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About the workshop:

Are you turning your business idea into a real product, service, or brand? Whether you’re designing a logo, developing a unique product, offering innovative services, or crafting original content, understanding intellectual property (IP) is essential for protecting your hard work.

This workshop is ideal for small business owners, startups, and entrepreneurs who are in the early stages of building their business. We’ll break down the basics of IP and how it can directly impact your business growth, competitive edge, and long-term success.

You’ll learn:

• Trademarks – How to protect your business name, logo, slogan, or brand identity so others can’t use them.
• Copyrights – How to secure rights over original content.
• Patents – How to safeguard inventions, products, or processes that are new, useful, and innovative.
• Trade Secrets – How to protect valuable business information that give you a competitive advantage.
• Industrial Designs – How to protect the unique look and feel of your product design.

We’ll also cover why IP matters for small businesses – from avoiding costly legal issues to increasing your business value and attracting investors or partners.

Takeaways:

• A clear understanding of different types of IP and how they apply to your business.
• Practical examples and real-life case studies.
• Next steps and resources to start protecting your intellectual property.

About the speaker:

Elizabeth Collinson has worked with the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) for more than 20 years.

While working with CIPO, Elizabeth has held various positions including a Trademarks Examiner, a Business Development Officer, a Project Manager and now as an IP Advisor.

Elizabeth has successfully passed the Trademark Agent examination and is listed as an inactive Trademark Agent on the Canadian Patent Agent and Trademark Agent (CPATA) register.

About CIPO:

The Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) is a special operating agency of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada. We deliver intellectual property (IP) services in Canada and educate Canadians on how to use IP more effectively.

About this workshop:

A corporation is a legal entity and is therefore taxed separately from its owners. To discover whether you could benefit from incorporating your business or if you are curious about your existing structure, join us for our free learning series. This course will be of interest to those owners who are contemplating on incorporating or have an existing incorporated business.

During this interactive 2-hour workshop, we will:

• go over the reasons to incorporate and points to consider
• compare the personal tax rates and corporate tax rates
• discuss the relationship of the individual to their corporation – salary vs. dividends, taxable benefits
• comment on different types of corporate structures and how each structure may be applicable to you which may include holding companies and family trusts as shareholders
• show how the corporation be used for tax planning purposes using the small business deduction and capital gain exemption

About this workshop:

If your website could tell you the story about what makes your business successful online, would you listen?

The beauty is that your website CAN tell you that story, and that this powerful story is narrated by no other than Google Analytics 4 (GA4) – the website analytics tool. Unlocking that story is as simple as knowing what questions to ask.

In this interactive beginner-level seminar, you will learn how to unlock the story (and most importantly – the potential!) of your website. Find out why the most popular pages and traffic sources aren’t necessarily the most valuable ones and discover the secrets to online success as told by your own website.

Who should attend:

• Google Analytics beginners, with an existing GA4 account or not
• Google Analytics 4 users who want to improve their understanding of the tool and unlock more opportunities

What you will learn:

• Which reports are the most helpful
• How to determine where your visitors are coming from
• How to evaluate the extent to which your website is contributing to your business goals

Make sure to bring your questions! By the time you’re done, you will be able to make more strategic decisions for your business that will in turn make your narrative stronger.

About the speaker:

This workshop is presented by David Bird, a recognized digital advertising and promotion expert and the Founder and Principal of Bird’s Eye Marketing, an Ottawa-based firm that specializes in helping businesses get found on Google.

David has been managing Google Ads (formerly AdWords) accounts since 2012, helping as many businesses as possible along the way. He specifically enjoys working with small businesses and has made ad spending optimization his specialty in order to make Google Ads accessible while still ensuring quality results no matter the size of the business or its advertising budget.

David offers a full series of seminars relating to Google solutions that get your business found online, including:

• Google Ads
• Google Business Profile & SEO (search engine optimization)
• Google Analytics 4 (GA4)

About this workshop:

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

This interactive 1.5-hour 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: This session does not cover writing a full business plan. All attendees will be receiving a copy of the lean startup canvas & cash flow worksheet (with formulas pre-saved) in their follow-up email.

