norms in the months ahead. Based on McKinsey’s checklist, but tweaked and adapted for tech start-ups. (Mar 24)

• Federal Wage Subsidy Calculator. (April 6)
• The Ultimate Financial Guide to COVID-19: How to Protect Your Finances During the Coronavirus Crisis. (altruWisdom, Mar 18)

• 13 Helpful Cybersecurity Tips for Staff Working Remotely. A detailed list on how to stay safe online while working from home during the COVID-19 outbreak. (Comparitech, Mar 13)

• Temporary layoffs: What Canadian employers need to know during a pandemic. (Norton Rose Fulbright, Mar 20)
• What to Think About When Considering Temporary Layoffs. (McCarthy, Mar 16)

• 5 Ways to Adapt Your Fundraising Strategy in the time of COVID-19. (April 21)
• PitchBook Analyst Note: Venture Capital in the Great Recession (free download) (PitchBook, April 25, 2019)
• Hockeystick’s database of Active Funders in Canada

• MaRs Discovery District Toolbox.
• A summary of COVID-19 Federal Economic Stimulus Measures for Businesses and Workers. (Mar 31)

Business Retention, Global Export and Trade

• Statistics Canada has published it’s Q1 2020: Balance of international payments, flows of Canadian direct investment abroad and foreign direct investment in Canada report. Invest in Canada’s CEO Ian McKay has developed an article explaining what the numbers mean given COVID-19, and how strength, resilience, agility and opportunity will lead Canada through this economic transition. #CanadaResilient (May 28)
• Ottawa: Connectivity Provides Opportunity on the Turbulent Sea (Invest Ottawa blog, May 13)
• Impact of COVID-19 on the Ottawa Defence and Security Sector (Invest Ottawa blog, May 13)
• Highlights from the software sector in the early days of the global pandemic (Invest Ottawa blog, May 13)
• Trade Recovery Series: A New World – International Trade Post COVID-19 with Hon. Mary Ng (Toronto Region Board of Trade, May 8)
• COVID-19 and country risk ratings (EDC blog, May 14)
• So – You’ve Decided to Apply for Government Grants? (Invest Ottawa blog, April 22)
• Ask An Economist: Canada’s trade relationship with China, Europe and US after COVID-19. (The Conference Board of Canada, April 21)
• Vic Fedeli on the Made-in-Ontario response to COVID-19 (Toronto Region Board of Trade, April 16)
• Canadian Business Leaders Respond to COVID-19 Podcast. (Business Council of Canada)
• Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters COVID-19 Resources & Guidelines. (CME)

Sponsor Resources

• Nelligan Law Employment Law Helpline
• Understanding Canada’s COVID-19 Programs: Logan Katz’ COVID-19 Information Hub is designed and updated regularly to help clients and community understand the programs available by highlighting and summarizing select financial measures. The measures are rapidly changing and evolving to adapt to the current situation and needs of Canadians and businesses and to fill gaps that remain.
• Watch on demand a webinar on Accessing resources and funds for pre-revenue companies in a time of crisis, produced by MaRS with support from EDC.
• SurveyMonkey’s virtual Curiosity Conference is available on-demand. (May 19)
• Microsoft is committing to the Open COVID Pledge by making its patents available free of charge for use in efforts to end the COVID-19 pandemic and minimize the impact of the disease. (April 20)
• RBC has regularly updated thought leadership podcasts, stories, and reports including economic outlooks and forecasts. (May 25)
• View BDC’s free business planning tools for entrepreneurs and steps to sustain your business during disruption. (April 5)

Talent and Remote Team Management

• Work from Home: Strategies for Success

Innovation – R&D and Technology Development

• Innovative Solutions Canada has dedicated funding to help combat current and future outbreaks of COVID-19 and other similar threats. (April 7)
• Innovative Solutions Canada has dedicated funding to support the Government of Canada’s fight against COVID-19 by funding R&D and testing prototypes in real life settings that can help protect Canadians. (April 5)
• Innovating During a Crisis (Innovation Excellence, April 1)
• How to Maximize Your Prototyping While Working Remotely. (ProtoPie)