StrikeUP 2023: Growing Forward
StrikeUP Canada is Canada’s flagship digital conference convening women entrepreneurs and the women entrepreneurship ecosystem, with a united vision of equity and inclusive economic growth through entrepreneurship.
Founded by Northumberland CFDC and presented in partnership with The Scotiabank Women Initiative ® and Export Development Canada, StrikeUP reflects the diversity and ambition of Canada’s women entrepreneurs as an accessible, free and world-class program focused on growth, funding, digital adoption and global opportunities.
2023 AGENDA
10:00 am – 10:15 am Opening Remarks
Join Emcee Devon Girard as she kicks off StrikeUP 2023, joined by opening speaker Algonquin Elder and Knowledge Keeper Claudette Commanda.
Presented by The Scotiabank Women Initiative®
As part of the opening ceremonies, you will:
- Learn about the goals and partners involved in StrikeUP 2023.
- Acknowledge Canada’s Indigenous land and the promise women entrepreneurs hold for economic recovery and a more sustainable and equitable future.
- Gain an overview of the day, how to navigate the digital conference environment and how to optimize StrikeUP 2023 to grow your business.
10:15 am – 11:00 am The Venture Capitalist Journey: A Fireside Chat
Moderated By: Sheena Brady, Founder Tease and Founders Fund
Bobbie Racette is the first Indigenous woman to close a Series A. Her startup, Virtual Gurus, is now worth $40 million. Built primarily once COVID hit in 2020, Virtual Gurus leveraged the pandemic layoffs of administrative staff by scooping them up for her own booming business, now employing close to 1,000 with a commitment to hiring underrepresented and minority staff members.
Michele Romanow is a serial entrepreneur who started six companies before her 35th birthday. A “Dragon” on CBC’s hit show Dragons’ Den, Romanow is the co-founder of Canadian unicorn, Clearco. Clearco has invested more than $3.2B into 7,000+ companies making them the biggest e-commerce investor in the world.
Join these two Canadian tech titans as they discuss with Sheena Brady key decision points in their growth journey, what a Series A closing looks like from both the entrepreneur and the investor, and how to build your company with a commitment to sustainability and futureproofing.
11:00 am – 11:45 am Workshop: Marketing for Predictable Revenue
How to scale sales by generating clients and customers on demand.
If you want to scale your company so you can make more money, serve more people and fulfill your mission, you need a predictable client acquisition system – an elegant marketing method that consistently and predictably generates leads and closes sales. Creating your predictable client acquisition system is the single most important asset that will take you to $1M+ in annual revenue.
This workshop will show you how to do it in a way that is authentic to your brand, and aligned with your values. Participants will receive a 7-10-page co-branded workbook, with workshop notes, key insights and tools to lock in the learnings.
11:00 am – 11:45 am Workshop: Cash Confident Mindset
Presented by The Scotiabank Women Initiative®
The Cash Confident Mindset workshop is designed to help you take control of your finances (personal and business) and create a healthier relationship with money.
Did you know your money mindset can hold you back from being the best (and most profitable) business owner you can be? You need a positive money mindset to run a successful business. Don’t let a negative money mindset hold you back!
In this presentation you’ll learn how to:
- identify and shift your existing money mindset,
- develop a plan for reaching your financial goals,
- create a positive relationship with money,
- And so much more!
You’ll gain the knowledge and confidence to make smart financial decisions and create a life of financial freedom.
This workshop is perfect for anyone looking to gain a better understanding of their finances and create a more positive outlook on money.
Start your Cash Confident Mindset journey today!
11:00 am – 11:45 am Workshop: What is Supplier Diversity and Where are the Opportunities?
Presented by Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub
Governments and corporations are among the largest buyers of goods and services in Canada. Yet procurement processes are not well understood and not often on the radar screens of women entrepreneurs. Join us to learn more about supplier diversity and how to find opportunities, as well as the reasons for registering with supply councils.
11:45 am – 12:30 pm Networking
Connect with other like-minded women entrepreneurs and industry partners in our virtual breakout rooms.
12:30 pm – 1:15 pm Key Growth Decisions: Strategies to Grow and Scale your Business
Scaling for 2023 and beyond.
Presented by Export Development Canada
Growing and scaling a business can mean many things for an entrepreneur’s journey, everything from going global to rebranding or investing in aggressive marketing strategies. Join us and learn from our panel of entrepreneurs and the strategic key decisions they have made that shaped the growth of their businesses for years to come.