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.

REGISTER HERE

About the workshop:

Are you curious about how business can be used as a force for good? Join us for an in-depth webinar that explores the world of social enterprise—a unique and growing business model that blends entrepreneurial strategies with a mission to create meaningful social, environmental, or cultural impact.

In this session, you’ll gain a detailed understanding of what defines a social enterprise and how it differs from traditional for-profit businesses and non-profits. We’ll explore the key characteristics and models of social enterprises, and learn about important legal and operational considerations, such as choosing the right structure, balancing profit and purpose, and measuring social impact.

The webinar will also feature real-world examples of local social enterprises, highlighting how they operate, generate revenue, and deliver measurable benefits to their communities. Whether you’re considering starting your own social enterprise or simply want to understand how they work, these stories will provide inspiration and insight.

Additionally, we will cover the support resources available to aspiring social entrepreneurs, including funding opportunities, mentorship programs, business development services, and local networks.

This session is perfect for entrepreneurs, community leaders, non-profit professionals, students, or anyone interested in building a more sustainable and equitable future through innovative business models.

Don’t miss this opportunity to explore how you can turn your passion for social change into a viable and impactful enterprise.

About CSED:

The Centre for Social Enterprise Development (CSED) offers a continuum of support for social enterprises in the Ottawa area, including access to technical expertise, coaching, learning communities, training, and cross-sector partnerships. CSED works with its clients to develop their social enterprise plan and provide them with the tools, strategies and support to perpetuate positive social change and grow profitably.

www.csedottawa.ca

BONUS!

We have booked special back-to-back sessions that focus on the same subject for this day. Half an hour after this workshop, we will be hosting ‘Starting and Operating a Not-for-Profit or Registered Charity: The Basics’ – join us virtually here for this session (which will be more of a legal view of the topic).

REGISTER HERE

About the workshop

Megan Wallace of Mann Lawyers will take you through the key considerations in respect of creating and operating a not-for-profit corporation or a registered charity, including structure, common pitfalls and best practices.

About the Presenter

Megan leads the Not-for-Profit and Charity Law team at Mann Lawyers, where she works with a variety of clients from small not-for-profits starting out to large national organizations, advising them on governance, regulatory and compliance matters, transactions and agreements of all kinds. In her business law practice, she has significant experience in mergers and acquisitions and contractual matters, including having worked the purchase and sale of professional practices. She also frequently works with clients on re-organizations, regulatory and compliance matters, the regulated professions and commercial agreements.

BONUS!

We have booked special back-to-back sessions that focus on the same subject for this week. The day before this workshop, we will be hosting ‘ Social Enterprise 101: The Intersection of Profit and Purpose‘ – join us virtually here for this session.

REGISTER HERE

Note: In-person tickets for this workshop have all sold out, but don’t miss out – you can still join us virtually! Click here to go to the virtual event page.

Are you struggling to create a marketing strategy that truly connects with your audience? Do you find yourself facing roadblocks that prevent you from building brand loyalty and driving consistent revenue growth? In today’s fast-paced, AI-driven market, entrepreneurs need more than just a great product – they need a strategy that uses AI to build lasting relationships with customers, delivering personalized experiences at scale.

Invest Ottawa is excited to host Lubna Forzley, Founder and CEO of Stories, for an exclusive deep dive into AI-powered marketing strategies. Drawing from her experience with Coca-Cola – an iconic global brand – Lubna will guide you through the critical elements of developing a 360-degree marketing plan.

Discover how AI can amplify your storytelling, streamline your content strategy, and personalize customer experiences – transforming your brand’s presence and driving sustainable growth.

Key Takeaways:

• Learn from Coca-Cola’s Success: Gain insights from Lubna Forzley, Founder of Stories and Coca-Cola alum, as she unpacks the strategies behind building a brand that resonates globally.
• Harness AI for Smarter Marketing: Explore how AI tools can supercharge your content creation, customer segmentation, and real-time data analysis.
• Build a 360-Degree Marketing Plan: Leave with an actionable roadmap, integrating AI and traditional strategies, to elevate your brand’s influence and grow your business.

REGISTER HERE