This session will be moderated by Agatha Alstrom of EDC and will include speakers:
- Sheena Brady, Founder and CEO Tease and the Founders Fund
- Patrice Mousseau, Founder and CEO Satya Organics
- Hyla Nayeri, Co-Founder, 437 Swim and Activewear
1:15 pm – 2:00 pm Keynote: The PATH with Amber Mac
The PATH with Amber Mac.
In this brand new keynote, Amber Mac will share her blueprint for success in 2023 and beyond. It’s called The PATH and it’s what every entrepreneur needs to design, grow, and market the business of her dreams, all while leading with values and making an impact.
This practical and inspirational talk will help audiences learn:
- How to grow a sustainable business with an impact
- How to harness the power of digital technologies with ease
- How to build trust with online and offline communities with passion
- How to take care of your wellness along the way with simplicity
2:00 pm – 2:30 pm Networking
Connect with other like-minded women entrepreneurs and industry partners in our virtual breakout rooms.
2:30 pm – 3:15 pm Workshop: Using Technology to Build a Sustainable Indigenous Business
Interactive session.
Presented by National Aboriginal Capital Corporations Association (NACCA) and Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC)
Technology is a key tool to ensuring your business is sustainable. Join this panel to learn about how three Indigenous women are utilizing technology in their business, as a means of economic, environmental, and social sustainability.
This session will be moderated by Rowda Mohamud of BDC and will include speakers:
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- Michaelee Lazore, Founder of Sequoia
- Kahentawaks Tiewishaw, Art Director of Revital Software
- Natalie Dusome, Founder and Designer of Poppy and Peonies
2:30 pm – 3:15 pm Workshop: Elevate Your Business with Exporting
Strategies to growing internationally.
Presented by Export Development Canada
Selling into a new market is a proven way to grow your business as research shows that companies who export generate more revenue, are more innovative and more competitive. However, we understand that doing business abroad can be unfamiliar, but with the right community of advisors, partners and programs, you can see your business thrive on the international stage. Our panel of women entrepreneurs will share their expert advice and practical tips on how to the access and enter new markets, including:
- Dispelling the misconceptions about exporting and how to develop a global business mindset
- Discussion of the Canadian trade ecosystem including key partners and organizations and how to develop your network and set yourself up for success
- Importance of developing a strong relationship with your lender and/or investors and other alternative approaches to access capital to grow your business
- Tips from entrepreneurs who have gone global at different phases of their export journey
2:30 pm – 3:15 pm Workshop: Selling Innovation to Government
Wondering how you can sell your innovation to the federal government? Join us to learn about the Innovative Solutions Canada program.
Presented by Innovative Solutions CanadaWe fund R&D and test prototypes in real-life settingsWe have two streams with funding dedicated to Canadian innovators who want to Innovate, create and get to market.Find out how you can gets funds to:
- Solve challenges
We set it, you solve it. Compete for funding to prove the feasibility of your solution and build a prototype. - Test your innovation
We buy it to test it. Compete for funding to test your innovation in real-life settings.
Audiences will learn:
- What the program is about
- How it works
- Who can apply
- What are the benefits for innovators
2:30 pm – 3:15 pm Workshop: Maximizing the Value of your Business
Take pragmatic steps to maximize enterprise value and understand the real worth of your business’ assets and shares.
Presented by MNP
As a business owner, you know that the decisions you make about your business impact your shareholders, employees as well as you and your family. In order to prepare for succession or a near-term sale, you need to take pragmatic steps to maximize business value. Understanding value drivers will help you focus on finding the most effective ways to reduce risks, improve profitability and ultimately increase the value of your business. Planning ahead will help you best position the business for productive discussions with potential and current investors.
Audiences will learn:
- Value drivers
- Steps to maximize business value
- Approaches used to value a business
- Ways a valuation can benefit your business
3:15 pm – 4:00 pm Networking Break + Closing Remarks
Connect with other like-minded women entrepreneurs and industry partners in our virtual breakout rooms.
Decide to StrikeUP together to advance women’s economic empowerment and grow the number of women-owned Canadian businesses.
Decide to StrikeUP together to build capacity within the entrepreneurship ecosystem and close gaps in service and support for women entrepreneurs.
Decide to Register FREE Now for the StrikeUP 2023 virtual conference to invest in yourself and grow your business in 2023, gaining access to growth partners, mentorship and finance.